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Ok, I suppose that you all think I've forgotten, but I haven't.
First of all, the easiest heirlooms are now considered wildflowers - daisies, Queen Ann's Lace (wild carrot), "wild" malvas - these are all escapees from colonial gardens and the list is MUCH longer than this (and includes purple loosestrife, a plant that has been here for 200 years +). One that is not terribly common, but that I am very fond of is Deptford Pinks (Dianthus armeria). This biennial dianthus has long narrow slightly hairy leaves that form a nice rosette the first year and sends up a tall stalk, 12 to 24 inches, the second year with a cluster of tiny dark pink freckled flowers at the top. Those that I have in my garden came from seeds of a cluster that I found growing wild in our lower pasture. They are a very airy flower, spread themselves around the garden, but take up so little space that I just let them be.
Of course you can't mention heirloom flowers without including roses (well, I can't anyway!). Many of the old roses were used for health and beauty needs and were allowed space on the ships over for this reason.
And what would an heirloom flower post be without hollyhocks and violas, mulleins, foxgloves, valerian, sweet peas, peonies, and all of the old annual bedding plants.
Here's a pic of the Deptford Pink (named, by the way, for a town near London):
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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