April 23

Birth Flower

Tree Peony
Moutan Peony King of Flowers

Scientific Name: Paeonia suffruticosa
Family: Paeoniaceae

Flower Language

  • noble bearing
  • nobility
  • wealth and honor

Characteristics

Colors: red

Description

Tree peony is a deciduous shrub native to China in the Paeoniaceae family, beloved since ancient times as the 'King of a Hundred Flowers'. It was introduced to Japan around the 8th century and blooms large, magnificent flowers from April to May. Flower colors are diverse including red, pink, white, yellow, and purple, with varieties ranging from single to double blooms. In China, it is considered a symbol of wealth and status, valued as the centerpiece of gardens. The root bark is used in traditional Chinese medicine as 'moutan cortex'.

Trivia

  • In China, beloved by alternative names such as 'Flower King' and 'King of a Hundred Flowers'
  • Hasedera Temple in Nara is famous as Japan's oldest peony viewing spot
  • Similar to herbaceous peony, but tree peony is woody while herbaceous peony is herbaceous
  • Flower lifespan is short at 3-5 days, with rarity expressed as 'one day worth a thousand gold'

Uses

Ornamental
  • Planted as the centerpiece of gardens
  • Enjoyed as cut flowers for short periods
  • Cultivated as bonsai
Medicinal
  • Root bark (moutan cortex) used in traditional Chinese medicine for blood circulation improvement
  • Believed to have anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing effects
  • Used in treating gynecological disorders

Caution: Medicinal use should be under professional guidance, avoid amateur use

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption, please limit use to ornamental purposes

Other
  • Essential oil extracted from flowers as fragrance material
  • Petals used as high-quality painting materials
  • Petals used as natural dye

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: whole plant (mild)

Symptoms: May cause mild gastrointestinal upset if consumed in large quantities, but no problem with normal ornamental use

Windflower
Anemone Coronaria Anemone

Scientific Name: Anemone coronaria
Family: Ranunculaceae

Flower Language

  • expectation
  • I love you
  • I love you

Characteristics

Colors: red

Description

Anemone is a bulb plant native to the Mediterranean coast in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Anemone. It blooms vibrant flowers in red, blue, pink, white, and other colors from March to May. The flower name derives from the Greek word 'anemos' meaning 'wind', and is also called 'windflower'. In Greek mythology, it is said to be a flower born from the blood of the beautiful youth Adonis, with another theory that it was born from Venus's tears.

Trivia

  • The flower name originates from Greek 'anemos (wind)' and is called 'windflower' in English
  • Flowers are weather-sensitive, closing on windy or cloudy days
  • Bulbs remain dormant during summer, planted in autumn and bloom in spring
  • Also cultivated in ancient Egypt, discovered in pharaohs' tombs

Uses

Ornamental
  • Cultivated as bulb plants in spring flower beds
  • Enjoyed as cut flowers for short periods
  • Indoor decoration in potted plants
Medicinal
  • Used as medicinal herb in ancient Greece but now considered dangerous
  • Not used in modern medicine

Caution: Absolutely avoid medicinal use as the whole plant is toxic

Culinary

Strictly prohibited for culinary use due to toxic protoanemonin content

Other
  • Popular material for pressed flowers
  • Long-term preservation as dried flowers
  • Psychological effects in horticultural therapy

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Moderate

Toxic Parts: whole plant, especially stems and sap

Symptoms: Contact with stem sap causes dermatitis and blisters, ingestion causes gastrointestinal symptoms

Blue-eyed Grass
Pointed Blue-eyed Grass Narrow-leaf Blue-eyed Grass

Scientific Name: Sisyrinchium angustifolium
Family: Iridaceae

Flower Language

  • rich emotions
  • prosperity
  • patience

Characteristics

Colors: blue

Description

Niwazekishou is a perennial plant native to North America in the Iridaceae family that naturalized in Japan during the Meiji period. It is small at 10-20cm tall and blooms blue-purple 6-petaled flowers about 1cm in diameter from May to June. Commonly seen in lawns, roadsides, and vacant lots, it is now widely distributed throughout Japan. The flowers are day-blooming, closing in the afternoon.

Trivia

  • Introduced for ornamental purposes during the Meiji period but now often treated as a weed
  • Flowers are day-blooming, opening in the morning and closing in the afternoon, not blooming on bad weather days
  • Seeds are very small and spread by wind
  • Affectionately called 'little blue eyes' in Ireland

Uses

Ornamental
  • Ground cover in wildflower gardens and natural-style gardens
  • Accent plant in rock gardens
  • Natural coloring in lawns through naturalized growth
Medicinal
  • Used in Native American folk medicine for eye ailments
  • Currently not used medicinally

Caution: Effects in modern medicine unconfirmed, medicinal use not recommended

Culinary

For ornamental use only, no records of culinary use

Other
  • Popular material for pressed flowers
  • Used as indicator plant in ecological research
  • Utilized as nature observation material for children

Toxicity

Symptoms: Generally considered non-toxic, but avoid consumption as it is not edible

Bellflower
Canterbury Bells Campanula

Scientific Name: Campanula medium
Family: Campanulaceae

Flower Language

  • gratitude
  • sincerity
  • constancy

Characteristics

Colors: purple

Description

Campanula is a plant native to Europe in the Campanulaceae family, genus Campanula, characterized by bell-shaped flowers. 'Campanula' means 'little bell' in Latin, and the English name 'bellflower' also derives from this shape. It blooms purple, blue, white, pink, and other colored flowers from May to July, with many varieties ranging from annuals to perennials. It has been a beloved popular flower in European gardens since ancient times.

Trivia

  • The genus name Campanula derives from Latin meaning 'little bell'
  • About 300 species are distributed worldwide with thousands of horticultural varieties
  • In Britain, beloved as 'Canterbury Bells' and associated with Canterbury Cathedral
  • Flowers bloom downward, structured so rain doesn't accumulate inside

Uses

Ornamental
  • Used as border plants in flower beds
  • Can be enjoyed as cut flowers for long periods
  • Indoor decoration in potted plants
Medicinal
  • Used for sore throat in European folk medicine
  • Currently not used medicinally

Caution: Effects in modern medicine unconfirmed, use for ornamental purposes is recommended

Culinary
  • young leaves
  • flowers
Other
  • Long-term preservation as dried flowers
  • Popular material for pressed flowers
  • Psychological effects in garden therapy

Toxicity

Symptoms: Generally non-toxic with some parts edible, but avoid consuming horticultural varieties