March 09

Birth Flower

Sea Pink
Thrift Armeria

Scientific Name: Armeria maritima
Family: Plumbaginaceae

Flower Language

  • sympathy
  • compassion

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

The Japanese name Hama-kanzashi comes from growing on beaches and flowers resembling hair ornaments (kanzashi). Armeria is the common horticultural name. Small pink flowers cluster in spherical shapes and are used as ground cover. The scientific name Armeria means 'near the sea' in Celtic, named for growing naturally on coastal beaches. The flower language of compassion comes from the appearance of small flowers gathering and blooming together as if helping each other.

Trivia

  • Scientific name means 'near the sea' in Celtic
  • English name Sea Pink from pink flowers by the sea
  • Excellent properties as ground cover
  • Important coastal plant with salt tolerance

Uses

Ornamental
  • Perfect as ground cover
  • Popular in rock gardens
  • Standard for coastal gardens
Medicinal
  • Historical use in folk medicine

Caution: Not used medicinally now

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Soil protection effect
  • Used for coastal greening due to salt tolerance

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity has been reported.

Polyanthus Primrose
Primula Polyantha Garden Primrose

Scientific Name: Primula polyantha
Family: Primulaceae

Flower Language

  • brilliant youth
  • pride of wealth

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

It continues blooming from autumn to early spring and is a representative winter flower alongside pansies and violas. The variety of flower colors including red, pink, purple, yellow, white, and multicolored varieties are spectacular, brightening winter to spring flower beds. It's a hybrid group created by crossing European natives P. elatior, P. vulgaris, P. veris, etc., and gained popularity with the appearance of the large-flowered variety 'Pacific Giant' developed in America in the 1950s.

Trivia

  • Horticultural variety created by crossing multiple native species
  • Indispensable for winter flower beds
  • Popularity established with Pacific Giant
  • Has beautiful Japanese name Kuin-zakura (Nine-ring cherry)

Uses

Ornamental
  • Main attraction in winter flower beds
  • Indoor decoration in pots
  • Standard for container gardening
Medicinal
  • Traditional medicinal herb in Europe

Caution: Now mainly for ornamental use

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Use in horticultural therapy
  • Educational horticultural plant

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity has been reported.

Crimson Clover
Strawberry Candle Italian Clover

Scientific Name: Trifolium incarnatum
Family: Fabaceae

Flower Language

  • sparkling love
  • lighting fire in the heart
  • simple loveliness

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Native to Europe/Western Asia, it came to Japan during the Meiji era as forage grass. Named Strawberry Candle because the flower spikes resemble candles and are red in color. It blooms from April to June, and both flowers and leaves are edible. The flower language 'lighting fire in the heart' derives from the red color reminiscent of candle flames, and 'simple loveliness' comes from its simple and charming appearance.

Trivia

  • Name derived from candle-like shape and color
  • Came to Japan as forage during Meiji era
  • Can also be used as edible herb
  • Member of three-leaf clover family

Uses

Ornamental
  • Popular in spring flower beds
  • Perfect for wild gardens
  • Used as dried flowers
Medicinal
  • Used as herb

Caution: No particular cautions

Culinary
  • Flowers
  • Young leaves
Other
  • Important as forage
  • Soil improvement effect

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity has been reported. Safe as food.

Azalea
Indian Azalea Rhododendron

Scientific Name: Rhododendron simsii
Family: Ericaceae

Flower Language

  • happy to be loved by you
  • temperance

Characteristics

Colors: white

Description

A member of the azalea family native to China and Taiwan, it's a horticultural variety created through breeding in Belgium and the Netherlands. The flowers are larger than Japanese azaleas, and many double-flowered varieties exist. White azaleas symbolize purity and temperance, with the beautiful flower language 'happy to be loved by you'. Generally grown as indoor potted plants, beautiful flowers can be enjoyed from winter to spring.

Trivia

  • Horticultural variety bred in Belgium and Netherlands
  • Flowers larger than Japanese azaleas
  • Suitable for indoor cultivation
  • White flowers especially symbolize purity

Uses

Ornamental
  • Popular as indoor potted plants
  • Winter indoor decoration
  • Perfect as gift plants
Medicinal

Caution: Caution needed as Ericaceae plants are toxic

Culinary

Absolutely not suitable for consumption due to toxicity

Other
  • Use in horticultural therapy
  • Indoor air purification effect

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Severe

Toxic Parts: All parts, Especially leaves and flowers

Symptoms: Due to toxic compounds specific to Ericaceae plants, ingestion may cause severe symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, breathing difficulties, and convulsions.

Japanese Pieris
Japanese Andromeda Lily-of-the-valley Bush

Scientific Name: Pieris japonica
Family: Ericaceae

Flower Language

  • sacrifice
  • devotion

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

An evergreen shrub native to Japan, China, and the Korean Peninsula. It's a beautiful flowering tree that blooms small white or pink urn-shaped flowers in clusters in spring. The name 'horse intoxicating tree' comes from horses becoming intoxicated when eating its leaves. Known as a poisonous plant, the entire plant contains toxic components like asebotoxin. However, it's beloved as an indispensable tree in Japanese gardens for its beautiful flowers and evergreen leaves.

Trivia

  • Named because horses become intoxicated eating leaves
  • Ancient plant mentioned in Man'yoshu poetry
  • Indispensable tree in Japanese gardens
  • Beloved for beautiful flowers despite toxicity

Uses

Ornamental
  • Standard tree in Japanese gardens
  • Popular in Western gardens too
  • Used as hedges
Medicinal
  • Traditionally used as insecticide

Caution: Dangerous for amateur use due to toxicity

Culinary

Absolutely not suitable for consumption due to toxicity

Other
  • Hard wood used for crafts
  • Natural insecticidal effect

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Severe

Toxic Parts: All parts, Especially leaves

Symptoms: Toxic components like asebotoxin cause severe symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, breathing difficulties, and convulsions when ingested.

Japanese Larch
Larch

Scientific Name: Larix kaempferi
Family: Pinaceae

Flower Language

  • boldness
  • bravery

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

A Japanese native deciduous coniferous tree that unusually for conifers turns yellow and drops its leaves in autumn. It's a tall tree reaching up to 30 meters in height, blooming small flowers in spring and displaying beautiful golden autumn foliage. It's a tree adapted to cold regions, naturally growing in mountainous areas of central Honshu and northward. The timber is used for construction and civil engineering, and it's highly valued ornamentally for its beautiful autumn colors.

Trivia

  • Unusual deciduous tree among conifers
  • Beautiful golden autumn foliage
  • Representative Japanese alpine plant
  • Used for multiple purposes as timber

Uses

Ornamental
  • Beautiful autumn foliage
  • Popular as park trees
  • Important for landscape formation
Medicinal

Caution: No particular medicinal use

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Excellent as construction material
  • Used for civil engineering
  • Important as pulp wood

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity has been reported.