June 05

Birth Flower

Hyacinth orchid
Chinese ground orchid Hardy orchid

Scientific Name: Bletilla striata
Family: Orchidaceae

Flower Language

  • Hope

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

A terrestrial orchid distributed from southwestern China to Taiwan, the Southwest Islands, and central Japan, found in wetlands and under cliffs. While many wild orchid species are difficult to cultivate, Bletilla is said to be easy to grow. It's hardy against both cold and heat, dropping leaves when temperatures fall but regrowing from underground pseudobulbs (bulb-like structures) in spring.

Trivia

  • Blooms April to May with purple-red flowers on 30-50cm stems bearing several flowers at the tip
  • Wild specimens classified as near threatened species requiring protection
  • Dried pseudobulbs processed by steaming or hot water immersion used as herbal medicine 'Byakkyu'
  • Prefers well-draining soil; good mix of small akadama soil, kanuma soil with perlite or small pumice

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden cultivation
  • Container gardening
  • Display in alpine gardens
Medicinal
  • Dried pseudobulbs used as herbal medicine 'Byakkyu'
  • Astringent hemostatic and drainage effects
  • External treatment for wounds and burns

Caution: Medicinal use should be under expert guidance

Culinary

Not edible (medicinal use only)

Other
  • Commercial use as herbal medicine
  • Use in horticultural therapy
  • Use as research material

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity reported (medicinal plant)

Tritonia
Flame freesia

Scientific Name: Tritonia crocata
Family: Iridaceae

Flower Language

  • Don't get so heated

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Has slender stems and leaves, producing freesia-like flowers in spikes from spring to early summer. Flower colors include yellow, orange, and white. A semi-hardy small bulb planted in autumn to bloom in spring (April-May). Requires temperatures above 5°C in winter and prefers sunny, warm locations.

Trivia

  • Produces funnel-shaped flowers on stems 30-50cm tall
  • Breeding mainly focuses on Tritonia crocata varieties
  • Dormant period June-September, can be left planted
  • Water thoroughly when soil surface dries during growing period, stop watering during dormancy

Uses

Ornamental
  • Cultivation as spring bulb flower
  • Use as cut flowers
  • Container gardening
Medicinal
  • No notable medicinal uses recorded

Caution: Medicinal use not recommended

Culinary

Not edible

Other
  • Popular in horticultural collections
  • Symbol of South African ecosystem conservation

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity reported

Spotted bellflower
Bellflower

Scientific Name: Campanula punctata
Family: Campanulaceae

Flower Language

  • Faithfulness
  • Justice
  • Chastity

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

A perennial that produces downward-facing bell-shaped flowers. The name comes from the idea that 'if you trap fireflies inside the flowers, their light can be seen through the petals.' Very hardy and easy to grow, blooming even in partial shade. Easily spreads through underground rhizomes and is easy to cultivate, making it recommended for beginners.

Trivia

  • Alternative names include Chochin-bana (lantern flower), Tsurigane-sou (bell grass), and Amefuri-bana (rain flower)
  • Blooms late May to July; plant in spring or autumn on warm days, avoiding midsummer and midwinter
  • Non-toxic and edible - tender young shoots, leaves in early spring, and flowers in early summer can be eaten
  • Very hardy and easy to grow, blooming even in partial shade, making it recommended for beginners

Uses

Ornamental
  • Cultivation in partial shade gardens
  • Planting in wildflower gardens
  • Use as ground cover
Medicinal
  • Sometimes used in folk medicine for expectorant and cough relief

Caution: Medicinal use should be under expert guidance

Culinary
  • Young shoots
  • Young leaves
  • Flowers
Other
  • Children's nature experience learning
  • Use as tool for insect observation
  • Indicator plant for ecosystems

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity, edible

Arrowhead
Three-leaf arrowhead

Scientific Name: Sagittaria trifolia
Family: Alismataceae

Flower Language

  • Trust

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Leaves cluster at the base with long petioles in distinctive arrow shapes. Named 'Omodaka' (face-high) because the leaves resemble human faces and the leaf veins are prominently raised on the surface. Produces pure white flowers with 3 petals on long stems. The white flowers are about 2.5cm in diameter; though monoecious, it has separate male and female flowers, with male flowers at the top and female flowers at the bottom.

Trivia

  • Alternative names include Hana-kuwai, Sankaku-gusa, Imo-gusa, Otoge-nashi, Kachi-gusa, and Tori-no-ashi
  • Blooms July-October; monoecious but with separate male and female flowers
  • Spreads by runners and forms round bulbs at their tips
  • Hardy with strong reproductive capacity; treated as weed in rice fields but widely used in aquariums and biotopes

Uses

Ornamental
  • Aquarium cultivation
  • Use in biotopes
  • Waterside landscape plant
Medicinal
  • Used as medicinal herb in some regions like Siberia

Caution: Medicinal use should be under expert guidance

Culinary

Arrowhead tubers are small, bitter and inedible (different from water chestnut)

Other
  • Cultural use as family crest motif
  • Use as water purification plant
  • Indicator plant for ecosystems

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity reported

Marigold
African marigold French marigold

Scientific Name: Tagetes patula
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • Brave

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

A very hardy and easy-to-grow plant with a long blooming period from April to December and strong heat resistance. Sun-loving marigolds produce better flowers when grown in locations with plenty of sunlight. Best seeding time is March to May, and they can be used mainly as herbal tea and edible flowers.

Trivia

  • Marigolds have nematode suppression effects, with 'alpha-terthienyl' in roots as main active ingredient
  • English flower meanings also include 'jealousy', 'despair', and 'grief'
  • Color-specific meanings: yellow for 'health', orange for 'prophecy'
  • Best seeding time March-May, long blooming period April-December

Uses

Ornamental
  • Flower bed planting
  • Container gardening
  • Use as cut flowers
Medicinal
  • Used as herbal tea
  • Sometimes used externally for skin inflammation relief

Caution: When using marigolds for consumption, purchase seedlings sold as edible flowers or herbs

Culinary
  • Petals
  • Young leaves
Other
  • Companion plant for nematode control
  • Natural insect repellent effect
  • Use as natural dye

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity reported (usable as edible flower)

Dahlia
Garden dahlia

Scientific Name: Dahlia pinnata
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • Elegance

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Originating from Mexico's highlands, it's sensitive to heat. In Japan, more vivid and beautiful flowers bloom in northeastern regions, Hokkaido, and high altitude areas. After the first flowers bloom in early summer, flowering may cease or colors may dull during summer. In cool regions or when temperatures drop in autumn even in flatlands, vibrant colored flowers bloom again.

Trivia

  • Name 'Dahlia' comes from Anders Dahl, Swedish botanist and disciple of Linnaeus
  • First introduced to Japan in 1842 (Tenpo 13) from Holland to Nagasaki
  • Main flower meanings are magnificence, elegance, fickleness, betrayal; 'dignity' and 'elegance' in English
  • Once considered poisonous but this was incorrect; actually non-toxic

Uses

Ornamental
  • Major garden planting
  • Use as cut flowers
  • Container gardening
Medicinal
  • Sometimes used in folk medicine for diabetes treatment

Caution: Medicinal use should be under expert guidance

Culinary
  • Tubers
Other
  • Research material for breeding
  • Use in horticultural therapy
  • Important crop in floriculture industry

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic but tubers contain polysaccharide inulin; large consumption by unaccustomed people may cause abdominal bloating