March 10

Birth Flower

Weeping Forsythia
Golden Bell Forsythia

Scientific Name: Forsythia suspensa
Family: Oleaceae

Flower Language

  • concentration
  • hope

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

When a large specimen in full bloom is in the garden, it looks like a fountain spouting golden water. It has many yellow four-petaled flowers. Native to China, it's a deciduous shrub of the Oleaceae family from Japan and China. It came to Japan in the early Heian period or Edo period and was initially treated as a medicinal plant. The genus name Forsythia is named after William A. Forsyth, a horticulturist who served as superintendent of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Britain in the early 19th century.

Trivia

  • Beautiful like golden fountain when in full bloom
  • Ancient plant existing in Japan since Heian period
  • Still used in Chinese medicine today
  • Indispensable presence in spring gardens

Uses

Ornamental
  • Popular as spring garden trees
  • Used as park trees
  • Flower arrangement material
Medicinal
  • Used as fever reducer in Chinese medicine
  • Used as anti-inflammatory and diuretic
  • Used as expectorant and analgesic

Caution: Professional consultation needed for medicinal use

Culinary

Not suitable for general consumption

Other
  • Commercially important as crude drug
  • Used as nectar source for honey

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity has been reported, but medicinal parts require professional knowledge.

Blue Lace Flower
Didiscus Queen Anne's Lace

Scientific Name: Trachymene coerulea
Family: Araliaceae

Flower Language

  • modest person
  • silent love

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

In early summer, small blue flowers cluster in umbrella shapes, creating an ephemeral atmosphere. The name Blue Lace Flower was given by a domestic seed company, and when this flower was introduced to Japan in the Taisho era, it was named Sorairo-racerou (Sky-colored Lace Grass). It's an annual native to Western Australia, with the old scientific name Didiscus coeruleus. Small flowers grow densely in umbrella shapes, rising hemispherically to form clusters about 5-7cm in diameter.

Trivia

  • Historic flower introduced to Japan in Taisho era
  • Characterized by delicate lace-like flower form
  • Beloved worldwide as cut flowers
  • Beautiful wild species from Australia

Uses

Ornamental
  • Very popular as cut flowers
  • Standard for flower arrangements
  • Perfect as bouquet material
Medicinal

Caution: No recorded medicinal uses

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Used as dried flowers
  • Educational material for horticulture

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity has been reported.

Spray Carnation
Multi-flowered Carnation

Scientific Name: Dianthus caryophyllus
Family: Caryophyllaceae

Flower Language

  • simplicity
  • collective beauty

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

The flower language meanings 'collective beauty' and 'simplicity' come from blooming multiple smaller flowers compared to standard carnations. 'Collective beauty' comes from the appearance of many beautiful flowers on one stem, and 'simplicity' from the simple impression of the smaller flowers. It's one of the horticultural varieties of carnation, a cold-hardy perennial of the Dianthus genus. The scientific name Dianthus is said to derive from 'Dios' meaning Jupiter in mythology and 'Anthos' meaning flower.

Trivia

  • Characterized by multiple flowers on one stem
  • Smaller than standard but wins with numbers
  • Beloved worldwide as cut flowers
  • Flower language derives from blooming pattern

Uses

Ornamental
  • Most popular as cut flowers
  • Standard for flower arrangements
  • Excellent as bouquet material
Medicinal

Caution: No recorded medicinal uses

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Used as perfume ingredient
  • Popular as dried flowers

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity has been reported.

Elm
Japanese Elm

Scientific Name: Ulmus davidiana
Family: Ulmaceae

Flower Language

  • sensitivity
  • dignity

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

The Ulmus genus has about 20 species in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with fairly similar species distributed in Asia, North America, and Europe. Three species are distributed in Japan: Ulmus davidiana (Haru-nire), Ulmus parvifolia (Aki-nire), and Ulmus laciniata (Ohyo). Elm is distributed throughout Hokkaido and from northeastern to Kanto mountainous areas of Honshu. Tree height ranges from less than 10 meters to over 40 meters. It's a broadleaf tree, basically deciduous, known as somewhat hard timber with air-dry specific gravity of 0.63.

Trivia

  • Tree species widely distributed in Northern Hemisphere temperate regions
  • Used for multiple purposes as timber
  • Beloved worldwide as street trees
  • Characterized by dignified tree form

Uses

Ornamental
  • Popular as street trees
  • Used as park trees
  • Also planted as garden trees
Medicinal
  • Bark traditionally used medicinally
  • Used for treating skin diseases and wounds

Caution: Now mainly for ornamental and timber use

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Excellent as construction material
  • Used for furniture
  • Important as pulp wood

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity has been reported.