Water Lily
Pond Lily
Water Rose
Scientific Name:
Nymphaea
Family:
Nymphaeaceae
Description
Water lily is a common gardening name for aquatic perennial plants with about 40 species distributed in tropical and temperate regions worldwide. Hardy water lilies bloom during the day floating on the water surface, while tropical water lilies have both day-blooming and night-blooming varieties that extend slightly above the water. Flowers open in early morning and close in the afternoon, repeating this cycle for several days. Since ancient times, they have been treated as sacred flowers and symbolize rebirth due to their cycle of closing at night and opening in the morning.
Trivia
- Japanese name 'Hitsujigusa' derives from blooming around 2 PM
- World-famous through Monet's 'Water Lilies' series
- Flowers bloom for 3-4 days before sinking underwater to form seeds
- Some tropical water lilies have the unique trait of blooming at night and closing in the morning
Uses
Ornamental
- Ornamental cultivation in ponds and water containers
- Water landscape design in gardens
- Short-term enjoyment as cut flowers
Medicinal
- Rhizomes said to have astringent properties
- Used for fever reduction in some folk medicine traditions
Caution:
Consult experts for medical use
Culinary
Generally not suitable for consumption
Other
- Ingredient for perfumes and cosmetics
- Decoration in religious ceremonies
Toxicity
Toxicity Level:
Mild
Toxic Parts:
entire plant
Symptoms:
Large consumption may cause gastrointestinal discomfort
Kangaroo Paw
Anigozanthos
Scientific Name:
Anigozanthos flavidus
Family:
Haemodoraceae
Flower Language
-
wonder
-
you entertain everyone
-
goodwill
Description
Named after its tubular flowers with six split ends that resemble kangaroo front paws. Originally native only to southwestern Australia, but now through breeding, a rich variety of flower colors including pink, red, yellow, green, and orange can be enjoyed. The flower surface is covered with fine hairs, featuring a velvet-like texture. A perennial growing 30cm to 1m tall that blooms unique flowers once a year.
Trivia
- Scientific name Anigozanthos combines Greek words for 'open' and 'flower'
- Has been featured on Australian one-cent coins
- Flowers have the unique trait of blooming from top to bottom in sequence
- In the wild, has the property of sprouting after bushfires, part of fire ecosystems
Uses
Ornamental
- Ornamental cultivation in gardens
- Cut flowers for bouquets and arrangements
- Indoor decoration in pots
Medicinal
- Some parts used in Aboriginal traditional medicine
- Medicinal effects in modern medicine under research
Caution:
Avoid medical use outside traditional practices
Culinary
Not suitable for consumption
Other
- Long-term preservation as dried flowers
- Popular souvenir item from Australia
Toxicity
Symptoms:
No particular toxicity reported
Channeled Heath
Black-eyed Heath
Kuroshibe Erica
Scientific Name:
Erica canaliculata
Family:
Ericaceae
Flower Language
-
loneliness
-
happiness
-
happy love
Characteristics
Colors:
pink
Description
An evergreen small shrub native to the Cape region of South Africa, introduced to Japan around 1920. It produces small pink bell-shaped flowers 3-4mm long in clusters of three at the tips of finely divided branches. Its most distinctive feature is that both the calyx and corolla are 4-lobed, with dark purple stamen anthers protruding from the flower center. These black anthers resemble snake-eye patterns, giving the plant its name. It blooms for a long period from November to April and is cold-hardy to minus 5 degrees Celsius.
Trivia
- Japanese name 'Kuroshibe Erica' named after its black stamens
- Valued as particularly cold-hardy among Erica species
- Long flowering period makes it valuable for adding color to winter gardens
- Previously known by the scientific name Erica melanthera
Uses
Ornamental
- Used as ground cover in gardens
- Ornamental pot cultivation
- Rock garden decoration
Medicinal
- Used for cough relief in European folk medicine
- Used as herbal tea in some regions
Caution:
Consult experts for medical use
Culinary
Not suitable for consumption
Other
- Used as dried flowers
- Nectar source for heath honey
Toxicity
Toxicity Level:
Mild
Toxic Parts:
leaves, flowers
Symptoms:
Large consumption may cause gastrointestinal discomfort
Japanese Primrose
Siebold's Primrose
Cherry Blossom Primrose
Scientific Name:
Primula sieboldii
Family:
Primulaceae
Flower Language
-
first love
-
purity
-
hope
-
lovely
Description
Representative of Japanese Primula species, this perennial is distributed in highlands and fields of southern Hokkaido, Honshu, and Kyushu, extending to the Korean Peninsula and northeastern China. It sprouts in spring, spreading several oblong leaves with shallow indentations from the base, and from April to May produces a single flower stem from the center bearing several flowers 2-5cm in diameter. Known as a classical horticultural plant with breeding that advanced during the Edo period, creating about 300 varieties. It is designated as the prefectural flower of Saitama and Osaka.
