SNAPDRAGON

Snapdragons are perennial plants often sold as cold-season annual plants and do best in full of partial sun. Snapdragons are particular favorite of children who like to pinch the tiny individual blossoms and make the "dragon mouth" open and close. Their large, blossom-laden flower heads are faintly fragrant and come in a wide assortment of bright colors. The vertical flower spikes, opening gradually from the bottom to the top. A single Snapdragon plant may produce seven or eight blossom spikes in the course of a summer.

Snapdragons make excellent cutflowers and excel in beds and at the front of borders. Gardeners used to be less than enthusiastic about snapdragons as cut flowers because blossoms tended to "shatter"--drop off shortly after being fertilized by bees, but plant breeders have developed shatterproof strains. Snapdragons flourish in well-fertilized soil and full sun.

Snapdragon is also important as a model organism in botanical research.

STAR OF BETHLEHEM

The Star of Bethlehem is genus(Ornithogalum) of perennial plants mostly native to souther Europe and southern Africa belonging to the family Hyacinthaceae. There are some species native to other areas such as the Caucasus. Growing from a bulb, it has grass-like basal leaves and a slender stalk, up to 30 cm tall, bearing clusters of star-shaped white flowers striped with green.

Because of its star-shaped flowers, it is named for the Star of Bethlehem that appeared in Biblical account of the birth of Jesus.

The Star of Bethlehem is a bulbous plant nearly allied to the Onion and Garlic. The leaves are long and narrow and darkgreen; the flowers, in bloom during April and May, are a brilliant white internally, but with the petals striped with green outside. They expand only in the sunshine.

The bulbs, in common with those of many Liliaceous plants, are edible and nutritious. They were in ancient times eaten, both raw and cooked, as Dioscorides related, and form a palatable and wholesome food when boiled. They are still often eaten in the East, being roasted like chestnuts.

STEPHANOTIS

Stephanotis flower meaning - Happiness in Marriage, Desire to travel, Good Luck. Stephanotis name comes from the Greek word 'Stephanos', meaning "crown" and 'otos', meaning "ear" regerring to the five ear-resembling appendages to the staminal crown borne at the bloom centre. Stephanotis alternative names as Madagascar jasmine, floradora or waxflower. This plant is available at any season of the year, the cut one may enjoy the vase life for a couple of days as it is extremely delicate.

The flower's oval leaves are dark green 'the blossoms' are nice, odorous and waxy tubular-like white flowers that are valued as wedding flowers. They are often sent for special human as house plants. No matter whether it is wife, mother, sister, grandmother, everyone will be delighted on getting such original present. Stephanotis flowers also work well as the great present for saying 'I Love You', 'Happy Anniversary', 'Happy Birthday', 'Good Luck', 'Congratulations'.

STATICE

Statice is easy to grow and salt tolerant. Seeds can be started indoors 6-8 weeks before planting or sown directly outdoors. In August, Statice Sea Lavender appear as a beautiful purple haze when they grow on salt marshes. Statice bloom in spring and summer. Some species of Statice have an offensive odor. In some varieties of Statice, the flowers are initially just violet when they are first formed, but later on as the flowers mature some of them, in the middle of the bunch, change color and become pure white.

Statice flower is a perennial Exotic flower, which belongs to the family plumbaginaceae. Statice flowers are popularly, used in dried flower arrangements, indeed Statice are one of the most widely used dried flowers. Statice is also commonly known by various different names viz., Limonium, English Statice, German Statice, Seafoam Statice, Latifolia, Sea Lavender.

Statice flowers are used extensively for border, bed, cutflowers, dried arrangements.

SUNFLOWER

Sunflowers in the bud stage exhibit Heliotropism. At sunrise, the faces of most sunflowers are turned towards the east. Over the course of the day, they follow the sun from east to west, while at night they return to an Eastward orientation. Sunflowers in their blooming stage lose their heliotropic capacity. The stem becomes "frozen", typically in an eastward orientation. The stem and leaves lose their green color.

Sunflower heads sold as snacks in China. Sunflower oil, extracted from the seeds, is used for cooking, as a carrier oil and to produce margarine and biodiesel, as it is cheaper than olive oil. A range of sunflower varieties exist with differing fatty acid compositions; some 'high oleic' types contain a higher level of healthy monounsaturated fats in their oil than even olive oil. Sunflowers may also be used to Extract toxic ingredients from soil, such as lead, arsenic and uranium. They were used to remove uranium, cesium-137, and strontium-90 from soil after the Chernobyl disaster.

SWEET PEA

Sweet Peas are fragrant and have an old-fashioned charm. They were brought to the New World from Europe. There are annual and perennial varieties in a range of colors including blue, white, pink, cream, and purple flowers. They can be grown in flower garden, or scattered as a wildflower. There are over 1,000 varieties of Sweet Pea.

Seeds of the Sweet Pea contain beta-aminopropionitrile that prevents the cross-linking of collagen by inhibiting lysyl oxidase, leading to loose skin. Recent experiments have attempted to develop this chemical as a treatment to avoid disfiguring skin contractions after skin grafting.

Sweet Peas are popular among a variety of insects, birds and butterflies. The most common insect problems include aphids and root borers. Insecticides and repelents are usually effective. Slugs can also be a problem. More on Slug control. In very wet and cold weather, mildew and fungus can invade the plants. Use fungicides early, before disease gets a foothold.

TUBEROSE

Tuberose, like jasmine, has a heady foral scent that continues to produce itself. Tuberose is native to Central America. The family name is Amaryllis, commonly known as the lily. The ancient tradition for Hawaiian wedding is for the bride and groom to wear flowers. The bride wears a wreath of tuberose and pikaki flowers around her head called a haku. The custom is still popular as a part of a time-honored Hawaiian wedding ceremony.

The legend of the tuberose in France warns that young girls should not breathe in its fragrance after dark for fear that it would put them in a romantic mood. In India, tuberose is known as rat ki rani, (The Mistress of the Night) for similar reasons. In Ayurvedic medicine, attars are held in high esteem not only for their exquisite fragrance, but their healing properties. Tuberose is known to improve one's capacity for emotional depth. By opening the Crown Chakra it improves psychic powers. Tuberose also amplifies artistic inspiration as it stimulates the creative right side of the brain. And it brings serenity to the mind and heart. Maybe these reasons, tuberose essential oil is so pricey.

TULIP

Tulip is a flower in the genus Tulipa, comprising about 150 bulbous species, and in the family Liliaceae. Tulips originate from mountainous areas with temperate climates and need a period of cool dormancy. Tulips used as pot plants or fresh cut flowers. Tulips are often used in rock gardens. They can even grow in the cold and snowy winter. Plants typically have 2 to 6 leaves, with some species having up to 12leaves.

Botrytis tulipae is a major fungal disease affecting tulips, causing cell death leading to rotten plants. Historically variegated varieties admired during the Dutch tulipomania gained their delicately feathered patterns from an infection with Tulip Breaking Potyvirus, the mosaic virus that was carried by the green peach aphids, Myzus persice. While the virus produces fantastically colourful flowers, it also caused weakened plants that died slowly. Today the virus is almost eradicated from tulip growers' fields. Those Tulips affected by mosaic virus are called "Broken tulips"; they will occasionally revert to a plain or solid colouring, but still remain infected with the virus.

WISTERIA

Wisteria is flower in May, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The flowers are pollinated by Insects. It can fix Nitrogen. The flowers can have a sweet or musky scent according to variety, most notably Chinese Wisteria.

Wisteria species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including brown-tail. It is also an extremely popular ornament in China and Japan. Flowers are thoroughly washed and then boiled or made into fritters. The flowers are also cured in sugar then mixed with flour and made into a famous local delicacy called 'Teng Lo'. The leaves contain allantoic acid. They are used as a tea substitute. The young leaves have also been eaten.

The stems and flowers are also used in Chinese medicine. A fibre from the stems can be used to make paper.

The seed of all members of this genus is poisonous. The bark contains a glycoside and a resin that are both poisonous. The seed and seedpod contains a resin and glycoside called Wisterin. They have caused poisoning in children of many countries, producing mild to severe gastro-enteritis.

YARROW

Yarrow Plants grow in full sun and in well-drained soil. Yarrow plants are especially popular in border plantings and rock gardens. As a deer-resistant perennial, yarrow plants are useful in deer control.

Yarrow Tea is a good remedy for severe colds, being most useful in the commencement of fevers, and in cases of obsturcted perspiration. Decoctions have been used to treat inflammations such as piles, and also headaches. The most medicinally active part of the plant are the flowering tops. They also have a mild stimulant effect, and have been used as a snuff. Today, yarrow is valued mainly for its action in colds and influenza, and also circulatory, digestive, excretory, and urinary systems.
The flowers are used for various allergic mucus problems, including hayfever and mild asthma.

In rare cases, Yarrow can cause severe allergic skin rashes; prolonged use can increase the skin's phtosensitivity.

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ZINNIA

Zinnias are easy to start from seed and grow quickly. Zinnia was the state flower of Indiana during 1931-1957. Zinnias are veritable beneficial insect magnets. Butterflies are particularly attracted to Zinnias.

A megenta Zinnia shows lasting affection for one's beloved, while a bright scarlet Zinnia is sign of devotion. The white flower suggests goodness of heart and mind and a yellow Zinnia personifies daily remembrance of a loved one. A bouquet of mixed Zinnia shows concern and thoughts of absent friends, remembering fond moments and bygone days of happiness.

Zinnias are not a poisonous plant and are safe for gardens frequented by children and pets. However, they are not a culinary flower, and are not used as food garnishes, etc.

Problems with Zinnias are few, but there can be issues with fungus, bacteria, and mildew. Mealybugs, spider mites, and caterpillars can also cause damage.