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According to Near-Eastern Christian legend, a thorny species of acacia was used for Christ's crown of thorns. 

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The Legend of the Christmas Rose speaks of a young girl named Madelon who wanted to come worship the Christ Child. Seeing the gold, frankincense and myrrh brought by others who were drawn to the humble birthplace, she despaired that she had no gift to bring, for Madelon was poor indeed.

In vain she searched the countryside for a flower that she might bring, but the winter had been cold and harsh - and there were no flowers to be found. Saddened, the girl began to weep. An angel passing over her stopped to provide comfort and smote the ground that was wet from her tears. There did spring a beautiful bush that bloomed of white roses.

"Nor myrrh, nor frankincense, nor gold," said the angel, "is offering more meet for the Christ Child than these pure Christmas Roses." And thus young Madelon went her way and worshipped the Prince of Peace, bearing the gift of her heart and tears.

The Legend of the Christmas Rose also has some foundation in this 15th Century poem:

A Rose has sprung from a tender root,

From Jesus, as those of old have sung,

And it bore a flower,

In the middle of a cold winter,

When half spent was the night.

Isaiah foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;

Is Mary the pure, the little flower has brought us.

From God's eternal wisdom, she bore a child,

And remained pure.

The Flower, so small, whose sweet fragrance fills the air,

Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;

True man and truer God, helps us out of all sorrows,

Saves from sin and death.

Oh Jesus, until we leave this misery,

Let your help guide us into joy,

In Your Father's Kingdom, where we eternally praise You.

Oh God, allow us this.

Translated from the early 15th century German poem "Es ist ein Ros' Entsprungen."

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The word "chrysanthemum" comes from the Greek words meaning "golden flower," but a German legend refers to another of the many colors of chrysanthemums. 

One cold, snowy Christmas Eve in Germany's Black Forest, a peasant family was sitting down to a meager supper when they heard a wailing. At first they thought it was the wind. But upon hearing the sound repeatedly, they opened the door and found a beggar. They ushered in the poor man who was blue with cold, wrapped him in blankets, and shared their food. 

Instantly, the blankets were shed, revealing a man in shining white clothing with a halo around his head. Proclaiming himself the Christ Child he fled. The next morning, outside the door where he had stood, were two white chrysanthemums. Today, many Germans bring white chrysanthemums into their homes on Christmas Eve, believing that by doing so they are sheltering the Christ Child.

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The Cherokee Rose has become a symbol for the "Trail of Tears." Legend has it that as the Cherokee mothers cried, grieving for the loss of their children and families on the trail, a beautiful new flower grew wherever a mother's tear fell to the ground.

Although not an ancient Cherokee story, the "Legend of the Cherokee Rose" has become a prominent fixture in contemporary Cherokee lore. The actual flower is a wild rose with five rounded white petals, a yellow center, and very thorny, dense foliage. It is now the state flower of Georgia. 

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How the crocus got it's fur coat....

To enter the world of chiefs, Wapee, son of a Chief was to spend four days and nights atop a lonely hill until a vision of the man he was to be came to him.

The first night, no visions appeared to him and he was downhearted. But with the dawn, the warming sun beamed upon a beautiful flower who opened her petals and nodded towards Wapee as if to welcome him. Wapee no longer felt alone.

When night came again, Wapee curled his body around his new friend to protect her from the icy night winds. Three times he did this and three times when the Morning Star rose, visions came to him foretelling of great things to come.

When Wapee rose to leave he said: "You have comforted and counseled me well these past three days and nights. What three wishes would you have me ask of the Great Spirit?"

"Pray that I may have the purple blue of the distant mountains in my petals, a small golden sun to hold close to my heart on dull days, and a furry coat to face the cold winds in the spring."

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There is a legend that, at the time of the Crucifixion,

the dogwood had been the size of the oak and other forest trees.  

So firm and strong was the tree that it was chosen as the timber for the cross.  

To be used thus for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the tree, and Jesus, nailed upon it, sensed this, and in His gentle pity for all sorrow and suffering said to it:

"Because of your regret and pity for MY suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross. 

Henceforth it shall be slender and bent and twisted and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross....two long and two short petals. And in the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints, brown with rust and stained with red, and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see it will remember . . . 

