The Tudor nosegay was composed of fragrant flowers and was carried to mask any unpleasant odours in the air. The nosegay garden also has plants used for posies, garlands and decorations for the house or chapel, and for perfume and flower water. The central feature is a bay tree which is trained as an estrade or cake stand form, which was widely used in Mediaeval times.
The outer borders feature a collection of plants known as gilleflowers or July flowers. These include wallflowers, carnations, stocks, pinks and sweet rocket.
L-R Wall gilleflower (Cheiranthus cheiri), Carthusian pink (Dianthus carthusianorum), Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus), Life-of-man plant (Convolvulus tricolor), Larkspur (Delphinium consolida)
| Botanical Name | Common Names | |
| Campanula medium | Coventry Bell (Canterbury bell) | |
| Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’ | Dwarf box | |
| Campanula trachelium | Old Canterbury Bell, Nettle leaved bell, Bats in the belfrey | |
| Cheiranthus cheiri | Wall Gilleflower | |
| Convallaria majalis | Lily of the Valley | |
| Dianthus armeria | Deptford pink | |
| Dianthus caryophyllus | Carnation gillyflower, Clove gilleflower | |
| Dianthus deltoides | Maiden Pink, Gilleflower | |
| Dianthus deltoides ‘Albus’ | Maiden white pink, Gilleflower | |
| Dianthus gratianopoliatanus | Cheddar Pink, Gilleflower | |
| Dianthus plumarius | Pink, Gilleflower, sops in wine | |
| Hesperis matronalis | Queen’s Gilleflower | |
| Jasminum officinale | Jasmine | |
| Laurus nobilis | Young mop heads, bay | |
| Lavandula angustifolia alba | White English Lavender | |
| Lilium candidum | Madonna Lily | |
| Limonium latifolia | Sea lavender | |
| Lonicera periclymenum | Honeysuckle, (common) | |
| Lychnis coronaria | Rose campion | |
| Matthiola incana | Stock (White HP form) | |
| Polygonatum multiflorum | Solomon’s Seal, David’s harp, ladder to heaven | |
| Primula vulgaris | Primrose | |
| Rosa centifolia | Cabbage rose, Provence rose | |
| Rosa gallica versicolor | Rosa mundi | |
| Rosa x alba maxima | York rose | |
| Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Silver Edged’ | Rosemary | |
| Vinca minor | Periwinkle (lesser) | |
| Viola odorata | Sweet violet |