February 29

Birth Flower

Pansy
Garden Pansy Heartsease

Scientific Name: Viola × wittrockiana
Family: Violaceae

Flower Language

  • thoughts
  • think of me
  • modesty
  • thoughtful
  • modest joy
  • rural joy
  • gentleness
  • innocence

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

A horticultural plant of the Viola genus in the Violaceae family, native to Europe, created in the 19th century by crossing wild heartsease with two other species. The name 'pansy' derives from the French 'pensée' (thought). Shakespeare's works feature a story where dropping this flower's juice in someone's eyes makes them fall in love with the first man they see upon waking. It's an extremely hardy plant that can withstand snow and freezing temperatures.

Trivia

  • Name derives from French 'pensée' meaning thought
  • Appears in Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
  • Extremely hardy plant that can withstand snow and freezing
  • Also used as edible flower

Uses

Ornamental
  • Flower beds
  • Planters
  • Mixed plantings
Medicinal
  • Historically used in folk medicine for skin conditions

Caution: Medicinal use not currently recommended

Culinary
  • Flowers (as edible flowers)
Other
  • Perfume ingredients
  • Pressed flowers
  • Horticultural education

Toxicity

Toxic Parts: No toxicity reported (used as edible flower)

Symptoms: Safely used as food

Lobelia
Edging Lobelia Garden Lobelia

Scientific Name: Lobelia erinus
Family: Campanulaceae

Flower Language

  • modest attitude
  • always charming
  • humility
  • chastity
  • malice

Characteristics

Colors: white

Description

A plant of the Lobelia genus in the Campanulaceae family, native to South Africa. It has Japanese names including Ruri-mizokakushi and Ruri-chousou. The name partly derives from flowers shaped like butterflies. White varieties express modest refinement through clusters of simple white flowers. Blooming period is April to July, and if it survives summer, it blooms again from mid-September to mid-November.

Trivia

  • Named for butterfly-like flower shape
  • Poisonous plant containing alkaloid lobeline in all parts
  • Used in folk medicine for respiratory ailments but dangerous due to toxicity
  • Perennial in South Africa but treated as annual in Japan

Uses

Ornamental
  • Flower beds
  • Hanging baskets
  • Planters
Medicinal
  • Historically used in folk medicine for respiratory ailments but requires caution

Caution: Contains toxic alkaloid lobeline, medicinal use is dangerous

Culinary

Must not be used as food due to toxicity

Other
  • Ornamental use only
  • Nectar source
  • Container gardens

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Severe

Toxic Parts: All parts (flowers, leaves, roots)

Symptoms: Severe side effects from alkaloid lobeline including respiratory distress, vomiting, and convulsions

Spring Orchid
Noble Orchid Cymbidium

Scientific Name: Cymbidium goeringii
Family: Orchidaceae

Flower Language

  • unadorned heart
  • modest beauty
  • elegance
  • purity

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

A perennial of the Cymbidium genus in the Orchidaceae family, native to Japan, China, Taiwan, and the Korean Peninsula. It grows wild in forests near human settlements and can commonly be found in low mountains from Hokkaido to Kyushu. The flower language comes from its quiet blooming in dim mountain areas during the still-cold March to April period, and its refined sideways-facing flowers. Long used in horticulture as an oriental orchid, the flowers are also edible.

Trivia

  • Various regional names including Jijibaba and Hokuro
  • Flower spots likened to age spots on elderly faces
  • Used as ingredient for orchid tea served at celebrations
  • Representative species of oriental orchids cultivated since ancient times

Uses

Ornamental
  • Oriental orchid cultivation
  • Wildflower gardens
  • Tea ceremony flowers
Medicinal
  • No recorded medicinal uses

Caution: No medicinal information available

Culinary
  • Flowers (as food)
Other
  • Ornamental use
  • Cultural events
  • Traditional horticulture

Toxicity

Toxic Parts: No toxicity reported (used as food)

Symptoms: Safely used as food

Forget-me-not
True Forget-me-not Scorpion Grass

Scientific Name: Myosotis scorpioides
Family: Boraginaceae

Flower Language

  • don't forget me
  • true friendship
  • true love

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

A plant of the Myosotis genus in the Boraginaceae family, native to Europe, with about 50 species distributed in temperate to subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Introduced to Japan during the Meiji period when horticulturists imported field forget-me-not. It produces small 5-petaled flowers 6-9mm in diameter in pale or bright blue, and while individual flowers are rice-grain sized, the sight of countless small blue flowers blooming is extremely beautiful.

Trivia

  • Flower language derives from medieval German tragic love legend
  • Designated as state flower of Alaska
  • Perennial in native habitat but treated as annual in Japan
  • Short-lived in Japan due to inability to withstand rainy season and intense heat

Uses

Ornamental
  • Spring flower beds
  • Ground cover
  • Cut flowers
Medicinal
  • Historically used in European folk medicine for respiratory ailments

Caution: Medicinal use not currently recommended

Culinary

No confirmed use as food plant

Other
  • Keepsakes
  • Pressed flowers
  • Symbol flower

Toxicity

Toxic Parts: No toxicity reported

Symptoms: No toxicity information available

Sea Pink
Thrift Lady's Cushion Armeria

Scientific Name: Armeria maritima
Family: Plumbaginaceae

Flower Language

  • thoughtfulness
  • compassion
  • sympathy
  • hospitality
  • compassion

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

A perennial of the Armeria genus in the Plumbaginaceae family, native to the Mediterranean region, Britain, Ireland, Europe, and North Africa. The scientific name Armeria means 'near the sea' in Celtic, named for its natural habitat near coastal areas. The Japanese name 'beach ornamental hairpin' comes from the image of hairpin-like flowers blooming on beaches. In spring, small flowers cluster in spherical heads at the tips of long stems, with colors including red, white, and pink.

Trivia

  • Scientific name Armeria means 'near the sea' in Celtic
  • English name 'Thrift' meaning economy expresses its hardiness
  • Extremely hardy plant that can withstand salt damage and strong winds
  • Distinctive spherical flower heads formed by clustered small flowers

Uses

Ornamental
  • Rock gardens
  • Coastal gardens
  • Ground cover
Medicinal
  • No recorded medicinal uses

Caution: No medicinal information available

Culinary

No confirmed use as food plant

Other
  • Coastal revegetation
  • Salt damage countermeasures
  • Dry land planting

Toxicity

Toxic Parts: No toxicity reported

Symptoms: No toxicity information available