July 09

Birth Flower

Stokesia
Cornflower Aster Stokes Aster

Scientific Name: Stokesia laevis
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • reminiscence
  • pure maiden
  • innocent maiden
  • strength

Characteristics

Colors: blue purple

Description

Stokesia is a perennial plant native to southeastern North America that produces beautiful flowers about 7cm in diameter. It is characterized by its unique flower form with flat outer petals and fine inner petals overlapping. It comes in blue-purple, light purple, white, and pink colors, with a long blooming period from June to October, enjoyed from early summer to autumn. Introduced to Japan in the early Taisho period, it has spread as a garden plant due to its heat tolerance and ease of cultivation. Also called Cornflower Aster, it is popular as a cut flower for its cool and elegant appearance.

Trivia

  • Stokesia genus consists of only one species, making it unique
  • Flowers are sensitive to sunlight, opening in sun and closing when cloudy
  • In some regions of the American South, it's cherished as a state flower
  • Compact height of 40-50cm makes it valuable for garden design

Uses

Ornamental
  • Summer flower beds
  • Cut flowers
  • Container plants
Medicinal

Caution: No recorded medicinal uses

Culinary

No culinary uses

Other
  • Dried flowers
  • Breeding material for horticultural varieties

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic

Daylily
Hemerocallis Day Lily

Scientific Name: Hemerocallis spp.
Family: Asphodelaceae

Flower Language

  • fleeting fancy
  • one night love
  • coquetry
  • declaration

Characteristics

Colors: yellow

Description

Hemerocallis is a perennial plant native to East Asia that produces beautiful lily-like flowers. The scientific name 'Hemerocallis' comes from Greek meaning 'beauty of a day,' referring to how flowers bloom and fade within a single day. However, it produces many buds on one flower stem that bloom successively, creating a long flowering period. Flower colors are abundant including yellow, orange, red, pink, white, and multicolored, with over 20,000 horticultural varieties said to exist. It's a hardy plant that's very easy to grow, tolerant of heat and cold, and not particular about soil.

Trivia

  • Scientific name means 'beauty of a day,' accurately describing flower characteristics
  • Over 20,000 horticultural varieties exist, with breeding continuing worldwide
  • Special edible varieties cultivated as golden needle vegetable in China
  • One of the most popular perennials in America

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden perennials
  • Cut flowers
  • Container plants
Medicinal
  • Roots used as diuretic in traditional Chinese medicine
  • Flowers believed to have hemostatic effects

Caution: Self-medication is not recommended

Culinary
  • flowers
  • young buds
Other
  • Parent plant for horticultural varieties
  • Ground cover

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: leaves, roots

Symptoms: Large consumption may cause mild gastrointestinal disturbance

Blushing Bride
Serruria Serruria florida

Scientific Name: Serruria florida
Family: Proteaceae

Flower Language

  • subtle admiration
  • lovely heart
  • excellent knowledge

Characteristics

Colors: pale pink

Description

Serruria is a shrub of the Proteaceae family native to South Africa that produces delicate and beautiful flowers ranging from cream to pale pink. What appears to be petals are actually bracts, with 40-50 small flowers clustered inside. The English name 'Blushing Bride' perfectly describes how the flower tips are tinged with a subtle pink, reminiscent of a bride's blush. It became world-famous when used in Princess Diana's wedding bouquet in 1981. It's drought-resistant and beautiful as dried flowers, beloved as a standard material for wedding bouquets.

Trivia

  • Became world-famous through use in Princess Diana's wedding bouquet
  • Serruria genus has over 40 species, but Serruria florida is the most beautiful
  • Ideal for dried flowers due to color-retention properties when dried
  • Protected as endangered species in some regions of South Africa

Uses

Ornamental
  • Wedding bouquets
  • Luxury flower arrangements
  • Dried flowers
Medicinal

Caution: No recorded medicinal uses

Culinary

No culinary uses

Other
  • Luxury dried flowers
  • Perfume ingredient
  • Decorative material

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic

Linden
Japanese Linden Tilia

Scientific Name: Tilia miqueliana
Family: Malvaceae

Flower Language

  • conjugal love
  • matrimony

Characteristics

Colors: pale yellow

Description

Bodaiju is a deciduous tall tree native to China that can grow up to 30 meters high. In Buddhism, it's considered one of the three sacred trees as the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment, but it's actually a different species from the true Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa). When Buddhism was introduced to China, it was called Bodaiju because its leaves resembled those of the true Bodhi tree. Around June, it blooms small, fragrant pale yellow flowers facing downward, and the flowers are also used as a source of honey. It's said to have been brought to Japan from China by Eisai, the founder of the Rinzai sect, and is now planted in temples and parks.

Trivia

  • Completely different plant from true Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa)
  • Made famous by German poet Heine's poem 'Der Lindenbaum'
  • Produces very high-quality honey, prized as medicinal honey
  • Birth flower for July 9th, July 30th, and August 23rd

Uses

Ornamental
  • Temple grounds trees
  • Park shade trees
  • Street trees
Medicinal
  • Honey from flowers believed to have cough suppressant and sedative effects
  • Bark used in folk medicine

Caution: Self-medication is not recommended

Culinary
  • flowers (honey source)
  • young leaves
Other
  • Wood (carving, furniture)
  • Honey source
  • Bark (fiber)

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic