Amur Adonis
Pheasant's Eye
False Hellebore
Scientific Name:
Adonis ramosa
Family:
Ranunculaceae
Flower Language
-
inviting happiness
-
everlasting happiness
-
blessing
Characteristics
Colors:
yellow
Description
Fukujusou is a perennial plant native to Japan, China, Korea, and Siberia that blooms beautiful golden flowers in early spring. The flowers are sensitive to sunlight, opening when the sun shines and closing when cloudy. It has been cherished as a garden plant since the Edo period and is popular as a New Year's good luck charm, often combined with nandina in potted arrangements. Also called 'New Year's Day grass' or 'First Day grass,' it is deeply rooted in Japanese culture as a flower that celebrates the New Year.
Trivia
- Called 'spring announcing grass' in the Edo period, over 100 horticultural varieties were created
- Flowers have heliotropism, always facing the sun
- Formerly called 'New Year grass' as it bloomed around the lunar New Year
- Representative of spring ephemerals
Uses
Ornamental
- New Year potted arrangements and bonsai
- Early spring garden decoration
- Indoor decoration as cut flowers
Medicinal
- Used in traditional Chinese medicine for heart disease treatment
- Believed to have diuretic and cardiotonic effects
Caution:
Poisonous plant; self-medication is dangerous
Culinary
Not edible (poisonous)
Other
- Breeding material for horticultural varieties
- Display in wildflower exhibitions
Toxicity
Toxicity Level:
Severe
Toxic Parts:
All parts, Especially rhizomes
Symptoms:
Can cause severe symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, cardiac paralysis, and respiratory distress
Primula Juliana
Julian Primrose
Polyanthus Primrose
Scientific Name:
Primula × juliana
Family:
Primulaceae
Flower Language
-
youthful vigor and brilliance
-
beginning of youth and sorrow
-
youthful love
Description
Primula Juliana is a variety developed in Japan in the 1970s, created by crossing Primula polyantha with Primula juliae from the Caucasus region. It comes in a rich variety of flower colors including red, pink, yellow, blue, purple, and white, with diverse blooming forms from single to double and rose-type flowers. With its compact growth habit and cold resistance, it's popular as a main feature in winter to spring flower beds and container arrangements.
Trivia
- One of the few internationally popular horticultural varieties developed in Japan
- Smaller and more cold-resistant than Primula polyantha
- Rich flower colors, some varieties bloom multiple colors on same plant
- Beloved as 'messenger of spring' in Europe
Uses
Ornamental
- Winter to spring flower beds
- Container gardens and hanging baskets
- Indoor decoration in pots
Medicinal
- Sometimes used in folk medicine for cough suppression and expectorant
Caution:
Self-medication is not recommended
Other
- Perfume ingredient
- Dried flowers
Toxicity
Toxicity Level:
Mild
Toxic Parts:
leaves, stems
Symptoms:
May cause mild dermatitis upon skin contact
Mokara
Mokara Orchid
Scientific Name:
× Mokara
Family:
Orchidaceae
Flower Language
-
elegance
-
refinement
-
sophistication
Description
Mokara is a relatively new orchid variety developed in 1969 in Singapore by C.Y. Mock through the artificial hybridization of three orchid genera: Ascocentrum, Vanda, and Arachnis. It produces numerous flowers with vibrant vitamin colors, 4-6cm in diameter, and is characterized by excellent water uptake and long-lasting blooms. Mainly cultivated in subtropical regions like Thailand and Malaysia, it is beloved worldwide as a beautiful cut flower also used in Hawaiian leis.
Trivia
- Named 'Mokara' after its developer C.Y. Mock
- Excellent cut flower that lasts over 2 weeks even without water
- Artificial variety chosen as Singapore's national flower
- One of the representative orchids used in Hawaiian leis
Uses
Ornamental
- Luxury cut flowers
- Wedding bouquets
- Hotel and venue decorations
Medicinal
Caution:
No medicinal uses
Other
- Hawaiian lei material
- Perfume ingredient
- Aromatherapy
Toxicity
Symptoms:
Non-toxic
Snowdrop
Galanthus
Fair Maid of February
Scientific Name:
Galanthus nivalis
Family:
Amaryllidaceae
Flower Language
-
hope
-
consolation
-
hope in adversity
Characteristics
Colors:
white
Description
Snowdrop is a bulb plant native to Eastern Europe and Western Asia, also known by its scientific name Galanthus. It blooms small, pure white bell-like flowers facing downward during February to March when snow still remains, earning the Japanese name 'waiting snow grass.' The flowers open and close in response to sunlight, with the habit of closing at night. In Europe, it has long been loved as a flower announcing spring and is considered a symbol of hope.
