August 16

Birth Flower

Golden candle
Lollipop plant Golden shrimp plant

Scientific Name: Pachystachys lutea
Family: Acanthaceae

Flower Language

  • Pleasant conversation
  • Unpretentious heart
  • Simplicity

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

An evergreen shrub of the acanthaceae family, genus Pachystachys, native from Mexico to Peru. It produces flower spikes about 10cm long at stem tips, with beautiful yellow bracts arranged in orderly layers, and white flowers blooming between the bracts. The name derives from Greek 'pachys' (thick) and 'stachys' (spike), with 'lutea' meaning 'yellow.' Also called Turmeric Coral, it has a long flowering period from May to October.

Trivia

  • Pachystachys means 'thick spike' in Greek
  • Lutea is Latin meaning 'yellow'
  • Alternative name Golden Candle refers to the yellow bract color
  • White flowers are small flowers that bloom quietly between bracts

Uses

Ornamental
  • Houseplants
  • Greenhouse cultivation
  • Cut flowers
  • Tropical gardens
Medicinal
  • Used as folk medicine in some regions

Caution: Professional guidance required for medicinal use

Culinary

Other
  • Nectar source plant
  • Tropical gardening

Toxicity

Symptoms:

Petunia
Trumpet flower

Scientific Name: Petunia × hybrida
Family: Solanaceae

Flower Language

  • Feel at peace with you
  • Peace of mind
  • Never give up

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

An annual herb of the solanaceae family native to South America, one of the representative summer flowers. It has a long flowering period from spring to late autumn and is easy to grow. Petunias come in various garden varieties including trailing types, mounding types, large to small flowers, and double blooms, making them interesting to grow year after year. The leaves have fine hairs and are sticky, but this stickiness helps protect against pests and diseases. The scientific genus name 'Petunia' derives from 'Petum' meaning tobacco in Guarani, the language of Brazilian indigenous peoples, as it is closely related to the tobacco genus in the same solanaceae family.

Trivia

  • Alternative Japanese name is Tsukubane-asagao (Shuttlecock morning glory)
  • Leaf stickiness provides natural insect protection
  • Garden varieties number in the thousands
  • Sensitive to rain, suitable for cultivation under eaves

Uses

Ornamental
  • Flower beds
  • Planters
  • Hanging baskets
  • Mixed plantings
Medicinal

Caution: Avoid ingestion as it belongs to nightshade family

Culinary

Other
  • Nectar source plant
  • Ground cover

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Entire plant

Symptoms: As nightshade family plant, ingestion may cause gastrointestinal upset

Golden lace
Yellow patrinia Scabious patrinia

Scientific Name: Patrinia scabiosifolia
Family: Caprifoliaceae

Flower Language

  • Beauty
  • Fleeting love
  • Kindness

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

A perennial herb distributed in Japan, East Asia, Siberia to East Asia, China, Japan, and East Siberia, beloved since ancient times as one of the seven autumn flowers. It blooms from June to October with small yellow flowers, with peak viewing from August to September. It grows to 100-150cm tall and produces small yellow flowers. The flower language 'beauty' and 'fleeting love' is said to derive from the delicate, feminine flower appearance swaying sadly in autumn winds. It also has the flower language 'keeping promises.'

Trivia

  • Only autumn flower among the seven that blooms yellow
  • Featured in 26 poems in Manyoshu and 14 in Kokin Wakashu
  • Kanji writing '女郎花' has been used since Heian period
  • Breaking the stem produces distinctive odor

Uses

Ornamental
  • Autumn decorations
  • Wild plant gardens
  • Cut flowers
  • Japanese-style gardens
Medicinal
  • Used in traditional Chinese medicine
  • Believed to have fever-reducing properties

Caution: Professional guidance required for medicinal use

Culinary

Other
  • Dried flowers
  • Traditional culture educational materials

Toxicity

Symptoms:

Torch lily
Red-hot poker Kniphofia

Scientific Name: Kniphofia uvaria
Family: Asphodelaceae

Flower Language

  • Pain of love
  • Thinking of you pains my heart
  • Earnest feelings

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

A perennial (evergreen) herb of the asphodelaceae family native to South Africa, with Japanese name Shaguma-yuri (Red Bear Lily). It evokes burning passion, and the way it blooms with slight curves is the origin of the flower language 'pain of love' and 'thinking of you pains my heart.' The way the color of downward-facing tubular flowers changes as they progress in blooming resembles burning torches, giving it the English name Torch lily. The name Tritoma comes from the old scientific name, currently called Kniphofia, but often circulated under the trade name Tritoma.

Trivia

  • English name Red-hot poker means 'red-hot fire poker'
  • Flower colors change in gradient from top to bottom
  • Current scientific name Kniphofia honors German botanist
  • Important nectar source for wild birds in South Africa

Uses

Ornamental
  • Flower beds
  • Border plants
  • Cut flowers
  • Contemporary gardens
Medicinal
  • Used in South African traditional medicine

Caution: Professional guidance required for medicinal use

Culinary

Other
  • Nectar source plant
  • Wildlife food

Toxicity

Symptoms: