March 15

Birth Flower

Cornflower
Bachelor's Button Bluebottle

Scientific Name: Centaurea cyanus
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • delicacy
  • elegance
  • education

Characteristics

Colors: blue

Description

Yagurumasou is properly called Yaguruma-giku, an annual herb from Europe in the Asteraceae family. It's a perennial that grows in moist mountainous areas, often forming colonies. The alternative name Centaurea comes from Greek mythology where centaurs used this plant's leaves to heal wounds. Blooms beautiful blue-purple flowers from May to July, with such beautiful color that the finest sapphire shade is expressed as 'cornflower blue'. Originally a weed in wheat fields, now widely cultivated for ornamental purposes.

Trivia

  • Scientific name 'cyanus' means 'blue' in Greek
  • Finest sapphire color called 'cornflower blue'
  • Flower beloved by Napoleon's first wife Josephine
  • Specially regarded as 'Emperor's flower' in Germany

Uses

Ornamental
  • Flower bed cultivation
  • Used as cut flowers
  • Wildflower gardens
Medicinal
  • Traditionally used for eye washing
  • Said to have anti-inflammatory effects
  • Used as herbal tea

Caution: Professional consultation required for medicinal use

Culinary
  • flowers
  • young leaves
Other
  • Used as natural dye
  • Popular as dried flowers
  • Used as cosmetic ingredient

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity reported with normal use

Viola
Pansy Heartsease

Scientific Name: Viola × wittrockiana
Family: Violaceae

Flower Language

  • unwavering soul
  • thoughtfulness
  • think of me

Characteristics

Colors: multicolor (purple, pink, white, yellow, orange, etc.)

Description

Viola is a perennial from Europe in the Violaceae family, treated as annual in horticulture. Various sized varieties are available, with small-flowered types being cold and heat tolerant, coloring flower beds for over half a year from autumn to early summer with proper care. Flower colors are extremely diverse including purple, pink, red, orange, yellow, black, blue, white, brown, green, with many bicolor varieties. Differs from pansy by flower size - generally under 5cm called viola, over 5cm called pansy.

Trivia

  • Scientific name honors researcher Wittrock
  • Flower beloved by Napoleon during exile on Elba
  • Called 'thinking face' for face-like patterns on flowers
  • One of world's most popular winter-spring bedding plants

Uses

Ornamental
  • Flower bed cultivation
  • Potted plant appreciation
  • Hanging baskets
Medicinal
  • Traditionally used for cough relief
  • Said to have anti-inflammatory effects
  • Used as herbal tea

Caution: Professional consultation required for medicinal use

Culinary
  • flowers
  • leaves
Other
  • Popular for container combinations
  • Used as ground cover
  • Used as perfume ingredient

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity reported with normal use

Lace Flower
Queen Anne's Lace White Lace Flower

Scientific Name: Ammi majus
Family: Apiaceae

Flower Language

  • subtle feelings
  • lovely love
  • delicacy

Characteristics

Colors: white

Description

Lace Flower is an annual herb from Mediterranean coast to Western Asia in the Apiaceae family, formally called White Lace Flower. Small white flowers cluster at stem tips, with about 20 small flowers forming inflorescences that further gather into delicate, beautiful umbrella-shaped forms 10-15cm in diameter. The way sand-grain-like tiny flowers densely cluster to form larger shapes truly resembles lace-like delicacy. Japanese name is 'Dokuzeri-modoki' but unlike the highly toxic Dokuzeri, Lace Flower has no toxicity.

Trivia

  • Scientific name 'Ammi majus' - 'majus' means 'larger'
  • Extremely long-lasting as cut flower, enjoyable for over 2 weeks
  • Retains beauty even as dried flower
  • Important flower material beloved by florists worldwide

Uses

Ornamental
  • Used as cut flowers
  • Wedding bouquets
  • Flower arrangements
Medicinal
  • No common medicinal uses known

Caution: Careful handling as member of carrot family

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Popular as dried flowers
  • Important for bridal decorations
  • Used as breeding parent for horticultural varieties

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity reported with normal use

Sweet Pea
Fragrant Pea Everlasting Pea

Scientific Name: Lathyrus odoratus
Family: Fabaceae

Flower Language

  • modest pleasure
  • departure
  • tender memories

Characteristics

Colors: white

Description

Sweet Pea is an annual herb from Sicily, Italy in the Fabaceae family, reportedly discovered by a priest in the mid-17th century. Blooms from April to June announcing spring, with thin petals arranged frill-like in beautiful butterfly shapes. White Sweet Pea has the flower language of 'modest pleasure' and is characterized by sweet, gentle fragrance. As a legume, it extends stems 3-4m by twining tendrils around supports. Japanese names include 'Kaori-endo' (fragrant pea) and 'Jako-endo' (musk pea).

Trivia

  • Scientific name 'odoratus' means 'fragrant'
  • Said to have nearly 170 colors including natural varieties
  • Became hugely popular in Japan through Seiko Matsuda's song
  • Actually 'red sweet pea' is color that doesn't exist in nature

Uses

Ornamental
  • Used as cut flowers
  • Garden arch cultivation
  • Used on hedges and fences
Medicinal
  • No common medicinal uses known

Caution: Caution needed as seeds are toxic

Culinary

Not edible as seeds are toxic

Other
  • Used for fragrance
  • Popular as dried flowers
  • Used as breeding parent for horticultural varieties

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Moderate

Toxic Parts: seeds, young pods

Symptoms: May affect nervous system with large amounts