August 04

Birth Flower

Lily
Speciosum lily Japanese lily Tiger lily

Scientific Name: Lilium speciosum
Family: Liliaceae

Flower Language

  • Dignity
  • Magnificence
  • Compassionate

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Kanoko lily is a Japanese endemic lily species that grows wild in mountainous areas and cliffs from southwestern Japan to Taiwan. Named for its white petals with red spots resembling the traditional Japanese deer pattern dyeing technique. It blooms with approximately 10cm downward-facing flowers with recurved petals from July to September. This historically significant flower was first introduced to Europe by Siebold during the Edo period, and its specific epithet 'speciosum' means 'beautiful' in Latin.

Trivia

  • Among the Japanese plants brought back by Siebold, it was particularly famous and greatly influenced European horticulture
  • Also called 'Doyo-yuri' and 'Tanabata-yuri', used as summer seasonal word in haiku poetry
  • Wild populations remain small and protected as endangered species in some regions
  • Already cultivated as ornamental plant during Edo period with many varieties developed

Uses

Ornamental
  • Used as cut flower for summer tea ceremonies and flower arrangements
  • Planted in wild gardens as ornamental plant
  • Cultivated in containers for decorative purposes
Medicinal
  • Bulbs used in traditional Chinese medicine for cough relief and fever reduction
  • Employed in folk medicine for anti-inflammatory properties

Caution: Consult medical professionals before medicinal use, avoid self-medication

Culinary

Not suitable for culinary use

Other
  • Used as raw material for perfume production
  • Important as breeding parent for horticultural varieties

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Entire plant, Especially bulbs

Symptoms: Large quantities may cause gastrointestinal symptoms

Himalayan Blue Poppy
Blue poppy Meconopsis Himalayan poppy

Scientific Name: Meconopsis betonicifolia
Family: Papaveraceae

Flower Language

  • Unfathomable charm

Characteristics

Colors: Blue

Description

Meconopsis, known as the 'Himalayan Blue Poppy', is a legendary flower that blooms with translucent blue petals in early summer. As a high-altitude plant, it dislikes high temperature and humidity, making cultivation extremely difficult. Many plant hunters have explored the Himalayas in search of this flower, and it's called the 'Holy Grail of blue flowers' in horticultural circles. The genus name Meconopsis means 'poppy-like' in Greek, with about 50 species distributed from the Himalayas to Central Asia.

Trivia

  • First introduced to Japan at 1900 Osaka Expo, creating sensation as 'miracle of blue flowers'
  • Requires temperatures below 28°C for cultivation, cannot adapt to Japanese summers
  • Takes 3-4 years from seed to bloom, plants often die after flowering
  • Cultivation attempts continue worldwide in botanical gardens, but success stories are limited

Uses

Ornamental
  • Ornamental cultivation in alpine botanical gardens
  • Grown as rare species in cool climate gardens
  • Collector's plant for plant enthusiasts
Medicinal
  • Used in Tibetan medicine for headaches and altitude sickness
  • Believed to have analgesic properties in folk medicine

Caution: Requires careful handling as member of poppy family, professional guidance needed

Culinary

Not suitable for culinary use

Other
  • Important subject for botanical research
  • Used in studies of alpine plant adaptation mechanisms

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Moderate

Toxic Parts: Entire plant, Especially seeds

Symptoms: May cause poisoning symptoms due to poppy family compounds

Pineapple lily
Eucomis Pineapple flower

Scientific Name: Eucomis autumnalis
Family: Asparagaceae

Flower Language

  • Perfection
  • Completeness

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Pineapple lily (Eucomis) is a bulbous plant native to South Africa that sends up flower stalks in July-August, blooming from bottom to top. Named for the crown-like bracts at the top of the flower spike that resemble a pineapple crown. The name Eucomis comes from Greek meaning 'beautiful hair (hair ornament)', referring to these bracts. Flowers come in various colors including pale yellow, green, white, and pink. It has extremely robust nature and is easy to cultivate. Introduced to Japan in the late Meiji period, it's now popular as summer cut flower.

Trivia

  • Extremely long-lasting, can be enjoyed as cut flower for 2-3 weeks
  • Bulbs are so robust they can bloom annually for years without replanting
  • About 14 wild species exist in South Africa, each with different characteristics
  • Representative spring-planted bulb that has been cultivated in Japan since before WWII

Uses

Ornamental
  • Used as summer cut flower for arrangements and bouquets
  • Planted in summer garden beds
  • Suitable for container gardening on balconies
Medicinal
  • Used in South African traditional medicine for digestive system treatment
  • Believed to have antipyretic properties in folk medicine

Caution: Medicinal use should be under professional guidance

Culinary

Not suitable for culinary use

Other
  • Can be preserved as dried flower for long-term use
  • Important wild species for horticultural variety development

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Bulbs, Leaves

Symptoms: May cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms if ingested

Garden phlox
Summer phlox Perennial phlox Border phlox

Scientific Name: Phlox paniculata
Family: Polemoniaceae

Flower Language

  • Agreement
  • Unity
  • Cooperation

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Garden phlox is a North American perennial that forms large flower clusters from numerous small blooms. It flowers continuously from April to October with very diverse colors including pink, white, red, purple, and multicolored varieties. The genus name 'phlox' comes from Greek meaning 'flame', referring to the bright, vivid flower colors. The Japanese name 'Oiran-sou' (courtesan plant) comes from its gorgeous blooming resembling courtesans, while 'Kusa-kyochikutou' refers to its similarity to oleander. It has robust nature, growing into larger clumps annually and continuing to bloom despite summer heat.

Trivia

  • Beloved as Independence Day flower in America, with red, white, and blue varieties being popular
  • Essential plant for wildlife gardens as favorite of butterflies and hummingbirds
  • Susceptible to powdery mildew, but many disease-resistant varieties have been developed recently
  • Excellent water uptake as cut flower, treasured as summer bouquet staple

Uses

Ornamental
  • Planted as main feature in summer gardens
  • Used as cut flower for bouquets and arrangements
  • Grown in containers for balcony and entrance decoration
Medicinal
  • Used by Native Americans for treating skin inflammation
  • Believed to have anti-inflammatory properties in folk medicine

Caution: Medicinal use is not currently recommended

Culinary

Not suitable for culinary use

Other
  • Used to attract beneficial insects like butterflies and bees
  • Fragrant varieties used as raw material for perfume

Toxicity

Symptoms: No particular toxicity reported