Trivia
- Breeding was so active during the Edo period that 322 varieties were recognized
- Detailed names were given to combinations of flower shapes and colors
- Specialized enthusiast groups still work on variety preservation today
- Unusual ecology of leaves yellowing around June and dormancy from summer to autumn
Uses
Ornamental
- Pot cultivation as wildflower
- Ground planting in rock gardens
- Main feature in spring container gardens
Medicinal
- Used for fever reduction in folk medicine
- Used as Chinese medicine ingredient in some regions
Caution:
Consult experts for medical use
Culinary
Not suitable for consumption
Other
- Used for pressed flowers
- Research subject in classical horticulture
Toxicity
Toxicity Level:
Mild
Toxic Parts:
entire plant
Symptoms:
Skin contact may cause inflammation
Nodding Anemone
Pasque Flower
Old Man Grass
Scientific Name:
Pulsatilla cernua
Family:
Ranunculaceae
Flower Language
-
asking for nothing
-
service
-
pure heart
-
unspoken love
Characteristics
Colors:
dark reddish purple
Description
A perennial growing in sunny mountain fields, characterized by being entirely covered with white hairs. In April-May, it produces dark reddish purple flowers close to charcoal brown that droop downward, with distinctive downy hairs on the outside of petals. After flowering, it transforms into white fluffy seeds like dandelions, and these white hairy fruits resembling old man's hair give the plant its name. It is an endangered species in Japan, naturally growing in sunny grasslands including Kyushu and Shikoku.
Trivia
- Has many alternative names including 'Zengaisou' and 'Yureibanana'
- Fluffy seeds after flowering are carried far by wind
- Once commonly seen in spring mountain fields but now drastically reduced
- Scientific name Pulsatilla means 'to beat/ring' named after bell shape
Uses
Ornamental
- Pot cultivation as wildflower
- Protected cultivation in rock gardens
- Exhibition cultivation in botanical gardens
Medicinal
- Used as Baitouweng in Chinese medicine
- Said to have fever-reducing and analgesic effects
Caution:
Dangerous for amateur use due to toxicity
Culinary
Strictly forbidden for consumption due to toxicity
Other
- Used for pressed flowers
- Symbol of endangered species protection
Toxicity
Toxicity Level:
Severe
Toxic Parts:
entire plant, especially rhizomes
Symptoms:
Causes serious poisoning symptoms including dermatitis, gastrointestinal disorders, and cardiac effects
Fern
Pteridophyte
Scientific Name:
Pteridophyta (Division)
Family:
Various fern families
Flower Language
-
sincerity
-
loveliness
-
fascination
-
dream
Characteristics
Colors:
green
Description
Ferns are 'vascular plants that reproduce by spores' with distinct roots, leaves, and stems, but reproduce by spores rather than seeds. Characterized by having no flowers, sporangia usually cluster on leaf undersides or edges to form sori. Distributed in humid environments worldwide and popular as houseplants. The flower language of 'fascination' and 'dream' comes from European legends that ferns bloom for just a moment on summer solstice night.
Trivia
- One of Earth's oldest plant groups, existing for about 400 million years
- Unusual plants that don't flower but have flower language
- Recognized as NASA-certified air-purifying plants
- Some species have survived unchanged since dinosaur times
Uses
Ornamental
- Indoor cultivation as houseplants
- Shade gardens
- Terrarium cultivation
Medicinal
- Some species used in Chinese medicine
- Used for hemostasis and detoxification in folk medicine
Caution:
Caution needed as some species are toxic
Culinary
- Young fiddleheads (bracken, royal fern, etc.)
Other
- Air-purifying houseplants
- Pressed flowers and specimen making
Toxicity
Toxicity Level:
Mild
Toxic Parts:
varies by species
Symptoms:
Varies by species, but some may cause dermatitis or gastrointestinal disorders