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When the Lady of the fairies named all the flowers in the world she forgot one of them. All the flowers were happy except the one without a name, who was very sad. She used to stay in a valley on the bank of a stream and cry. The Lady of the fairies took a walk through the fields and she was very happy to see all the flowers smiling in the sunshine but when she saw the sad one crying she fell petty and asked her why she was crying.

The flower replied that all flowers in the world had been given a name only she had been forgotten. The Lady of the fairies returned to her palace and invited the sad flower there. Then the Lady said: "Well you haven't forgotten me though I forgot to give you a name, so from now on your name will be "Forget me not". 

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The flower of the Seibo represents the stock Argentinean, the soul of the entire nation, heiress of that native rebelliousness nested in the aboriginal race.

For this reason it is considered as: National Flower.

The legend says that this flower is the soul of the Indian queen Anahi, the ugliest of all her unbroken tribe that lived in the banks of the river Parana. Anahi had a sweet voice, maybe the most beautiful listened to in those places; and she also was rebellious like her race and lover of the freedom like the birds of the forest.

Once was taken prisoner but brave and resolved, she killed the sentry that looked after her. In that same moment she sealed her destination forever: a night, condemned dying in the blaze, her body was tied to a tree of the forest, under and of wide leaves.

Slowly, Anahi was wrapped up by the flames. The persons who attended the pain checked with astonishment that the body of the Indian queen took a strange form and little by little became a slender crowned tree of red flowers.

To the dawn, in clearing of the forest the Seibo in Flower glowed. 

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Back in the olden days there was a girl named Purple Haze. She loved to play and rod on her horse all day. Some people say she rode like the wind. They also said when she ran, her hair looked like an ocean wave. Her mother always said, "If you try, life will bring you the way." Her father always wanted her to know there is always something out there that no one has ever seen before.

Purple Haze always did what she was told. One day she had a dream that she will find that thing that is out there for her. Three days later her mother made her a doll. She had a flower like symbol. It was a long purplish thing on her dress. Purple Haze loved her doll; she took it everywhere she went. One day she had another dream, the dream said in her mind, sacrifice your doll. Purple Haze woke up crying, but she knew she had to walk up a hill, make a fire and throw her doll in the fire. When it was all burned, she took the ashes and threw them everywhere. Then she fell asleep. The next morning she woke up, and found thousands of flowers that were purple. They looked like feathers. Purple Haze remembered the symbol on her doll. It brought happiness to her and since it looked like a feather, she decided to name it Gay Feather.

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Legend tells that the lily sprang from Eve's tears, when upon being expelled from Eden she learned she was pregnant.

Other folklore tells of lilies, unplanted by any human hand spontaneously appearing on the graves of people executed for crimes they did not commit. Some believe that planting lilies In a garden will protect the garden from ghosts and evil spirits. On the whole, lilies imply purity of the heart. While lilies come in a variety of colors, most people readily associate lilies with white, meaning innocence and sweetness. 

The white Madonna lily is considered the special flower of the Holy Virgin, for Christian lore tells that the lily had been yellow until the day the Virgin Mary stooped to pick it. Yellow lilies express gratitude and gaiety. 

In Christian symbolism the lily represents purity, chastity, and innocence. White lily bouquets are especially popular in Christian Homes during the Easter holiday, for they symbolize Christ's resurrection.

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Egyptian legend 

The Cosmic Flower 

This version is so poetic! A Lotus flower (Solar Corona),

emerged out from the primeval ocean Nun (the dark sky). 

The Cosmic Flower contained the divine child Re (the Sun). 

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Oleanders garner many romantic stories. 

Historians believe the oleander is native to the Mediterranean region; traveled with explorers to the South Pacific, then found its way to the West Indies.

Early in the British occupancy of the West Indies, Colonial governors attempted to make the area a fairyland by cultivation of choicest fruits and flowers from all over the world, adding to the beauty of the native flora.

Masters of the Southward voyaging ships were charged with collecting seeds and cuttings for transplanting.

Responding to this charge, a captain returning from the South Sea Islands brought some oleanders, which came to be known as "Sea Rose" or South Sea Rose.

Throughout the years, Galvestonians and others have used their imagination to produce fanciful legends as to the origin of the name "oleander" and the plant.

Early Galveston citizens thought that it was a kind of olive bearing bush; this confusion with the olive tree whose Latin name is Olea may have been the source of the name. It is also surmised that the name oleander came from a corruption of the Latin name for rhododendron with which it has also been confused. 

