June 09

Birth Flower

Godetia
Satin Flower Farewell to Spring

Scientific Name: Clarkia amoena
Family: Onagraceae

Flower Language

  • unchanging love
  • I adore you

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

An annual from the Onagraceae family native to North America, producing vivid cup-shaped flowers in early summer. Growing 50-80cm tall, blooming around May with numerous 4-petaled flowers 3-5cm in diameter in colors including red, crimson, pink, white, and salmon pink. Petals are thin and delicate, resembling satin fabric, earning the English name 'Satin Flower.' Flowers have bright, translucent colors, branching from the base with buds at tips that continue opening even when cut. Petals have a glossy appearance like beautiful paper crafts. Japanese names include Iro-matsuyoigusa (colored evening primrose) and Tairin-matsuyoigusa (large evening primrose) due to similarity to evening primroses in the same family.

Trivia

  • English name 'Satin Flower' comes from petals' satin-like luster
  • Photophilic seeds require no soil covering when sowing
  • Staking and pinching promotes branching and increases flower numbers
  • English name 'Farewell to Spring' refers to blooming at spring's end

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden planting (spring to early summer beds)
  • Cut flowers (long-lasting and beautiful)
  • Container gardening
Medicinal
  • Native Americans used for minor wound treatment

Caution: Medicinal use should be under professional guidance

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Dried flowers (beautiful color retention)
  • Horticultural education (easy to grow)

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity reported

China Aster
Annual Aster Garden Aster

Scientific Name: Callistephus chinensis
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • believing heart
  • memories
  • reminiscence
  • change
  • loving change
  • please believe in me
  • victory in love

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

A semi-hardy annual from the Asteraceae family native to northern China. Introduced to Japan in the mid-Edo period, cherished for its unpretentious simplicity and long beloved as a summer flower. Recent horticultural development has diversified both forms and colors. Flowers range from small 3cm blooms to large 10cm ones, with abundant colors including white, pink, purple, and red. Flower forms vary from single to double and pompon types. Blooms from summer to autumn, typically July-August. The scientific name Callistephus derives from Greek 'callos' (beautiful) + 'stephos' (crown), named for its beautiful crown-like flower appearance.

Trivia

  • Introduced from China during Edo period, initially prized as rare foreign flower
  • Increasing flower forms through breeding led to flower language meaning 'change'
  • Grows well in cold regions but difficult to cultivate in warm areas
  • Scientific name meaning 'beautiful crown' well describes flower shape

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden planting (summer to autumn beds)
  • Cut flowers (long-lasting and beautiful)
  • Container gardening
Medicinal
  • Flowers used as antipyretic in traditional Chinese medicine

Caution: Medicinal use should be under professional guidance

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Buddhist altar flowers (Obon and memorial services)
  • Dried flowers (beautiful color retention)
  • Horticultural education (easy to grow)

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity reported

Sweet Pea
Fragrant Pea Everlasting Pea

Scientific Name: Lathyrus odoratus
Family: Fabaceae

Flower Language

  • gentle memories
  • departure
  • flying like a butterfly
  • elegance
  • remember me

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

An annual from the Fabaceae family native to the Mediterranean coast, southern Italy, and Sicily. Climbing habit, growing by twining tendrils around other plants or supports, reaching 1-2m in height. Blooms April-June with papilionaceous flowers 2-3cm in diameter in abundant colors including white, pink, purple, red, blue, and yellow. Characterized by distinctive sweet fragrance, also used as perfume ingredient. Flower shape resembles butterflies with spread wings, inspiring the flower language 'flying like a butterfly.' Popular as cut flowers, frequently used in bouquets. Cultivation began in Japan during the Taisho period, now cherished as a representative spring flower.

Trivia

  • Discovered in Italy in 1695, later spread worldwide
  • Famous as flower beloved by Britain's King Edward VII
  • Seeds contain neurotoxins, causing poisoning incidents during food shortages
  • Good water uptake as cut flowers, enjoyable for about one week

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden planting (as climbing plants)
  • Cut flowers (bouquets and arrangements)
  • Container gardening (with support)
Medicinal
  • Used for mild neurosis in European folk medicine

Caution: Medicinal use prohibited due to seed toxicity

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption (seeds are toxic)

Other
  • Perfume ingredient (flower essential oil)
  • Aromatherapy
  • Cosmetic fragrances

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Moderate

Toxic Parts: seeds, pods

Symptoms: Ingestion of seeds may cause neurological symptoms, muscle spasms, and breathing difficulties

Blue Pimpernel
Poor Man's Weather Glass Scarlet Pimpernel Blue Form

Scientific Name: Anagallis arvensis f. coerulea
Family: Primulaceae

Flower Language

  • fickleness
  • romantic encounter
  • promise
  • reminiscence

Characteristics

Colors: blue-purple

Description

An annual herb from the Primulaceae family native to Eurasia. Prefers warm coastal areas, distributed in Japan across the Kii Peninsula, Shikoku, Kyushu, Izu Islands, and Ryukyu Islands. Stems are ascending or erect, 10-30cm tall, quadrangular, usually branching at the base. Flowers are about 1cm in diameter, blue-purple, blooming March-May. Opens and closes with light and temperature changes, earning the English name 'poor man's weather-glass.' Blue-flowered variety is much more common than the red-flowered Anagallis arvensis. Blooms on roadsides and coasts, too charming to be considered a mere weed.

Trivia

  • Called 'poor man's weather-glass' for opening/closing with light and temperature
  • Blue-flowered variety much more common than red-flowered
  • Rarely spreads from self-seeding as it's an annual
  • Also available as horticultural plant under the name Anagallis

Uses

Ornamental
  • Wildflower observation (nature walks)
  • Rock gardens (as small flowers)
  • Coastal botanical gardens (ecological displays)
Medicinal
  • Used for mild dermatitis in European folk medicine

Caution: Medicinal use should be under professional guidance

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Weather forecasting (folk wisdom)
  • Environmental indicator plant (coastal environments)
  • Educational material (plant ecology learning)

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: whole plant

Symptoms: Large consumption may cause mild gastrointestinal discomfort