The marigold was called Mary's Gold by early Christians who placed the flowers around statues of Mary, offering the blossoms in place of coins. It was told that Mary used the blossoms as coins. A legend says that during the Flight into Egypt the Holy Family was accosted by a band of thieves. They took Mary's purse and when they opened it, marigolds fell out. Click here for more information.

The lowly violet was associated with humility and became known as Our Lady's Modesty. It was said to have blossomed when Mary said to the Angel Gabriel, who had come to tell her she was to bear the Son of God, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord."

Fallen spurs of the columbine looked like Our Lady's Shoes and received that name. They were said to have sprung up where Mary's feet touched the earth when she was on her way to visit Elizabeth.

The spurred flowers resembled the tiny doves and came to represent the Holy Spirit. The flower also symbolized the innocence of Mary.

The alabaster white snowdrop became a symbol of Mary's purity and was called the Flower of Purification because it bloomed on February 2, the Feast of the Purification of Mary. In Italy and other countries in Europe the statue of Mary was removed from the altar on that day and snowdrops were strewn in its place. This day was also the feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. The flowers were called Candlemas Bells after the ceremony of blessing the candles began late in the eighth century and February 2 also became known as Candlemas Day.

In Sicily it is told that the Madonna's Juniper Bush opened its branches to shelter the Holy Family when Herod's pursuing soldiers drew near them as they fled to Egypt. The rosemary bush and clematis were also said to have sheltered the Holy Family during the Flight into Egypt. The rosemary's fragarance arose after Mary hung her linens to dry on its branches.

Lavender also was said to have received its scent after Mary laid Jesus' clothes on the plant to dry. It was called Mary's Drying Plant.

The soft blossoms of sea-pink or thrift are said to have formed cushions for Mary to sit on when she rested during the long Flight into Egypt. They became known as Our Lady's Cushion.

Thistle was called Our Lady's Thistle. The leaves of the plant are said to have become spotted when drops of milk fell on them while Mary was nursing Jesus.

Leaves of the spotted cowslip of Jerusalem also became spotted when drops of Mary's milk fell on them.

Lily of the Valley was known as Mary's Tears. It is told that when Mary cried at the Cross, her tears turned into this flower.

Spiderwort and spotted lungwort were also called Our Lady's Tears.

The strawberry was called Fruitful Virgin and it was told that Mary would go a-berrying with her Son on St. John's Day, June 24. Also that any mother who had lost a child would not eat strawberries on that day for if she did, Mary would say to her child in heaven, "You must stand aside for your mother has eaten your share, and none remains for you."

Hundreds of other flowers and herbs were named after Mary. Tendrils of the honeysuckle plant became Our Lady's Fingers.

The harebell or blue wood hyacinth was called Our Lady's Thimble and it was told that Mary earned a living for the family weaving and sewing.

The bell-like florets of several other species of campanula were named after Mary. Canterbury Bells were Our Lady's Bells or Our Lady's Nightcap.

Venus' Looking Glass was called Our Looking Glass. Others were called Bethlehem Star and Mary's Star.

The foxglove plant, with its glove-like blossoms, became Our Lady's Glove. In France it is known as Gant de Notre Dame.

It was said that Jesus hung the pendant blooms of the fuchsia plant on his mother's ears; the shrub was called Our Lady's Ear-drop. Impatiens is also known as Our Lady's Earrings.

Herbs were named after Mary. Spearmint was known as Our Lady's Mint.

Marjoran was Mother of God's Flower. Bee balm and lemon balm were both called Sweet Mary. Catnip was Mary's Nettle. Sage was Mary's shawl. Dandelion was known as Mary's Bitter Sorrow.
A group of herbs became known as Manger Herbs because they made a bed for the Infant Jesus when he was born. Sweet woodruff and yellow bedstraw were called Our Lady's Bedstraw and creeping thyme was Mary's Bedstraw.

Mints and pennyroyal were also said to have been used in the manger.

Some of the popular flowers of today are also named after Mary. Bachelor button is Mary's Crown, English daisy is Mary-Love, geranium is Mary's Flower, larkspur is Mary's Tears, pansy is Our Lady's Delight, morning glory is Our Lady's Mantle, petunia is Our Lady's Praises and zinnia is the Virgin.

In the twelfth century, this passage from the Song of Songs: