As you remember, I promised to tell why I always offer orchids to Bhagavan Shree Vishnu and Shreemati Lakshmi-Devi.
If you study the following list from "Shree Parama-Samhita", then you will find out the only very narrow range of flowers is possible to obtain in Europe.
I love to offer orchids very much, but they are not in the list.
I have scanned the following Verses from "Shree Parama-Samhita" and I recommend to copy-paste the names of the flowers in google images, so you can see the flowers and to remember some of them.
We have a lot of physalis flowers in the supermarkets this year, so once I saw them, I was determined to buy them for The Husband.
"Shree Parama-Samhita", 5.33-39:
33-39. The following flowers are acceptable for Bhagavan Shree Vishnu Worship.
Karavira (oleander) red and white,
Lotus, red and White, Ketaki (Pandarus odoritissimus. Tan. Talai),
Jatimallika (Jessamine),
Utpala (water-lily) of 3 colours,
Tagaram (Tabaraemontana coronaria Tam Nandiya-vatta),
Champaka (michelia champaka),
Drona (Tam. Tumbil),
Vanira (Cane reed, Calamus rotang Tam. Vanji),
Samyakam (cassia fistulae Tam. Konrai),
Svetarkam (white Calotropis Gigantia-Tam.Erukku),
Kutaja (Koraiya; Tam. Palai),
Kandali (sweet potato Tam. a kind of valli-root),
Vakula (minusoper elengi. Tam Makilam),
Tulasi (basil),
Navamallika (double jessamine, Tamil Iruvatehi),
Asana (yellow Sal, T. Vengai),
Tala (Palm, Tam. Panai),
Tamala (xanthoxymus pichorius),
Maruta (Trigonella coruculata, Tam. Nakai),
Sami (Acasia Suma),
Punnaga (Rottleria. T. Pinnai),
Vamsha Punnaga (Ksudra Punnaga),
Malati (Jessamine with large flowers Tam. Jati),
Shveta Kumuda (white-lily),
Devadaru (Pinus Devad),
Utpala (water-lily, 2 kinds),
Kovidara (mountain ebony),
Naga (Mesua terrea,Tam. Shirunagai),
Sada-bhadra (Deva-daru or Kadamba),
Priyanguka (Saffron),
Bilva (Aegle marmelos, Tam. Vilva),
Navamala (a kind of Jessamine),
Kayahasti (2 kinds),
Aviram,
Karnikaram (Pentapetes auripolia, T. Kongu),
Vaishnavi,
Shankha-pushpika,
Kambu-pushpika (Physalis Flexuosa),
Ashoka (2 kinds, Ionesia Ashoka, another name of vakula),
Kunda (a kind of jessamine),
Gandhapurna (a kind of ketaki),
Shepalika (Nebari, Tam. Karunocchil),
Kurevaka (Barleria crystata, Tam. Kurinji),
Pita-koranda (Nandyavarta, 2 kinds, Tamernae montana coronaria, Tam. Nandiyavattai),
Kshudra ketaka (small ketaki).
These are the flowers to be gathered for the Worship of Bhagavan Shree Vishnu (Purushottama).
42-44. Flowers not to be used even on occasions of emergency.
These are Koranda Krishnavarnam (Korancda, Carissu Carandas, Tam. Kila),
Kapittham (wood apple, Tam. Vila),
Harikarniki (Cassia Fistula and Calotropis Gigantes),
Agnivibhitakam (Belerie myrabolam, Terminala Belerica, Tam. Sami),
Sirisha (Memosa Sirisha, Tam. Vakii),
Madayantikaka (Arabian Jessamine, Tam. Mallikai),
Nirgundi (Vitex Trifolia, Tam. Nocchil),
Sindhuvara,
Kimshuka (Butea Frondosa, Tam. Murukkai),
Shilmali (silk cotton, Bombea Heptaphyllum, Tam llavu),
Japa (China rose, Hibiscus rose Tinensis, Tam. Sevvaarattai),
Arka (Calotropis Gigantia, Tam. Erukku),
Kanakamatham (Thorn apple, Datura metal and Festuosa, several varieties, Tam. Umattai),
Karanjam (Gahdupa arbores, Tam. Pungai),
Vishapadapam (Vishapushpaka, Vangueria spinosa, Tam. Kanjori variety),
Bandhukam (Pentapetes Phoenicia, Tam. Mechi tilakam),
Madhavi (Banisteria bengalensis, Tam. Kurukkatti),
Nipam (Nanoba Cardefolia, Tam. Perumkadambu),
Arjuna (River Shal tree, Tam. Attu-maramaram),
Patalam (Bignoma suvave olens, Tam. Padari),
Chaudnka [pushpa?] (cloves),
Shitaka,
Atabu (long gourd, curcurbite lagenaris, Tam. Surai),
Shigru (Hesparanthera murunga, Tam. Pu-murungai).
