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Poppy - Belgium
"In Flanders Fields the poppies blow..." Red poppies remind us of all the soldiers who fought for their country in World War I. The poppy is also Belgium's national symbol. These red blooms are often found lining Flemish roads, but they are very easy to grow in your garden or on your balcony. All you need to do is sow the seeds where you want them, and from June to July you will be able to enjoy the poppies' red glow at home.
Cornflower - Germany
The cornflower is perhaps the least known flower on this list. They are mainly found in cornfields, but they also look gorgeous in a sunny spot on a balcony or in your garden. The cornflower became the national symbol of Germany. This is partly due to the story that Queen Louise of Prussia hid in the cornfields during her escape from Napoleon. It was said that she tried to calm down her children by weaving wreaths for them from the flowers during their escape.
Edelweiss - Switzerland
The edelweiss is the national symbol of Switzerland. This flower prefers rocky places at high altitude. It used to be a well-known trophy for mountaineers. They often took the flowers back with them as evidence of their challenging climb. Edelweiss flowers are also associated with The Sound of Music. "Edelweiss, Edelweiss, ..." Nobody sings it like Father Von Trapp. This delicate flower adorns the Swiss Alps from June to August.
Tulips -The Netherlands
Everybody knows tulips from Amsterdam. They bloom in many colourful varieties from April to July. Tulips originally came from Turkey. The Viennese ambassador to Turkey imported the flowers into the Netherlands in the 16th century. Tulip mania was a period in the 17th century when prices of tulip bulbs in the Netherlands reached astronomical highs. Nowadays the annual Keukenhof display in Lisse near Amsterdam boasts millions of tulips.
Rose - United Kingdom
Roses are always associated with love, but you may not know that this flower is also the national symbol of the United Kingdom. Bring a piece of Britain to your garden. Roses come in many shapes and colours... Some types of roses bloom very abundantly for several weeks, while others flower in several cycles. If you go for repeat flowering roses for your balcony or garden, you will get to enjoy their beauty from May onwards and well into autumn.
Fleur de lis (French iris) - France
Even though the French name fleur de lis suggests that this flower is a lily, nothing could be further from the truth. The French iris is known as the symbol par excellence of the French royal family. That is why you can still find the fleur de lis emblem on many coats of arms and flags of French-speaking regions. Irises are easy to grow yourself. Once sown, the plant does not require much maintenance. Its flowers will brighten up your garden from May to June.
