July 30

Birth Flower

Garden Balsam
Rose Balsam Touch-me-not Spotted Snapweed

Scientific Name: Impatiens balsamina
Family: Balsaminaceae

Flower Language

  • passionate love
  • don't touch me
  • impatience

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

An annual plant from the Balsaminaceae family native to Southeast Asia, blooming with red, white, pink, and purple flowers from June to September. Its most distinctive feature is the explosive dispersal of seeds when the mature fruit is touched, earning the English name 'touch-me-not.' The scientific name 'Impatiens' means 'impatient,' also derived from this characteristic. The stem is succulent and translucent, with flowers growing singly or in small groups in the upper leaf axils, making it popular for children's nature observation and science education.

Trivia

  • Used as red nail dye in ancient China, called 'finger nail flower'
  • Seeds can scatter 2-3 meters when dispersed
  • When stem is broken, clear liquid emerges that children used for stamp play
  • Fruit elasticity is a natural mechanism caused by cell pressure differences

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden beds
  • Potted plants
  • Cut flowers
Medicinal
  • Traditional Chinese medicine for arthritis
  • Skin disease treatment
  • Bruise treatment

Caution: Consult experts for medical use

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Dye (nail coloring)
  • Science education material
  • Nature observation

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Seeds, Stem liquid

Symptoms: May cause skin irritation

Scabious
Pincushion Flower Mourning Bride Sweet Scabious

Scientific Name: Scabiosa atropurpurea
Family: Caprifoliaceae

Flower Language

  • elegance
  • I have lost everything
  • unfortunate love

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

A plant from the Caprifoliaceae family native to Europe, Africa, and Asia, with about 80 species distributed worldwide. Blooms with purple, blue, white, and deep red flowers from June to September, with the original species characterized by deep blackish-purple color. The unique flower shape and natural elegance when swaying and blooming in groups in the wind are distinctive. The scientific name 'Scabiosa' derives from Latin meaning 'scabies,' named for its use in treating skin diseases. The Japanese name relates to the blooming period coinciding with cricket chirping season.

Trivia

  • Valued as scabies treatment in medieval Europe
  • Always featured in Victorian 'flower language dictionaries'
  • Retains color well when dried
  • Popular with pollinating insects like butterflies and bees

Uses

Ornamental
  • Cut flowers
  • Garden beds
  • Wild gardens
Medicinal
  • Skin disease treatment
  • Eczema improvement
  • Antibacterial effects

Caution: Consult experts for medical use

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Dried flowers
  • Pressed flowers
  • Fragrance

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity reported

Shrimp Plant
Mexican Shrimp Plant False Hop

Scientific Name: Justicia brandegeeana
Family: Acanthaceae

Flower Language

  • witty
  • lovely person
  • humorous

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

A semi-hardy evergreen shrub from the Acanthaceae family native to Mexico, blooming for a long period from May to November. Its most distinctive feature is the shrimp tail-like shape of the bracts covering the flower spikes, which gives rise to both its common name 'Shrimp Plant' and Japanese name 'Koebi-so' (little shrimp grass). The bracts are yellowish-brown to reddish-brown, with small white flowers emerging between them. In ideal conditions, it can bloom year-round, and its unique shape makes it highly ornamental, popular for both potted and garden planting.

Trivia

  • Former scientific name was Beloperone guttata, now changed to Justicia brandegeeana
  • Bract color intensity varies with sunlight conditions
  • Easily propagated plant that can be multiplied through cuttings
  • Actual flower is the small white part; shrimp-like part is bract (modified leaf)

Uses

Ornamental
  • Potted plants
  • Garden planting
  • Indoor decoration
Medicinal
  • Used in Mexican folk medicine
  • Anti-inflammatory effects

Caution: Consult experts for medical use

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Educational material (plant shape diversity)
  • Conversation starter plant

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity reported

Lisianthus
Eustoma Prairie Gentian Texas Bluebell

Scientific Name: Eustoma grandiflorum
Family: Gentianaceae

Flower Language

  • thoughtfulness
  • eternal love

Characteristics

Colors: white

Description

A plant from the Gentianaceae family native to North America, originally growing wild in the Rocky Mountain highlands. Introduced to Japan in the 1930s, it has undergone remarkable breeding improvements and is now valued as the world's highest quality cut flower. Flowers come in various colors including white, pink, purple, and yellow, characterized by rose-like luxurious flower form and silk-like petal texture. Varieties range from single to double blooms, with excellent vase life, making it popular as bridal flowers.

Trivia

  • Japanese breeding increased flower diameter to over 3 times the original species
  • Japan accounts for about 70% of world cut flower production
  • Despite the name suggesting Turkey, not native to Turkey nor member of bellflower family
  • Called 'killing two birds with one stone' flower as multiple blooms grow on one stem

Uses

Ornamental
  • Cut flowers
  • Bridal flowers
  • Flower arrangements
Medicinal
  • No particular medicinal uses reported

Caution: No particular cautions

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Premium flower material
  • Research material for breeding

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity reported

Japanese Linden
Miquelian Linden Lime Tree

Scientific Name: Tilia miqueliana
Family: Malvaceae

Flower Language

  • conjugal love
  • matrimony

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

A deciduous tall tree from the Malvaceae family native to China, growing up to 30 meters high. Blooms with fragrant pale yellow flowers facing downward around June, with triangular-circular leaves creating beautiful tree form. In Japan, planted at temples as substitute for the Indian Bodhi tree under which Buddha achieved enlightenment, reportedly brought from China by Eisai, founder of Rinzai Zen sect. Fruits are used for prayer beads and wood for construction, making it both sacred and practical.

Trivia

  • World-famous through Schubert's song 'Der Lindenbaum'
  • Completely different plant from actual Indian Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa)
  • Prayer beads made from fruits are essential for Buddhists
  • Flower fragrance also used as honey source

Uses

Ornamental
  • Temple grounds
  • Park trees
  • Street trees
Medicinal
  • Flower antispasmodic effects
  • Sedative effects
  • Diaphoretic action

Caution: Consult experts for medical use

Culinary
  • Flowers (as tea)
Other
  • Construction material
  • Prayer bead material
  • Musical instrument wood

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity reported

African Tulip Tree
Flame of the Forest Tulip Tree Nandi Flame

Scientific Name: Spathodea campanulata
Family: Bignoniaceae

Flower Language

  • passionate feelings
  • passion

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

An evergreen tall tree from the Bignoniaceae family native to West Africa, reaching 7-25 meters in height. Counted as one of the world's three great flowering trees alongside Jacaranda and Royal Poinciana, it blooms year-round with numerous brilliant red-orange bell-shaped flowers at branch tips. The corolla is 10-12cm long with spectacular flame-like beauty. Buds contain water inside, which children sometimes use for water gun play. Widely planted as street trees and garden trees in tropical regions.

Trivia

  • Children play water gun games with water contained in flower buds
  • Internationally recognized as one of world's most beautiful flowering trees
  • Rare tree species that can be enjoyed with flowers year-round on single tree
  • Flower color changes daily - lighter in morning, deeper in afternoon

Uses

Ornamental
  • Street trees
  • Garden trees
  • Park trees
Medicinal
  • Bark anti-malarial effects
  • Leaf fever reduction
  • Flower anti-inflammatory effects

Caution: Consult experts for medical use

Culinary
  • Seeds
Other
  • Wood (paper making)
  • Tourism resource
  • Environmental greening

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Bark, Leaves

Symptoms: Large consumption may cause gastrointestinal upset