February’s birth flowers are vibrant violets and irresistible irises
By Kristine Oksenholt Victoria County Master Gardener
Texas grown violas and pansies in hanging baskets.
Photos contributed by Kristine Oksenholt/ Victoria County Master Gardener
Iris in a vase, compliments of Blissfully Yours Floral in Victoria with a metal fleur-de-lis next to it.
Photos contributed by Kristine Oksenholt/ Victoria County Master Gardener
These Louisiana swamp irises that bloom in yellow were planted in a hole where a large tree fell after a hurricane and around a newly covered ditch where not many plants would grow.
Photos contributed by Kristine Oksenholt/ Victoria County Master Gardener
Roses are red, violets are blue along with violas and irises too!
In 1590, Sir Edmund Spense wrote a Valentine’s poem.
The rose is red, the violet’s blue,
The honey’s sweet and so are you.
Thou are my love and I am thine;
I drew thee to my Valentine:
The lot was cast and then I drew,
And Fortune said it shou’d be you.
February usually brings to mind Valentine’s Day and red roses which symbolize love. However, the rose is not the flower for February. The February birth flowers are violets or violas and irises.
The scientific name of violet is viola and the common name is the blue violet, as well as blue violet pansy, Johnny jump up, heartsease, wild pansy, call me to you and kiss me at the garden gate. The plant family is Violaceae (Violet family) with over 680 species. Blue violets symbolize “I will always be true.”
Violets were known to be in Greece around 500 BC. The Greeks and Romans loved the violet. It was used for medicine, food and wine. Greeks made love potions from violets and wore necklaces of violets to keep away headaches and dizzy spells.
Violets were believed to help with sleep, calm anger, and make the heart stronger. Violets contain Salicylic acid which is in aspirin. Violet syrups were made to heal sore throats and combat coughing. Violets contain rutin which is one of the best natural antioxidants and helps strengthen capillaries.
Native Americans put violet leaves on their foreheads for headaches and made a violet tea spray to put in their nostrils for mucus build-up. The raw flowers and young leaves were used for salad components while the mature leaves were used in soups and stews.
Violets like a well-drained soil that is rich and moist in a semi-shaded area. Their blooms appear in the cool periods of January, February and March. While violets are perennial in parts of Texas, they are not drought or heat tolerant.. Propagation is done by separating plant clumps or from seeds.
Warning proceed with caution when it comes to consuming violets as only the blue or the blue and white have consumable leaves and flowers! The other February flower of the month, the iris is toxic.
The scientific name of iris is also its common name. There are 310 species and it belongs to the Iridaceae family, also called the iris family. There are 30 varieties including bearded, crested, Louisiana, Japanese, Siberian, reticulata and Dutch. Blue irises symbolize hope and faith.
The iris plant was first seen around 1749 BC in Syria. The flower has been a favorite of royalty. Egyptians decorated their palaces with the iris. The French monarchy decided to have the iris as their royal emblem and it is called the fleurs-de-lis.
The iris is not edible. All parts of the plant are poisonous. Dermatitis may occur from skin contact with the seeds, leaves, sap or roots.
Irises likes a well- drained area with plenty of water and sunshine. They are a hardy plant that can take changes in humidity and temperature. The Louisiana iris is a perennial in Texas.
Propagation of the iris is from a bulb, rhizome or seed. Iris bulbs should be planted four to five inches deep in rich soil. Rhizomes look like a thick root and are planted horizontally. The reticulata iris can bloom as early as February but April is when all varieties bloom in Texas.
Vibrant violets (viola) and irresistible irises are beautiful. A meaningful bouquet to receive from a loved one on Valentine’s Day is red roses for love, blue violets for “I will always be true” along with blue iris for hope and faith.
The Gardeners’ Dirt is written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational outreach of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Victoria County.
References
Roses are red, violets are blue origin
Violet: Indigenous Peoples’ Perspective Project
Viola sororia www.bioweb.uwlax.edu
Violets Texas A&M University www.aggie-hort.tamu.edu
Exploring blue iris flower www.lovflowers.co.uk
The iris flower www.floraly.com.au
The Iris Plant www.en.m.wikipedia.org
Iris www.poisonousinfo.health.qld.gov.au
Iris flowers: Plant Care and Growing www.thespruce.com