So which flower is your favourite?

Back in July I posted the following four flower images on Facebook asking for a favourite. It was really interesting to read the responses.

and so which is the favourite flower ….

At the time of writing Red-Dead Nettle and Borage are leading equally with three votes each. Marshmallow has one vote.

Okay so it’s a small number and this is just a bit of fun. However, I was pleased Red Dead Nettle was popular in this poll. This little beauty is regularly pulled out of gardens as a weed. I wonder how many people actually look at beautiful flowers pulled out believing them nothing more than common weeds!

All four are medicinal plants. I love them all. Each flower brings a smile. Elecampane with the yellow rays of sunshine. The bee landing pad of the Red Dead Nettle. The almost ethereal colour of Borage and the sheer delicacy of the Marshmallow flower.

The top left yellow sunshine is Inula helenium. A member of the Asteraceae family and more commonly known as Elecampane. A great respiratory herb. Elecampane grows to a considerable height. My own garden plant is 5ft tall. Quite striking.

Lower left (pink) is Althea officinalis. The root from this medicinal plant was traditionally used as a sweet. The common name is Marshmallow! Unfortunately, the sweet is now artificial flavouring. Medicinally Althea is soft and soothing. The root and leaves are used in herbal medicine.

Top right is Lamium purpureum. Commonly Red Dead Nettle. A cousin of thyme and mint. You can see the similarity in the flowerhead.

Lower right is Borago officinalis. Beautiful Borage is a member of the Boraginaceae family along with comfrey and lungwort. A herb of courage!

Please feel free to add your favourite in the comments section.