August 05

Birth Flower

Globe Thistle
Small Globe Thistle Echinops Blue Globe Thistle

Scientific Name: Echinops ritro
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • authority
  • secret love
  • independence
  • sensitivity

Characteristics

Colors: deep blue purple

Description

Globe Thistle is a perennial herbaceous plant native to the Mediterranean region. It produces spherical flower heads 3-5cm in diameter during summer. Small tubular flowers in deep blue-purple color radiate outward to form a distinctive hedgehog-like sphere. The leaves are thistle-like with serrated edges and hard texture, while stems grow upright to 60-120cm tall. It's popular as both fresh cut flowers and dried flowers, being particularly valued during hot summer months.

Trivia

  • Scientific name Echinops means 'resembling a hedgehog' in Greek
  • The flower head is actually a collection of small individual flowers
  • Rare flower that retains its color well when dried
  • Highly valued as a nectar source for bees and butterflies

Uses

Ornamental
  • Cut flowers (especially valued in hot summer)
  • Dried flowers (long-lasting preservation)
  • Garden planting (as perennial)
Medicinal
  • Traditional European medicine attributes anti-inflammatory properties
  • Root decoction used for diuretic effects

Caution: Modern medical efficacy is not proven; medical use should be avoided.

Culinary

Not suitable for culinary use

Other
  • As nectar source for insects
  • Popular material for flower arrangements

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Leaves (potential mild skin irritation), Stems (physical injury from spines)

Symptoms: Possible puncture wounds from spines and mild skin irritation.

Four O'Clock
Marvel of Peru Beauty of the Night Mirabilis

Scientific Name: Mirabilis jalapa
Family: Nyctaginaceae

Flower Language

  • quiet affection
  • timidity
  • shyness
  • doubt in love

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Four O'Clock is a perennial herbaceous plant native to South America, belonging to the Nyctaginaceae family. It produces fragrant flowers starting around 4 PM. What appears to be petals are actually sepals, as the flower lacks true petals. Colors include red, pink, white, and yellow, with the unique characteristic of producing different colored flowers on the same plant. Named for the white endosperm in its seeds that resembles face powder. Introduced to Japan in the early Edo period, it's hardy and easy to grow, readily self-seeding.

Trivia

  • Scientific name Mirabilis means 'beautiful, wonderful' in Latin
  • Prone to mutations producing multiple flower colors on one plant
  • Edo period children used seeds for 'face powder play'
  • Flowers are pollinated by nocturnal insects

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden planting (summer flower beds)
  • Container gardening (balcony gardens)
  • Ground cover (self-seeding)
Medicinal
  • Roots used as diuretics in South American traditional medicine
  • Leaf decoctions used for skin inflammation

Caution: Modern medical efficacy is not proven; consult specialists for medical use.

Culinary

Generally not suitable for culinary use

Other
  • Children's play material (games with seeds)
  • Fragrant plant (evening fragrance)

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Moderate

Toxic Parts: Seeds (especially black seeds), Roots (when consumed in large quantities)

Symptoms: Large consumption of seeds may cause gastrointestinal symptoms.

Crape Myrtle
Crepe Myrtle Pride of India Queen's Flower

Scientific Name: Lagerstroemia indica
Family: Lythraceae

Flower Language

  • charm
  • eloquence
  • carelessness
  • I believe in you

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Crape Myrtle is a deciduous tree native to southern China, belonging to the Lythraceae family, growing 3-10m tall. It blooms for about 100 days from mid-July to mid-October, earning the name 'hundred-day red.' The flowers have crinkled petals in various colors including pink, red, white, and purple. Its most distinctive feature is the smooth, white bark so slippery that even monkeys would slip and fall. Popular as garden and street trees due to its naturally well-shaped form and easy maintenance.

Trivia

  • Scientific name Lagerstroemia honors Linnaeus's friend Magnus von Lagerstroem
  • Maintains fresh bark appearance by naturally shedding outer bark
  • Called 'hundred-day red' in Chinese for its ~100-day blooming period
  • Believed to have been introduced to Japan during the Heian period

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden trees (symbol trees)
  • Street trees (summer landscape beautification)
  • Park trees (long blooming period)
Medicinal
  • Tree bark used as hemostatic agent in traditional Chinese medicine
  • Flowers decocted for antipyretic effects

Caution: Modern medical efficacy is not sufficiently verified; avoid medical use.

Culinary

Not suitable for culinary use

Other
  • Timber (crafts and small items)
  • Nectar source (honey production)

Toxicity

Symptoms: No particular toxicity reported.

Heath
Heather Erica Tree Heath

Scientific Name: Erica spp.
Family: Ericaceae

Flower Language

  • solitude
  • loneliness
  • universal love
  • happy love
  • tranquility

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Erica is an evergreen shrub mainly native to South Africa and Europe, belonging to the Ericaceae family, with over 700 wild species. Growing 20-100cm tall, it has needle-like to linear thin leaves arranged in whorls. It produces dense clusters of small urn-shaped, bell-shaped, or tubular flowers in various colors including white, pink, red, and yellow. Blooming periods vary by cultivar, including autumn, winter, and spring varieties. European species are cold-hardy while African species are heat-tolerant.

Trivia

  • Erica genus includes over 700 species, mostly native to South Africa
  • Plant that gave its name to British 'heath' moorlands
  • Heather honey is prized for its distinctive flavor
  • Scottish legend says finding white heather brings good luck

Uses

Ornamental
  • Container plants (indoor decoration)
  • Garden planting (rock gardens)
  • Cut flowers (long-lasting)
Medicinal
  • Attributed diuretic properties in European traditional medicine
  • Leaf decoctions used for urinary system disorders

Caution: Modern medical efficacy is not proven; consult specialists for medical use.

Culinary

Generally not suitable for culinary use

Other
  • Nectar source (heather honey production)
  • Broom-making material (bundled branches)

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Leaves (when consumed in large quantities), Flowers (sensitive individuals)

Symptoms: Large consumption may cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms.