Flower
Plants cultivated mainly for showy blooms, whether for gardens, cut-flower trade, or pollinator support. Ornament and visual impact outweigh culinary or medicinal uses. The tag also covers plants whose inflorescences, rather than foliage, deliver primary aesthetic appeal.
The Corpse Flower - Amorphophallus titanium
The corpse flower, known for its massive size and foul odor, draws huge crowds when it blooms—an event that happens only once every 5 to 10 years. This story explores the plant’s rare and spectacular flowering, its unique pollination strategy, and its rising popularity as a star attraction at botanic gardens across the U.S.
flower, ornamental, tropicalHeliconia: Evolution at Work
Heliconias, known for their striking tropical beauty, have long been popular in gardens but understudied by scientists due to collection challenges. This story highlights recent discoveries that reveal their complex relationships with animals and their remarkable role in shaping ecosystems.
flower, ornamental, tropicalPeony: Pretty and Powerful
Peonies are prized today for their stunning blooms, but they also have a rich medicinal legacy spanning over 2,000 years in Europe and Asia. This story uncovers lesser-known episodes in peony’s history, including its use in healing remedies like a “miraculous” infant convulsion powder.
flower, ornamental, temperateOpium Poppy: A Cursed Beauty
The opium poppy has a long, complex history—as a sacred medicinal plant, a source of artistic inspiration, and a driver of addiction and conflict. This story traces its journey from ancient ritual use to modern controversy, revealing shifting perceptions of the poppy as both a symbol of beauty and a global blight.
flower, ornamental, psychoactive, medicinalSunflower: Knowledge, Myth, and Meaning
The sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is instantly recognizable and widely celebrated in art and imagery, often overshadowing the plant itself. This story traces the sunflower’s cultural and visual history, revealing how its striking form helped shape myths, meanings, and botanical understanding over time.
flower, oilseed, ornamental, temperate
