Baltimore is more than a city of land and sea. More than a skyline and vibrant city streets. It’s also a city of history, art and reflection. And, to be sure, of native flowers—in parks, gardens and bouquets. Below are just a few.
Flowering Aster
Asters are beautiful, colorful and complicated. When you study them closely, you realize that the flower itself is not a single bloom, but actually consists of a central disk surrounded by about 300 very small, tubular flowers that are in their turn surrounded by petals, or ray-flowers. These wonderful flowers have held their popular place in both gardens and cut flower bouquets for generations, due to their versatility, color variety, and beauty. You might be more familiar with the varieties of flowering aster under other names, such as Michaelmas daisy, Starworts, or Frost flowers, all indicative of their traditional Fall flowering time.
Hardy Hibiscus
Though hibiscus flowers more resemble something found on a tropical island, varieties of the plant are indeed native to Maryland. These delicate-looking blooms come in an amazing array of colors, from the palest pastels to bold, vibrant reds and yellows. They are relatively easy to grow and add a dollops of intrigue and color to any bouquet or event installation. Part of the mallow family, and in fact also known as rose mallow, hibiscus flowers generally have little or no scent—but lots and lots of beauty.
Celosia
A casual look at these hardy blooms is all you need to know why celosia flowers are also known as cockscomb. Their ruffled petals can certainly bring a rooster’s head to mind, though that is forgotten in the overall beauty of the flower itself. The color of the flower’s petals are most often described as “coral” or “jewel” tones, which gives you some idea of the depth of the hue, as well as how versatile and fitting they are in many floral collections.
Rose
Roses come in such a variety of colors, scents, hues, and form that it’s impossible to even begin to cover them all. The rose bush is a staple in many a Baltimore garden and, of course, in bouquets for anything from celebrations to commiserations.