Trivia
- Scientific name Galanthus means 'milk-like white flower'
- In Britain, there are enthusiastic collectors called 'galanthophiles'
- A single bulb can live for over 300 years
- Garden plant that became hugely popular during Victorian era
Uses
Ornamental
- Early spring garden decoration
- Rock gardens
- Naturalized plantings
Medicinal
- Sometimes used in folk medicine for headache treatment
Caution:
Poisonous plant; medicinal use is dangerous
Culinary
Not edible (poisonous)
Other
- Source of Alzheimer's drug (galantamine)
- Perfume ingredient
Toxicity
Toxicity Level:
Moderate
Toxic Parts:
bulbs, all parts
Symptoms:
May cause vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and dermatitis
Camellia
Japanese Camellia
Rose of Winter
Scientific Name:
Camellia japonica
Family:
Theaceae
Flower Language
-
perfect beauty
-
supreme loveliness
-
perfect charm
Characteristics
Colors:
white
Description
Camellia is an evergreen tree native to Japan, Taiwan, southern Korean Peninsula, and parts of China, blooming beautiful flowers from November to April. White camellia possesses particularly pure and elegant beauty, and has been cherished as a tea ceremony flower since ancient times. Characterized by glossy thick leaves and perfectly formed flowers, it appears frequently in literature and art as a flower symbolizing Japanese aesthetics. Camellia oil is used for hair and skin care, and the wood is utilized for crafts, making it a highly practical plant.
Trivia
- Hundreds of varieties were created during Edo period gardening boom
- Flower beloved by Coco Chanel, founder of Chanel
- Motif flower of the opera 'La Traviata'
- Designated as state flower of Alabama, USA
Uses
Ornamental
- Garden and street trees
- Tea ceremony flowers
- Ikebana flower arrangements
Medicinal
- Camellia oil used for skin and hair care
- Flowers believed to have hemostatic and anti-inflammatory effects
Caution:
No particular precautions
Other
- Camellia oil (cosmetics, cooking oil)
- Wood (crafts, seals)
- Natural dye
Toxicity
Symptoms:
Non-toxic
Pine
Japanese Red Pine
Japanese Black Pine
Scientific Name:
Pinus densiflora (アカマツ) / Pinus thunbergii (クロマツ)
Family:
Pinaceae
Flower Language
-
eternal youth and longevity
-
eternal youth
-
aspiration
Description
Pine has been considered sacred in Japan since ancient times as an evergreen conifer, with Japanese Red Pine and Japanese Black Pine being representative. Red Pine is common in inland mountainous areas, characterized by reddish-brown bark, while Black Pine grows near coasts with blackish-gray bark. Both are symbols of 'eternal youth and longevity' due to their long-lived and hardy nature, and are cherished as New Year kadomatsu and garden trees. Their evergreen nature maintaining greenery year-round and resilience in harsh environments make them trees symbolizing Japanese spirituality, deeply rooted in culture.
Trivia
- Frequently mentioned in Japan's oldest poetry collection 'Manyoshu'
- Treated as highest grade 'shohaku bonsai' in bonsai art
- Kadomatsu erected as landmarks for divine descent
- Red Pine called 'female pine', Black Pine called 'male pine'
Uses
Ornamental
- Kadomatsu (New Year decoration)
- Main garden trees
- Bonsai
Medicinal
- Pine needle tea (vitamin C supplement)
- Pine resin (topical medicine)
- Pine nuts (nutritional tonic)
Caution:
Pine needle tea should be avoided during pregnancy
Culinary
- pine nuts
- young pine needles
Other
- Construction material
- Furniture wood
- Pine resin (paint, adhesive)
Toxicity
Symptoms:
Non-toxic (some pine needle tea avoided during pregnancy)