Types of Flowers Grown by Romans

• Romans selected roses to enhance their gardens. Andrew Dernie/Photodisc/Getty Images

  Roman gardeners planted flowers and other vegetation in gardens divided into three separate spaces: the xystus, the gestatio and the ambulatio. The xystus was a flat piece of land that supported flower beds and served as a walking area. The gestatio offered a location for exercising horses, while the ambulatio housed a wide variety of trees, flowers and other foliage. Inspired by Greek garden design, Romans used several types of flowers to enhance their surroundings.

Crocus

• The crocus, a perennial spring plant, usually blooms first in spring and yields a cup-shaped flower that produces three stamens. The Crocus sativus produces the spice saffron -- the most expensive spice on the market, culled from the crocus' stamen -- which Roman women used to color their hair and dye their clothing yellow. The plant grows 2 to 6 inches tall and spreads 3 to 6 inches. Corms, a modified bulb from which the plant grows, can be planted in well-drained soil 4 to 6 inches deep. The flower is typically used to naturalize borders and landscape beds.

Gladiolus

• The gladiolus has flower stalks that resemble small swords. gladiolus image by jamsi from Fotolia.com

  Gladioli, considered the flower of the gladiators, are tied to Rome through the legend of the Thracian. Thracians were foot soldiers who were inspired by one of Rome's enemies and wore visored helmets. The gladiolus comes in a variety of colors and is a hardy plant that flowers during the summer. The corms should be planted between 4 and 8 inches deep to prevent the plant from coming out of the ground on windy days, according to the book "Flower Power!"

Narcissus

• The narcissus appeared after Narcissus' prideful death. narcissus image by Azazirov from Fotolia.com

  The narcissus plant produces a striking springtime flower in basic shades of yellow, orange and red. Greek mythology has the story of Narcissus, a hunter famed for his appearance who died after obsessing over his reflection in a pool of water, causing the narcissus flower to appear. Narcissi are grown in full sun or light shade from bulbs planted in the late summer, which ensures root development before the first frost. Bulbs should be planted three times as deep as the diameter of the bulb.