January 21

Birth Flower

Narcissus
Daffodil

Scientific Name: Narcissus tazetta
Family: Amaryllidaceae

Flower Language

  • self-love
  • mystery
  • vanity
  • love me again

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Narcissus is a bulbous plant native to the Mediterranean region and North Africa. It blooms white or yellow flowers ranging from 1cm to over 5cm in diameter from mid-December to early April. Characterized by narrow leaves and a subtle sweet fragrance, there are over 10,000 cultivated varieties. Known for its strong vitality, it prefers water as implied by its Chinese name meaning 'water immortal'.

Trivia

  • The English name 'narcissus' is the origin of the word 'narcissist' referring to self-loving people
  • Long used as a perfume ingredient and valued as a natural fragrance
  • Extensive breeding has created over 20,000 varieties
  • Popular among gardening enthusiasts as a rare winter-blooming bulb plant

Uses

Ornamental
  • Cut flowers for New Year decorations
  • Garden planting for winter to spring color
  • Potted plants for indoor decoration
Medicinal
  • Traditional medicine uses for expectorant properties
  • Aromatherapy for mental stabilization effects

Caution: Entire plant is toxic; ingestion can be dangerous. Bulbs are easily mistaken for onions and require special caution.

Culinary

Not edible. Entire plant is toxic.

Other
  • Used as perfume ingredient
  • Utilized in horticultural therapy

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Severe

Toxic Parts: Bulbs (especially dangerous), Leaves, Flowers, Stems

Symptoms: Ingestion causes vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, and in severe cases can be fatal.

Pincushion
Pincushion Protea Leucospermum

Scientific Name: Leucospermum cordifolium
Family: Proteaceae

Flower Language

  • success everywhere
  • glamorous person
  • mutual prosperity
  • cheerfulness

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Pincushion is an evergreen shrub of the Proteaceae family native to South Africa. Named for its distinctive flower shape resembling a pincushion with pins, it produces vibrant flowers in red, orange, and yellow tones. Each needle-like part is a pistil, with numerous flowers forming a single flower head. Known for excellent longevity, it's popular as a cut flower.

Trivia

  • The scientific name 'Leucospermum' derives from Greek meaning 'white seed'
  • The needle-like parts are actually pistils, important organs for seed production after pollination
  • Over 60 wild species have been identified in South Africa, with many horticultural varieties developed
  • Valued as a cut flower that lasts 2-3 weeks with excellent longevity

Uses

Ornamental
  • Cut flowers for bouquets and arrangements
  • Garden planting for tropical landscape effects
  • Dried flowers for long-term enjoyment
Medicinal
  • Limited use in traditional medicine

Caution: No known toxicity, but medical use is not recommended.

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption.

Other
  • Use in horticultural therapy
  • Educational material for flower design

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity has been reported.

Spiraea
Thunberg's Meadowsweet Baby's Breath Spiraea

Scientific Name: Spiraea thunbergii
Family: Rosaceae

Flower Language

  • loveliness
  • whimsical
  • admirable
  • quiet thoughts

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Spiraea thunbergii is a deciduous shrub of the Rosaceae family, originally from China. Growing 1-2m tall, it extends many branches from the base and blooms with 0.7-1cm white five-petaled flowers covering the branches from early March to mid-April. Named 'snow willow' because its narrow leaves resemble willow and the white flowers look like snow. Also called 'rice flower' as the small white flowers resemble grains of rice.

Trivia

  • Beloved in Japan since the Edo period, featured in many haiku and tanka poems
  • The flower language 'loveliness' comes from the delicate beauty of flowers less than 1cm
  • A resilient plant that can bloom just by placing branches in water
  • Leaves turn beautiful yellow in autumn, providing year-round enjoyment

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden shrub for spring landscape
  • Used in flower arrangement and tea ceremony
  • Planted in parks and as street trees
Medicinal
  • Traditional medicine uses for fever reduction
  • Dried flowers sometimes used for herbal tea

Caution: No toxicity reported, but consultation with experts is recommended before medical use.

Culinary

Not commonly used for culinary purposes.

Other
  • Used as hedging
  • Soil conservation effects in environmental greening

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity has been reported.

Rosemary
Dew of the Sea

Scientific Name: Salvia rosmarinus
Family: Lamiaceae

Flower Language

  • remembrance
  • memories
  • memory
  • unchanging love
  • fidelity

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Rosemary is an evergreen shrub of the mint family native to the Mediterranean coast. Growing up to 1.8m tall, it has narrow leaves with a strong pine-like fragrance. It blooms with small blue or purplish-white flowers from winter to spring. Known as the 'herb of memory' since ancient Greek times, students reportedly made wreaths to aid their studies. Today it's widely used as a culinary spice, medicinal herb, beauty product, and fragrance.

Trivia

  • Mentioned in Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' as 'rosemary for remembrance'
  • Ancient Greek students wore rosemary wreaths while studying to enhance memory
  • European tradition of brides wearing rosemary sprigs at weddings
  • Used as natural preservative for food storage during World War II

Uses

Ornamental
  • Herb garden cultivation
  • Indoor decoration in pots
  • Used as hedging
Medicinal
  • Memory and concentration enhancement
  • Fatigue recovery through circulation improvement
  • Anti-aging through antioxidant effects
  • Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties
  • Digestive stimulation

Caution: Should be avoided during pregnancy, nursing, or by those with epilepsy. Avoid excessive consumption.

Culinary
  • Leaves
  • Young branches
Other
  • Perfume and cosmetic ingredient
  • Aromatherapy applications
  • Insect repellent properties

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Essential oil components (when consumed in large quantities)

Symptoms: Large consumption may cause gastrointestinal disorders or nervous system stimulation. Normal culinary amounts are safe.

English Ivy
Common Ivy Hedera

Scientific Name: Hedera helix
Family: Araliaceae

Flower Language

  • eternal love
  • friendship
  • immortality
  • marriage
  • fidelity

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

English Ivy is an evergreen climbing plant native to Europe and West Asia. It grows up to 20-30m tall, using aerial roots to climb cliffs and walls. Young leaves are 5-lobed and palmate, while mature leaves become heart-shaped without divisions. It blooms with small yellow-green flowers from September to December, followed by black berries. Revered since ancient times, it's now popular as an ornamental plant.

Trivia

  • The flower language 'eternal love' derives from its year-round greenery and ability to thrive anywhere
  • Ancient Greek wedding tradition included bride and groom wearing ivy wreaths
  • Ivy covering old European buildings can be hundreds of years old
  • NASA research identifies it as one of the most effective plants for removing indoor air pollutants

Uses

Ornamental
  • Indoor houseplant cultivation
  • Wall greening and vertical garden use
  • Hanging basket decoration
Medicinal
  • Traditional use for skin conditions
  • Sometimes used for cough relief and bronchitis treatment

Caution: Leaves and berries are toxic; internal use is dangerous. Skin contact may cause dermatitis.

Culinary

Not edible. Entire plant is toxic.

Other
  • Air purifying houseplant use
  • Building insulation improvement applications

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Moderate

Toxic Parts: Leaves, Berries, Stems

Symptoms: Ingestion causes vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Skin contact may cause rash and dermatitis.