The United Kingdom comprises of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom has a colorful history and, over time, specific flowers and plants have commonly become associated with the individual countries which make up the United Kingdom. The rose, shamrock, thistle and daffodil have emerged to become the symbols of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales respectively.
The Symbol of the English Rose
The rose, like many other British flowers and plants, is not native to England, yet has emerged as the national flower of England. The rose has had many uses throughout history. Roses made their way back to Europe from Asia and, as roses were a popular flower throughout the Roman Empire, roses eventually appeared on English soil. However, the rose became England's adopted symbol during the War of the Roses (1455 – 1485) when the royal House of York adopted the white rose and the royal House of Lancaster adopted the red rose.
Today there are many species, colors and varieties of rose and it is common to see the rose in many English gardens; common English roses include:
- wild roses such as dog rose (rosa canina)
- climbing roses
- garden roses such as damask, centifolia, gallica and alba.
The Symbol of the Irish Shamrock
The Irish shamrock is a three-leafed old white clover, from the Trifolium minus and other species. The term shamrock is derived from the Irish seamrog. The history surrounding the adoption of the shamrock as a symbol of Ireland is contradictory, with little authentic confirmation of its symbolism, but legend tells of the use of the shamrock by the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. The shamrock is said to represent the Christian Trinity – the unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – in its three leaves.
The Symbol of the Scottish Thistle
The Scottish thistle is the national flower of Scotland, although thistle is the common name given to a number of flowering plant species in the Asteraceae plant family. The Scottish thistle is widely characterized by a purple flower, sharp, spiky leaves and prickles (or thorns). Although the exact history surrounding the adoption of the thistle as the Scottish national flower is vague, it is commonly believed that the thistle is an ancient Celtic symbol representing nobility of character.
The Symbol of the Welsh Daffodil
The daffodil (Narcissus) has become the accepted symbol of Wales, although there is little substantial evidence as to the reasons behind this symbolism. It is traditional to wear a daffodil in Wales on St David's Day. The daffodil is a British spring flower, although there are many species of daffodils grown around the world too. Daffodils have a central trumpet and are usually yellow in color, although some cultivars are white with golden colored trumpets. The daffodil has also been adopted as a common symbol for cancer research world wide.
National Flowers of the United Kingdom
Many flowers and plants have been adopted by countries as symbols and representations of organizations and causes. The botany of plants is learned in many ways and through the symbolism of the rose, shamrock, thistle and daffodil in the countries of the United Kingdom, these flowers have become well known and recognizable through their common characteristics.
References:
- Concise Oxford English Dictionary 10th edition1999 UK: Oxford University Press
- Project Britain web site, accessed May 4, 2010
- The Flower Expert web site, accessed May 4, 2010
Sharon Falsetto - Sharon Falsetto is a business owner, certified clinical aromatherapist & professional writer with a life-long interest in plants.
