Some famous people have a flower of their own. It appears in their work, in photographs and in their gardens, and over time becomes part of their image. Here are stories in which a flower and a name are so closely linked that one brings the other to mind.
Coco Chanel and the camellia. The white camellia became one of the emblems of the house of Chanel, used in jewellery, brooches and clothing. A flower without a strong scent suited Chanel’s restrained style.
Claude Monet and water lilies. The painter created his garden at Giverny, with its pond and Japanese bridge, and painted its water lilies for decades. The garden is open to visitors today.
Empress Joséphine and roses. At Malmaison near Paris she assembled one of the largest rose collections of her time, which Pierre-Joseph Redouté recorded in his famous album.
Vincent van Gogh and sunflowers. In 1888–1889 he painted a series of sunflowers in a vase, among the most recognisable still lifes in history.
Lily of the valley. It was in Catherine Middleton’s wedding bouquet in 2011 and is traditionally linked with British royal weddings.
Myrtle. Since Queen Victoria’s time, a sprig of myrtle from the royal garden has been added to the bouquets of royal brides.
The White Garden at Kensington. In 2017 white flowers, including roses, tulips and forget-me-nots, were planted at Kensington Palace in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Varieties named after famous people
Breeders often name new varieties after famous people: there is an ‘Audrey Hepburn’ tulip, ‘Princess of Wales’ and ‘Grace Kelly’ roses and many more. Read more in roses named after famous people, and about florists whose work made them famous in famous florists.
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
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