January 10

Birth Flower

Rubus parvifolius
Japanese Raspberry Thimbleberry

Scientific Name: Rubus parvifolius
Family: Rosaceae

Flower Language

  • Blessing

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Rubus parvifolius is a deciduous shrub of the Rosaceae family that grows wild throughout Japan in sunny fields, roadsides, and embankments. Its name derives from the timing when its red fruits ripen during rice seedbed preparation in June. It produces pink flowers from May to June, with pistils protruding from partially opened petals. The sweet-sour red aggregate fruits ripen from June to July and are edible, used fresh or for making jams and fruit wines.

Trivia

  • Documented in Edo period agricultural texts as part of farming calendar
  • Alternative name 'early strawberry' refers to its early fruiting
  • Each fruit is an aggregate of numerous small fruits
  • Still commonly found along roadsides and vacant lots today

Uses

Ornamental
  • Used as ground cover in naturalistic gardens
  • Employed for creating wild landscape aesthetics
  • Utilized in eco-gardens as native wild plant
Medicinal
  • Used in folk medicine for hemostasis and fever reduction
  • Leaves decocted for gastrointestinal remedies

Caution: Consult healthcare professionals before medicinal use

Culinary
  • Fruits
  • Young leaves (as tea)
Other
  • Important food source for wildlife
  • Used for soil erosion prevention

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic

Adonis
New Year's Day Flower Pheasant's Eye

Scientific Name: Adonis ramosa
Family: Ranunculaceae

Flower Language

  • Eternal happiness

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Adonis ramosa is a perennial herb of the Ranunculaceae family, endemic to Japan. It's a typical spring ephemeral that blooms with bright yellow flowers from February to April as snow melts. The flowers open when sunlight hits them and close at night or during cloudy weather. With its finely divided, lace-like leaves, it has long been cherished as a symbolic flower announcing spring's arrival. The name derives from 'fortune-telling grass' and is used in New Year decorations for its auspicious nature. However, the entire plant is toxic and requires careful handling.

Trivia

  • Originally called 'fortune-telling grass' in Edo period, evolved to 'fortune-longevity grass'
  • Flowers open even in darkness at temperatures of 15-20°C
  • Four species of Adonis are native to Japan
  • Featured on the reverse side of Japanese 10,000 yen notes

Uses

Ornamental
  • New Year alcove decorations
  • Early spring garden plantings
  • Indoor decoration in pots
Medicinal
  • Used as cardiac stimulant in Chinese medicine (requires expert processing)
  • Historical use in folk medicine for heart conditions

Caution: Entire plant is highly toxic; amateur use is dangerous. Beware of confusion with butterbur sprouts.

Culinary

Not edible (toxic)

Other
  • Used as parent for horticultural breeding
  • Early spring nectar source in ecosystems

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Severe

Toxic Parts: Entire plant, Especially rhizomes, Flower buds

Symptoms: Can cause cardiac arrhythmia, nausea, diarrhea, and consciousness disorders due to cardiac toxicity

Stock
Gillyflower Ten-week Stock

Scientific Name: Matthiola incana
Family: Brassicaceae

Flower Language

  • Eternal beauty
  • Eternal bonds of love
  • Trust me
  • Rich affection
  • Generous affection
  • Lonely love

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Stock (Matthiola incana) is a plant of the Brassicaceae family, native to the Mediterranean coast. Though originally perennial, it's treated as an annual in Japan due to sensitivity to summer heat. Growing 20-80cm tall, it produces elegantly fragrant flowers from winter to spring. Available in abundant colors including pink, white, purple, yellow, and red, flowers bloom progressively from bottom to top. True to its English name meaning 'stem,' it has thick, sturdy stems and is renowned for excellent vase life as cut flowers. Introduced to Japan in the Edo period, over 150 cultivars now exist.

Trivia

  • Scientific name Matthiola honors Italian botanist Mattioli
  • Flower language was used for secret communication between lovers in Victorian era
  • Now available year-round through greenhouse cultivation
  • One of the most important cut flowers in Japanese flower markets

Uses

Ornamental
  • Cut flowers for bouquets and arrangements
  • Ornamental cultivation in flower beds and pots
  • Primary flower for wedding bouquets
Medicinal
  • Traditionally used in European folk medicine for respiratory ailments
  • Aromatherapy applications for relaxation

Caution: Consult healthcare professionals before medicinal use

Culinary

Generally not used for culinary purposes

Other
  • Used as fragrance component in perfumes and cosmetics
  • Suitable for dried flower arrangements