In keeping with the Mediterranean origin of the oleander, one legend has it that oleander in Greek mythology means romance and charm. Leander who swam the Hellespont every night to see his beloved wooed a beautiful Greek maiden. One night he was drowned in a Tempest. 

Wild waves dashed his body against sharp rocks and left him lifeless on the white sands. Here his lover found him as she walked the shores calling "Oh Leander, Oh Leander." The beautiful flower was clutched in his hand. She removed it and kept it has a symbol of their love. Magically it continued to grow and from this symbol of everlasting love came the beautiful and abundant oleander.

 The biblical Rose of Jericho is thought to refer to the oleander and there are Christian legends concerning its origin. 

In Tuscany, Italy, the oleander is known as St. Joseph's Staff, which was said to have burst into flower when in the Angel, announced that he was to marry the Virgin Mary. 

In 1915, Charles M. Skinner published another legend concerning St. Joseph and the oleander in a local paper.

It seems that a poor but lovely Spanish girl lay ill of a fever. Her mother tried all that her meager resources permitted to cure her daughter, but to no avail. Exhausted by her desperate efforts, the mother fell to her knees to pray to St. Joseph to spare her child. When she arose, the room was filled with a rosy glow from a figure bent over the girl.

As the rosy light faded, the mother rose to thank the noble stranger but he had disappeared and she was alone with her daughter who was sleeping soundly for the first time since she became ill. The mother again knelt to give thanks and since that day, the oleander has been known as the flower of St. Joseph. 

The Galveston woman, Mrs. P. A. Schapper, wrote a fairytale explaining the oleander's origin on Galveston Island. 

According to this story, a beautiful fairy princess lived on the island long ago, much beloved by everyone. Princes came from far and near to pay court. Among them were the son of Neptune and the son of Witch Hurricane. 

The handsome Prince Neptune won her heart and everyone in the kingdom was overjoyed. A date was set for the waiting and the day dawned clear and bright. The guests were assembled for the ceremony when suddenly the son of Witch Hurricane appeared. He was wildly angry and furious at losing the Princess.

As he advanced, blackened and distorted with rage, the fairy godmother of the Princess intervened and waved her wand, transforming members of the wedding party into beautiful oleanders and stately palms.  Prince Hurricane and his mother, the Witch, tore around all that day and the next without finding the Princess and they finally departed. 

Another legend involving the buccaneer, Jean Lafitte, in the establishment of oleanders on Galveston Island, is less romantic. 

In the pursuit of his pirate's craft, Lafitte had attacked a Norwegian schooner and killed all the passengers except for one man was clinging to a beautiful flowering plant. His name was Ole Anderson. Lafitte saved him and made him his gardener, calling him Olea Ander. He later honored him by calling his flower by the same name.

Two traditionally uses of the oleander come from different parts of the world. 

In India, Hindu mourners place oleanders about the bodies of dead relatives using the blooms as funeral flowers. 

In Germany, on the other side of the globe, women have a tradition of placing potted oleanders outside the kitchen window for good luck.  

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According to Mexican legend, a child knelt before the altar at his village's church on Christmas Eve. Since he had no money, he had no gift to offer to the Christ Child on his birthday. His prayers were sincere though, and through a miracle the first "Flower of the Holy Night" bloomed at his feet in bright red and green homage to the holy birth. This was the birth of the Poinsettia. 

There's even a Christmas legend about the Poinsettia. According to Joyce Schillen, in The Growing Season (1996), a little Mexican girl named Pepita wanted more than anything to give a fine present to the Christ child but as she was very poor, she had no gift to present. As Pepita walked sorrowfully to church with her cousin Pedro, he tried to comfort her.

"Pepita," he said, "I am certain that even the most humble gift, given in love, will be acceptable to His eyes." Pepita gathered a bouquet of weeds from the roadside, entered the church, and placed her gift tenderly at the feet of the Christ child. Miraculously, Pepita's ordinary weeds burst into brilliant red blooms! They were called Flores de Noche Buena, Flowers of the Holy Night.

As you might guess from this lovely legend, the Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) originates in Mexico, where it grows as a ten-foot tall shrub. Although it was cultivated by the Aztecs, who made a reddish-purple dye out of the bracts and a medicine for fever from the plant's latex, the Poinsettia's religious associations date back to the Seventeenth Century, when Franciscan priests, near Taxco, began to use the flower in nativity processions because of its brilliant color ("The Texas Poinsettia Guide").

