July 25

Birth Flower

Rose Campion
Mullein Pink Dusty Miller Lychnis coronaria

Scientific Name: Lychnis coronaria
Family: Caryophyllaceae

Flower Language

  • Wit
  • Strong feelings
  • My love is unchanging

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Rose Campion is a plant native to Southern Europe, also called flannel flower. The entire plant is covered with soft white hairs, resembling flannel (a soft, brushed fabric), hence its name. The Japanese name 'Suisenou' (drunken sage) comes from red flowers appearing intoxicated. It produces white and pink flowers from spring to early summer, creating beautiful contrast with its silvery leaves.

Trivia

  • The name 'drunken sage' comes from red flowers appearing intoxicated
  • White-haired leaves are popular in silver leaf gardens
  • Extremely drought-tolerant, adapted to Mediterranean climates
  • Alternative name flannel flower comes from resemblance to brushed fabric

Uses

Ornamental
  • Dry gardens
  • Border gardens
  • Silver leaf gardens
  • Cut flowers
Medicinal
  • No significant medicinal uses

Caution: For ornamental purposes only

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Dried flowers
  • Pressed flowers
  • Silver colored foliage

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic

Hibiscus
Chinese Hibiscus Hawaiian Hibiscus Rose of Sharon

Scientific Name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Family: Malvaceae

Flower Language

  • Ever-new beauty
  • Delicate beauty
  • New love
  • Brave
  • Radiance
  • Graceful beauty

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Hibiscus is an evergreen shrub native to tropical Asia, with origins said to derive from Hibis, the ancient Egyptian goddess of beauty. It produces gorgeous flowers in summer, creating a tropical atmosphere with vibrant colors. Though day-blooming, continuous flowering provides long-lasting enjoyment, and petals are used in French and Italian cuisine sauces. Rich in vitamin C, malic acid, and citric acid, it's also popular as herbal tea.

Trivia

  • Typical day-blooming flowers that wither on the same day they bloom
  • Name said to derive from Hibis, ancient Egyptian goddess of beauty
  • Designated as the state flower of Hawaii
  • Petals have a refreshing sour taste and are popular as herbal tea

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden decoration
  • Container gardening
  • Hedging
  • Lei making
Medicinal
  • Flower herbal tea said to help lower blood pressure
  • Vitamin C supplementation
  • Fatigue recovery effects

Caution: Use in moderation for medicinal purposes

Culinary
  • Petals
  • Flowers
Other
  • Natural dye
  • Cosmetic ingredients
  • Fragrance

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic

Monkshood
Aconite Wolf's Bane Helmet Flower

Scientific Name: Aconitum japonicum
Family: Ranunculaceae

Flower Language

  • Chivalry
  • Glory
  • Misanthropy

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Monkshood is a perennial plant in the buttercup family distributed in temperate to subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, known as one of Japan's three most poisonous plants. Named for its blue-purple autumn flowers resembling bird helmets used in court dance. The entire plant contains the deadly poison aconitine, with roots being particularly toxic and causing fatal poisoning. However, properly processed roots are used as the important herbal medicine 'bushi,' and it's also cultivated as an ornamental plant.

Trivia

  • One of Japan's three most poisonous plants (along with water hemlock and Coriaria japonica)
  • Aconitine is known as a deadly poison that stops the heart
  • When properly processed, becomes the important herbal medicine 'bushi'
  • Named for flowers resembling bird helmets used in court dance

Uses

Ornamental
  • Shade gardens
  • Wildflower gardens
  • Ikebana
  • Cut flowers
Medicinal
  • Detoxified roots used as 'bushi' in traditional Chinese medicine (professional medical use only)
  • Cardiotonic effects
  • Analgesic properties

Caution: Extremely dangerous poisonous plant. Never to be used by amateurs under any circumstances

Culinary

Never to be used for food under any circumstances

Other
  • Poison arrows (historical use)
  • Research samples
  • Educational specimens

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Severe

Toxic Parts: Whole plant, Especially roots, Leaves, Stems, Flowers, Nectar, Seeds

Symptoms: Tongue numbness, salivation, vomiting, intoxication, arrhythmia, coma, ultimately death by cardiac arrest

Japanese Elder
Red-berried Elder Elderberry

Scientific Name: Sambucus racemosa subsp. sieboldiana
Family: Viburnaceae

Flower Language

  • Compassion
  • Enthusiasm
  • One who heals suffering

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Japanese Elder is a deciduous shrub distributed in Japan, Korean Peninsula, and China, long used medicinally as bone-setting herbs. It produces small white flowers in clusters in spring and red berries in summer. The stems are called 'setsukotsuboku,' leaves 'setsukotsuboku-you,' and flowers 'setsukotsuboku-ka,' each used as folk medicine. Used for treating bruises and fractures, with its name deriving from bone setting (connecting bones).

Trivia

  • The name 'bone-setting wood' comes from its bone-healing medicinal properties
  • Became famous through the 'Elder Wand' in the Harry Potter series
  • Beautiful white spring flowers and red summer berries are favored by wild birds
  • Has been closely connected to Japanese life as folk medicine since ancient times

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden trees
  • Park trees
  • Bird-attracting gardens
  • Natural gardens
Medicinal
  • Treatment of bruises and fractures using stems and leaves
  • Diuretic effects
  • Anti-inflammatory effects
  • Fever-reducing properties

Caution: Young shoots contain trace toxins, caution needed for consumption

Culinary
  • Young shoots (proper processing required)
Other
  • Bird food (berries)
  • Timber use
  • Herbal medicine material

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Young shoots contain trace toxic components

Symptoms: Excessive consumption of young shoots may cause gastrointestinal discomfort