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Seeds, Leaves

Symptoms: Large quantities may cause mild gastrointestinal upset

Forsythia
Golden Bells Border Forsythia

Scientific Name: Forsythia suspensa
Family: Oleaceae

Flower Language

  • Hope

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Forsythia is a deciduous shrub of the Oleaceae family, native to China. From March to April, it produces abundant bright yellow flowers before leaves emerge. Known as 'Golden Bells' in English, the flowers are characteristically bell-shaped. Growing 1.5-3m tall, it forms clumps with multiple stems from the base. Introduced to Japan in early Heian period or Edo period as medicinal plant, now widely cultivated ornamentally. Hardy in both cold and heat, cultivable from Hokkaido to Kyushu, cherished as a representative flower heralding spring's arrival.

Trivia

  • Scientific name honors British botanist William Forsyth
  • Pruning before flowering prevents next year's blooms
  • Easily propagated through cuttings
  • Known as 'herald of spring' in Europe

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden and park landscaping
  • Hedges and borders
  • Cut flowers for spring decorations
Medicinal
  • Used in Chinese traditional medicine for fever and inflammation
  • Fruits used as 'Lianqiao' in herbal medicine

Caution: Medicinal use should be under professional guidance

Culinary

Generally not used for culinary purposes

Other
  • Important early spring nectar source for beekeeping
  • Air purification benefits in urban greening

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Leaves, Bark

Symptoms: Large quantities may cause mild gastrointestinal upset

Freesia
Iris Narcissus Fragrant Narcissus

Scientific Name: Freesia refracta
Family: Iridaceae

Flower Language

  • Affection
  • Friendship
  • Innocence
  • Naivety
  • Admiration

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Freesia is a semi-hardy bulbous plant of the Iridaceae family, native to the Cape region of South Africa. Blooming from February to June, it offers abundant flower colors including red, white, yellow, purple, pink, and orange. Its greatest feature is the sweet, refreshing fragrance, with yellow and white varieties being particularly fragrant - yellow having a distinctive fruity sweetness. Known in Japanese as iris narcissus or fragrant orchid, it's extremely popular as cut flowers for its beauty and fragrance. Through Dutch breeding, over 150 cultivars now exist, beloved worldwide as a representative spring flower.

Trivia

  • Named by Danish botanist Ecklon after German physician Freese
  • Fragrance varies by color, with yellow being most fragrant
  • Netherlands is world's largest producer with active breeding programs
  • Introduced to Japan in late Meiji period, remains popular cut flower

Uses

Ornamental
  • Cut flowers for bouquets and arrangements
  • Bulb cultivation in pots and flower beds
  • Fragrant addition to wedding bouquets
Medicinal
  • Aromatherapy for relaxation
  • Stress reduction through fragrance

Caution: No significant toxicity concerns, but caution for those with allergies

Culinary

Generally not used for culinary purposes

Other
  • Used as fragrance in perfumes and cosmetics
  • Material for potpourri and sachets

Toxicity

Symptoms: No known toxicity

Japanese Box
Boxwood Box Tree

Scientific Name: Buxus microphylla var. japonica
Family: Buxaceae

Flower Language

  • Abstinence

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Buxus microphylla var. japonica is an evergreen shrub of the Buxaceae family, endemic to Japan. Mainly distributed in warm regions of western Japan, it grows 1-3m tall. Leaves are 1-3cm long, 0.6-1.5cm wide, leathery with gloss, arranged oppositely. Small yellow flowers bloom at branch tips from March to April. Its greatest feature is the wood quality - extremely hard and dense with fine texture, treasured for luxury crafts including high-grade combs, shogi pieces, abacus beads, and seals. Also widely used for hedges and garden trees due to tolerance for pruning. Slow growth means quality wood requires many years to develop.

Trivia

  • Premium shogi pieces are made from boxwood over 100 years old
  • Edo period comb-making techniques designated as intangible cultural properties
  • Slow growth - takes about 50 years to reach 10cm diameter
  • Also known as 'Hon-tsuge' and 'Asama-tsuge'

Uses

Ornamental
  • Hedges and garden tree plantings
  • Topiary art sculptures
  • Bonsai cultivation
Medicinal
  • Used in folk medicine for skin conditions
  • Considered detoxifying in traditional Chinese medicine

Caution: Medicinal use should be under professional guidance

Culinary

Not for culinary use

Other
  • Premium material for luxury combs
  • Material for shogi pieces and abacus beads
  • Precision crafts like seals and rulers
  • Musical instrument components

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Leaves, Bark

Symptoms: Large quantities may cause mild gastrointestinal upset