The Poinsettia we love to adorn our homes with is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, first United States Ambassador to Mexico in the 1820s. Ambassador Poinsett imported the plant to his greenhouses in South Carolina, and began propagating and distributing Poinsettias. From these modest beginnings, the plants have steadily increased in popularity, and today the annual sales of Poinsettias exceed the annual sales of all other potted plants combined (Joyce Schillen, 1996).

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The Persian Poets tell us the first Rose bloomed in Guilistanat at the time the flowers demanded from Allah a new sovereign, because the drowsy lotus would slumber at night. 

The Greeks fabled the Rose to have been a nymph roused from sleep by a kiss from Apollo, and as a heaven sent flower the Rose is the most fequently mentioned flower in the legend of the saints.   

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Since ancient times, the peony has been regarded as the symbol of wealth, luck and happiness. Because of its beauty, the Chinese people call it the "King of flowers" or the "Flower Fairy". 

According to the legend, when Wu Zetian Empress of the Tang Dynasty, which existed from the 7th to the 10th century, was in power, she decided to visit the royal garden in the depths of winter. Since she was a very arrogant monarch she was displeased to see that the flowers had not bloomed. In a show of power, she issued a decree that all flowers in the garden must blossom overnight.

Flowers are viewed as shy and timid plants.  Did they all blossom?  All but the peony. The peony god decided it would obey only the decrees of nature, not a powerful woman. That made the Empress very angry. She ordered the burning of every peony in her garden. And peonies elsewhere were all banished to Luoyang.

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 The word tulip is thought to be a corruption of the Turkish word for turbans. In the East, the tulips cultivation was started over a  thousand years ago. It grew wild in Persia and near Kabul the Great  Mogul Baber counted thirty -three different species. According to  Persian legend, the first tulips sprang up from the drops of blood shed by a lover and for a long time the tulip was the symbol of avowed love.Poets sang its praises and artists drew and painted it so often that when imported to Europe it was considered to be the symbol of the Ottoman Empire.

      The Ambassador of the Holy Roman Empire sent tulip seeds and bulbs to Clusius in Vienna. He was not sure what to do with them so he planted them all in a heap and when they matured , he gave a hundred bulbs to his grocer who also not knowing quite what to do with them fried them and ate them with oil and vinegar.There are people in the world who still eat tulip bulbs of certain varieties. In some parts of Japan a flour is made of them. In times of famine the Dutch have eaten tulip bulbs when no other food was available.

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Folk wondered at the strange delicate perfume that often filled air. Little did they realize that it came from the tiny unseen flower!

Because of a yearning to serve humanity and to share with the world its delicate perfume, it prayed to God to be allowed to become the most beautiful of white flowers. But first it had a real service to perform to prove its worthiness.

As it grew in great abundance in the Garden of Gethsemane, its perfume blessed the Savior as He knelt in prayer.

In tender solicitude it nestled close to the cross of Calvary as the Saviour hung there. Because of its sympathetic, understanding love, the plant grew to its full height, and the tender white blossom looked up into the Saviour's face.

The purity of its face, the sweetness of its character, the weakness of its life was shared in mute understanding by the Man of Galilee.

The strange celestial beauty of the tiny flower comforted the women at the cross. To them it seemed to breathe the very message of immortality.

A tiny white bud smothering beneath the green leaves grew near the Saviour's tomb. For three days it struggled to lift its blossoms up to the great stone that cleared the opening of the sepulcher. Weighted down with grief, its struggles seemed in vain. Then at Easter dawn, its prayer was answered!

In the glory of the Resurrection--where’re the footsteps of the Saviour pressed the tiny bud to earth--the Easter Lily sprang to birth!

Today it is the symbol of purity; and as it breathes its sweet fragrance on the air, it breathes the story of the Resurrection to all mankind--a story of immortality to the entire world!

It is as delightful to the eye as cool water is to thirsty lips; as refreshing as the first warm day of spring; as radiant as the light from heaven; as pure and as innocent as the Babe of Bethlehem.

In its presence, creeds--like robes--are laid aside; and with the tragedy of the cross behind, we face the Easter dawn and the assurance of everlasting life!

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From Greece: A wood nymph seen by the god of Spring. Was changed into a flower when she became frightened.