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Coal flowers
My Story
DescriptionCOAL FLOWERS
In my bedroom, which fronted onto the street, Nana grew coal flowers. Coal flowers are a very fine delicate, powdery growth [looks vaguely similar to sea coral] but are just so delicate; it would blow away in a breeze. Nana had coals in a glass bowl, sitting on a chrome tray. Some Prussian blue from the chemists, was sprinkled onto the coal, and it caused a reaction after some time. The growth on the coal just kept on growing and spreading, over the edge of the bowl, down its sides and then onto the chrome tray, and just kept on spreading. How she stopped it taking over the whole house I don’t know. She coloured the crystals as they are called, by pouring small amounts of different coloured inks onto separate areas, which then spread through the crystals. Very pretty, but extremely toxic and I have never seen another one since Tainui St.
The recipe for coal flowers is as follows, One tablespoon of Prussian blue [chemist] 3 table spoons of household ammonia, 2 table spoons of common salt, 1 table spoon of red ink, 3 table spoons of cold water. Mix in a bowl or jar and pour over 5 or 6 pieces of coal, about the size of a small orange, which have been put into a glass or china bowl. Put the bowl and contents in a warm place to start the growth. To keep the plant alive, add one table spoon of water and one tea spoon of salt, mixed together every second day. Pour it gently down the side of the bowl. Colours may be varied by using violet or blue inks.
ContributorBrian McIntyreDate of story events1952Map[1]
In my bedroom, which fronted onto the street, Nana grew coal flowers. Coal flowers are a very fine delicate, powdery growth [looks vaguely similar to sea coral] but are just so delicate; it would blow away in a breeze. Nana had coals in a glass bowl, sitting on a chrome tray. Some Prussian blue from the chemists, was sprinkled onto the coal, and it caused a reaction after some time. The growth on the coal just kept on growing and spreading, over the edge of the bowl, down its sides and then onto the chrome tray, and just kept on spreading. How she stopped it taking over the whole house I don’t know. She coloured the crystals as they are called, by pouring small amounts of different coloured inks onto separate areas, which then spread through the crystals. Very pretty, but extremely toxic and I have never seen another one since Tainui St.
The recipe for coal flowers is as follows, One tablespoon of Prussian blue [chemist] 3 table spoons of household ammonia, 2 table spoons of common salt, 1 table spoon of red ink, 3 table spoons of cold water. Mix in a bowl or jar and pour over 5 or 6 pieces of coal, about the size of a small orange, which have been put into a glass or china bowl. Put the bowl and contents in a warm place to start the growth. To keep the plant alive, add one table spoon of water and one tea spoon of salt, mixed together every second day. Pour it gently down the side of the bowl. Colours may be varied by using violet or blue inks.
ContributorBrian McIntyreDate of story events1952Map[1]
Relates to
DocumentCoal flower recipie
West Coast New Zealand History (10th May 2015). Coal flowers. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 15th Apr 2026 08:45, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/862