Horticultural Plants in Mythology

Emily Erickson

Plant Sciences 211, Fall 2010
North Dakota State University

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Introduction

            Flowers are universal symbols of love, beauty, and new life. While most will simply state, “stop to smell the roses”, many people do not realize where the majesty of flowers and horticulture began. Flowers have been used in Greek and Roman mythology for thousands of years. More often than not, there are detailed stories behind the symbolism of each flower.