Nosegay Garden

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 NameCommon Names
Campanula mediumCoventry Bell (Canterbury bell)
Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’Dwarf box
Campanula tracheliumOld Canterbury Bell, Nettle leaved bell, Bats in the belfrey
Cheiranthus cheiriWall Gilleflower
Convallaria majalisLily of the Valley
Dianthus armeriaDeptford pink
Dianthus caryophyllusCarnation gillyflower, Clove gilleflower
Dianthus deltoidesMaiden Pink, Gilleflower
Dianthus deltoides ‘Albus’Maiden white pink, Gilleflower
Dianthus gratianopoliatanusCheddar Pink, Gilleflower 
Dianthus plumariusPink, Gilleflower, sops in wine 
Hesperis matronalisQueen’s Gilleflower 
Jasminum officinaleJasmine 
Laurus nobilisYoung mop heads, bay 
Lavandula angustifolia albaWhite English Lavender 
Lilium candidumMadonna Lily 
Limonium latifoliaSea lavender 
Lonicera periclymenumHoneysuckle, (common) 
Lychnis coronariaRose campion 
Matthiola incanaStock (White HP form) 
Polygonatum multiflorumSolomon’s Seal, David’s harp, ladder to heaven 
Primula vulgarisPrimrose 
Rosa centifoliaCabbage rose, Provence rose 
Rosa gallica versicolorRosa mundi 
Rosa x alba maximaYork rose 
Rosmarinus officinalis
‘Silver Edged’
Rosemary 
Vinca minorPeriwinkle (lesser) 
Viola odorataSweet violet 

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