A Short History of Flowers

A Short History of Flowers brings together research into the origins, naming and cultural histories of sixty well‑known flowers, charting their journeys to modern‑day gardens. Unravel the extraordinary histories of 60 flowers that shape our gardens. Have you ever wondered where your favourite garden flowers came from? Where their names derived? Or why some cultivars go in and out of favour? Every flower has a story and in A Short History of Flowers, Advolly Richmond guides you through the most intriguing, surprising and enriching ones. For example, you’ll find stories of: The 18th‑century woman who disguised herself as a man to collect bougainvillea on a global voyage. The snowdrop that sparked Victorian mania. The daffodil rediscovered after centuries missing from cultivation. The lily of the valley that became Christian Dior’s lifelong lucky charm. The Californian poppy that travelled from Indigenous medicine to royal heraldry. Featuring specially commissioned botanical illustrations by award‑winning artist Sarah Jane Humphrey, each entry highlights the plant and the story it tells, bringing its history vividly to life. Whether you’re a keen gardener or simply curious about the plants that surround you, this book invites you to see your garden, and its flowers, in an entirely new light.