Flowers, small as they may be, have many uses for humans and animals alike. While some people may feel that flowers are wasteful, others recognize how valuable flowers are to nature thanks to their short lifespans. Some people grow gardens specifically for certain helpful benefits of flowers. Flowers even have commercial uses that many people may not know about.
Decorating
One of the most well-known and popular uses of flowers is decoration. Floral arrangements are popular for events such as weddings, holidays like Mother's Day and Valentine's Day, birthdays, and funerals. Arrangements may also be placed around homes to spice up the decor. Drying out flower blooms and arranging them decoratively has proved popular for centuries.
Medicine
Flowers and other plants have long since been used for medicinal purposes, and they continue to be an important part of medicine in modern times. According to the Wildflower Information website, around 25 percent of the basic ingredients in modern medicine come from flowering plants. Flowering plants have been used to treat various ailments, from cardiac trouble to menstrual cramping. St. John's wort, for example, was once used as a cure-all for multiple medical problems. Currently, St. John's wort is used to treat depression. Wild foxglove plants are used to treat heart disease. Before using floral extracts as a medical treatment, speaking with a physician is recommended to avoid the consumption of a potentially poisonous flower.
Cooking
Eating flowers have been part of our culinary history for as long as using flowers for medicine. The petals, leaves, or the whole plant of edible flowers have been used to flavor foods. Squash blossoms, for example, provide a nice flavoring to several dishes. Some chefs garnish plates with rose petals or dandelion blooms to enhance the flavors of their dishes. Rose petals may also be candied for a sweet floral treat. Some flowers respond well to being infused in oil, vinegar, or alcohol, such as vodka. Honey is created using the pollen of flowers as cultivated by bees. As with medical flowers, using flowers in food should be handled carefully to avoid consuming toxic plants.
Fragrance
Fragrant flowers inspire many perfumes and fragrances. Roses provide essential oil for many different perfumes, while lilacs and lavender blooms prove popular for perfumes and other cosmetic uses. Some people even choose to make their own perfumes using alcohol and fresh blooms. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette notes that witch hazel, jasmine, and Chinese perfume tree blossoms work well as natural perfumes. Flower petals may be used in potpourri blends to provide pleasant scents throughout the home. The flowers can also be put into satchels for freshening dresser drawers or closets.
Wildlife
Depending on the type of flower, flowers can be used to either repel or attract certain wildlife. For instance, to keep deer away, gardeners plant flowers such as passionflower, bee balm, and butterfly weed; many deer-resistant plants also act as rabbit deterrents. Squirrels steer clear of plants like marigolds and wild onion. Alternately, butterfly weed, bee balm, and impatiens work well for butterfly or hummingbird gardens.
Source: ehow.com
Links
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin