Japanese Iris
Hanashōbu
Ensata Iris
Scientific Name:
Iris ensata var. ensata
Family:
Iridaceae
Description
Japanese Iris is a representative Japanese garden plant created by improving wild Iris ensata during the Edo period. It blooms beautifully during the June rainy season, with flower colors including white, pink, purple, blue, and yellow. Including combinations with stripes and edges, about 5,000 varieties are said to exist. The flower petals have yellow bases, and leaves are 1-2.5cm wide with raised midribs.
Trivia
- Over 300 varieties were created during the Edo period, now exceeding 5,000 types
- Distinguished from other iris species by the color at the base of petals
- Beloved by Emperor Meiji with deep connections to the imperial family
- Famous iris spots include Horikiri Iris Garden and Mizumoto Park
Uses
Ornamental
- Iris garden displays
- Cut flowers
- Japanese garden decoration
Medicinal
- Rhizomes said to have hemostatic and anti-inflammatory effects but not commonly used today
Caution:
Medicinal use requires specialist knowledge
Culinary
Not suitable for culinary use
Other
- Can be used as dye
- Traditional craft material
Toxicity
Symptoms:
No particular toxicity reported
Thistle
Japanese Thistle
Cirsium
Scientific Name:
Cirsium japonicum
Family:
Asteraceae
Flower Language
-
Authority
-
Independence
-
Revenge
Description
Thistle is a perennial herb in the Asteraceae family widely distributed around the world, with many species native to Japan. Characterized by thorns on leaves and stems that are painful to touch, giving it its name. It produces beautiful purple flowers from May to August. In Scotland, it became the national flower after enemies cried out when stepping on thistles, making it a flower of national salvation.
Trivia
- Became Scotland's national flower due to a 13th-century night attack incident
- About 200 thistle species exist worldwide
- Japan alone has about 100 native species
- Flower nectar is an important nutrient source for butterflies and bees
Uses
Ornamental
- Wild flower gardens
- Dried flowers
- Natural landscape design
Medicinal
- Hemostatic and anti-inflammatory effects
- Detoxification effects
- Diuretic effects
Caution:
Avoid medicinal use without expert knowledge
Culinary
- Young leaves
- Roots
- Flowers
Other
- Important nectar source
- Soil improvement effects
- Wildlife food source
Toxicity
Symptoms:
Safe for consumption, but beware of physical injury from thorns
Lily of the Valley
May Bells
Our Lady's Tears
Scientific Name:
Convallaria majalis
Family:
Asparagaceae
Flower Language
-
Happiness
-
Purity
-
Chastity
Description
Lily of the Valley is a perennial herb in the Asparagaceae family native to cool regions of the Northern Hemisphere, producing white bell-like flowers that hang downward. Blooming from April to May, it's beloved for its elegant and pure flower appearance, but the entire plant is highly toxic. The component convallatoxin is about 15 times more toxic than potassium cyanide, and even drinking water in which the flowers have been arranged can cause poisoning.
Trivia
- French tradition holds that giving lily of the valley on May 1st brings happiness
- A case in Germany involved a 3-year-old girl who died from drinking vase water
- Lethal dose of convallatoxin is 0.3mg per kg of body weight
- Dior's 'Muguet' perfume recreates the lily of the valley scent
Uses
Ornamental
- Shade garden appreciation
- Cut flowers (with caution)
- Ground cover
Medicinal
- Historically used for heart conditions but now considered too dangerous
Caution:
Medicinal use should be absolutely avoided today
Other
- Used in perfume production
- Traditional wedding bouquet material
Toxicity
Toxicity Level:
Severe
Toxic Parts:
Entire plant, Especially roots and seeds, Water used for flower arrangements
Symptoms:
Vomiting, headache, dizziness, heart failure, low blood pressure, cardiac arrest. Can be fatal in severe cases
Calla Lily
Arum Lily
Zantedeschia
Scientific Name:
Zantedeschia aethiopica
Family:
Araceae
Characteristics
Colors:
White
Description
Calla lily is a perennial herb in the Araceae family native to South Africa, introduced to Japan from Holland in the late Edo period. The white megaphone-shaped part is not a flower but a modified sepal called a spathe, with the yellow central part being the flower cluster. Named 'calla' because its shape resembles a shirt collar. There are both wetland and dryland varieties with different cultivation methods.
Trivia
- Flower language 'purity' comes from the beauty of white spathe
- Actual flowers are the yellow central part, white part is modified sepals
- Wetland varieties prefer water areas, dryland varieties prefer dry conditions
- Good vase life as cut flowers, lasting over a week
Uses
Ornamental
- Cut flowers
- Wedding bouquets
- Potted plants
Medicinal
- Used in South African folk medicine but not recommended due to toxicity
Caution:
Medicinal use should be avoided due to toxicity
Other
- Flower arrangements
- Wedding decorations
Toxicity
Toxicity Level:
Moderate
Toxic Parts:
Entire plant, Especially bulbs and stems
Symptoms:
Calcium oxalate crystals cause severe throat pain, difficulty swallowing, and oral swelling