August 27

Birth Flower

Tansy
Common Tansy Golden Buttons Bitter Buttons

Scientific Name: Tanacetum vulgare
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • immortality
  • peace
  • feminine virtue

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

A perennial herb from the Asteraceae family native to Europe and Central Asia, growing 50-150cm tall. From mid to late summer, it produces small yellow flowers about 1cm in diameter in radiating dense clusters at branch tips. The leaves are deeply divided pinnate compound leaves, and the whole plant emits a strong fragrance. This scent contains camphor-like components with powerful insect-repelling effects, leading to its cultivation near windows in Europe since ancient times. The Japanese name 'wormwood chrysanthemum' derives from leaves resembling wormwood and chrysanthemum-like flowers.

Trivia

  • Scientific name 'Tanacetum' derives from Greek 'athanatos' (immortal)
  • Used as preservative in mummification in ancient Egypt
  • Used in traditional Easter cake 'Tansy Cake' in medieval Europe
  • Contains 'tanacetonе', a compound disliked by insects

Uses

Ornamental
  • Herb gardens
  • Wildflower gardens
  • Dried flowers
Medicinal
  • Fever reducer in European traditional medicine
  • Digestive promotion
  • Menstrual irregularity improvement

Caution: Toxic, requires expert guidance for internal use

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption due to toxicity

Other
  • Natural insect repellent
  • Potpourri ingredient
  • Yellow dye

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Moderate

Toxic Parts: Whole plant (especially leaves and flowers), Essential oil components

Symptoms: Large intake may cause gastrointestinal disorders, convulsions, and liver damage

Thyme
Common Thyme Garden Thyme French Thyme

Scientific Name: Thymus vulgaris
Family: Lamiaceae

Flower Language

  • courageous action
  • courage
  • vitality

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

An evergreen shrub from the Lamiaceae family native to the Mediterranean coast, growing to 15-30cm tall. It produces dense clusters of small, thick, oval leaves and emits a refreshing strong fragrance from the entire plant. From spring to early summer, it blooms with small flowers in pale pink, white, or light purple in spike-like clusters. In ancient Greece, it symbolized courage and dignity, and 'smelling of thyme' was the highest compliment for men. It contains strong antibacterial compounds thymol and eugenol, used as mummy preservative in ancient Egypt and as bath additive and incense in ancient Rome.

Trivia

  • Scientific name 'Thymus' derives from Greek 'thymon' (courage)
  • Ancient Greek soldiers bathed in thyme before going to battle
  • Medieval women gave knights handkerchiefs embroidered with thyme sprigs
  • Still one of the world's most important culinary herbs today

Uses

Ornamental
  • Herb gardens
  • Rock gardens
  • Ground cover (creeping varieties)
Medicinal
  • Expectorant and antitussive effects
  • Antibacterial and antiseptic properties
  • Digestive promotion
  • Immune system enhancement

Caution: Avoid large quantities during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Culinary
  • Leaves
  • Flowers
Other
  • Aromatherapy
  • Soap and cosmetic fragrance
  • Natural insect repellent

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity at normal usage levels

Hypericum
St. John's Wort Tutsan Aaron's Beard

Scientific Name: Hypericum androsaemum
Family: Hypericaceae

Flower Language

  • sparkle
  • sorrow will not last

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

A semi-evergreen shrub from the Hypericaceae family native to western and southern Europe, growing 50-80cm tall. Blooms with bright yellow 5-petaled flowers 2-3cm in diameter from June to July, characterized by numerous stamens radiating from the center. After flowering, it produces beautiful berries that start green and gradually change to red, red-purple, then black. These berries are popular as floral material, with recent varieties developed in various colors including green, cream, white, and pink. Tolerant of pruning, easy to maintain, and valued as garden plants that provide both flowers and berries.

Trivia

  • Name 'Hypericum' derives from Greek 'hyper' (above) and 'eikon' (image)
  • Highly popular as floral material, with varieties developed for various berry colors
  • Called 'St. John's Wort' as it blooms around St. John's Day
  • Berry color changes provide high ornamental value and long-lasting enjoyment

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden shrubs
  • Cut flowers
  • Berry material (floral)
  • Hedges
Medicinal
  • Antidepressant effects in European traditional medicine
  • Wound healing promotion
  • Anti-inflammatory effects

Caution: Consult doctor due to drug interactions

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Yellow dye
  • Dried flowers
  • Wreath material

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Berries

Symptoms: Large consumption of berries may cause mild gastrointestinal disorders

Pomegranate
Granada Chinese Apple Punic Apple

Scientific Name: Punica granatum
Family: Lythraceae

Flower Language

  • elegance
  • mature elegance
  • unity

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

A deciduous small tree from the Lythraceae family native to the Mediterranean coast to Himalayan regions, growing 3-6 meters tall. Blooms with bright orange to red 6-petaled flowers 3-4cm in diameter from May to July, characterized by thick sepals. In autumn, spherical fruits 5-10cm in diameter ripen, and when the skin splits, numerous translucent red-purple seeds (arils) appear inside. A single fruit contains 400-800 seeds, which is the origin of the flower language 'unity'. An ancient cultivated fruit tree mentioned in the Old Testament and Greek mythology.

Trivia

  • Scientific name 'Punica' derives from 'Punicus' of ancient Carthage (modern Tunisia)
  • Spanish city Granada takes its name from pomegranate
  • Hand grenade name also derives from pomegranate shape
  • Number of seeds per fruit varies greatly from 200-1400 depending on variety

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden trees
  • Hedges
  • Bonsai
  • Flower beds
Medicinal
  • Antioxidant effects
  • Cardiovascular health maintenance
  • Anti-inflammatory effects
  • Beauty benefits

Caution: Consult doctor due to potential drug interactions

Culinary
  • Seeds (arils)
  • Fruit juice
Other
  • Red dye
  • Tannin source
  • Wood (small crafts)

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Root bark, Tree bark, Unripe fruits

Symptoms: Root and tree bark are toxic, large consumption may cause gastrointestinal disorders