Rose of Sharon

The Vale of Sharon is renowned for its flowers. It is generally believed the flower here referred to is the narcissus, the Hebrew word meaning a bulbous plant. Pure white and sweetly scented, the narcissus does not seem inappropriate to be typical of the sinless one, the lamb without blemish or spot. The lily-of-the-valley is usually considered to be the scarlet anemone, which surpassed Solomon in its beauty (Matt. 6:28–29). “Lily” is, however, a name applied to many bell-shaped flowers, including the ranunculus, tulip, and iris. My love is like a lily among (in the midst of) thorns. The day will come when the thorns will be trodden upon, while the lily will be transplanted to a more suitable garden. At present the lily is overlooked among the thorns, but it will be brought into full view when the thorns are destroyed.

1900 Christadelphian p 292

narcissus "Rose of Sharon"