August 29

Birth Flower

Curcuma
Siam Tulip Thai Tulip Summer Tulip

Scientific Name: Curcuma alismatifolia
Family: Zingiberaceae

Flower Language

  • connection
  • maiden's fragrance
  • enchanted by your beauty

Characteristics

Colors: white to pink

Description

Curcuma is a bulbous perennial native to Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand, and belongs to the turmeric family. The beautiful flower-like parts are actually bracts, with the true flowers being small and located inside the bracts. It blooms with glossy white to pink flowers from May to October, and once bloomed, can be enjoyed for over a month. The name derives from the Arabic 'kurkum (yellow),' named for the yellow dye obtained from its rhizomes. It's heat-resistant and popular as a cut flower.

Trivia

  • English name 'Siam Tulip' comes from flower shape resembling tulips
  • Can last over a month as cut flower even without water
  • Bulbs need spring planting and autumn lifting
  • Called 'Patumnan' and beloved in Thailand

Uses

Ornamental
  • Summer cut flowers
  • Potted plant decoration
  • Summer garden beds
Medicinal
  • Rhizomes sometimes used as medicinal turmeric

Caution: Ornamental varieties may not be suitable for medicinal use

Culinary

Ornamental varieties not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Fragrance ingredient
  • Dried flowers
  • Aromatherapy

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic

Calendula
Pot Marigold English Marigold Ruddles

Scientific Name: Calendula officinalis
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • overflowing compassion
  • sorrow of parting
  • disappointment

Characteristics

Colors: orange and yellow

Description

Calendula is an annual plant of the Asteraceae family native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean coast, also known as pot marigold. It blooms vibrant yellow and orange flowers for an extended period from December to May, with flowers opening at sunrise and closing at night. It's also famous as an herb, with dried petals used for tea, as a saffron substitute in cooking, and as edible flowers for salad decoration. It's believed to have anti-inflammatory properties and is used as a cosmetic ingredient.

Trivia

  • Scientific name Calendula shares same Latin origin as 'calendar'
  • Called 'poor man's saffron' and used as saffron substitute
  • Known as 'sun's bride' in medieval Europe
  • Flower used in cultivation experiments on NASA space station

Uses

Ornamental
  • Winter to spring flower beds
  • Cut flowers
  • Container gardens
Medicinal
  • Treatment of skin inflammation and wounds
  • Digestive system improvement
  • Cosmetic ingredient (moisturizing, anti-inflammatory)

Caution: Avoid use during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Culinary
  • petals
  • young leaves
Other
  • Natural dye (yellow, orange)
  • Soap and cream ingredient
  • Medicinal herb for pets

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic (rare allergic reactions)

Solanum
Blue Potato Bush Paraguay Nightshade Ornamental Eggplant

Scientific Name: Lycianthes rantonnetii
Family: Solanaceae

Flower Language

  • hidden feelings
  • change of heart
  • innocent

Characteristics

Colors: blue-purple

Description

Solanum is an evergreen shrub of the Solanaceae family native to South America, beloved as an ornamental eggplant. It densely covers branches with small blue-purple flowers and blooms almost year-round when temperatures are adequate. The sight of numerous flowers blooming on a single branch, with purple flowers covering the entire surface, is spectacular. The Japanese name 'shihouka' (purple treasure flower) was named for the way purple flowers sparkle when wet with dew. The genus name Solanum comes from the Latin 'solamen' meaning 'comfort,' referring to the pain-relieving properties of some species.

Trivia

  • Former scientific name was Solanum rantonnetii, now changed to Lycianthes rantonnetii
  • Dense clustering of small purple flowers earned it the nickname 'purple cloud'
  • Popular in Mediterranean-climate regions for year-round blooming
  • Has become naturalized and problematic in some areas of Australia

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden planting
  • Container gardening
  • Cut flower use
Medicinal
  • Folk medicine use exists but not recommended

Caution: Contains toxic compounds; medicinal use is dangerous

Culinary

Not edible (toxic)

Other
  • Used as pest-repelling plant
  • Hedges and border plantings

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Moderate

Toxic Parts: leaves, stems, fruits

Symptoms: May cause digestive symptoms if ingested

Clover
White Clover Dutch Clover Ladino Clover

Scientific Name: Trifolium repens
Family: Fabaceae

Flower Language

  • good luck
  • promise
  • revenge

Characteristics

Colors: white

Description

Clover (white clover) is a perennial of the Fabaceae family native to Europe, introduced to Japan during the Edo period as packing material for Dutch imports. It typically has compound leaves with three leaflets, but rarely has four or more leaflets - four-leaf clovers are beloved as symbols of good luck. From March to August, it produces small white flowers in spherical clusters. Root nodule bacteria live symbiotically with its roots, enriching the soil. It's used worldwide as forage and honey plant, and popular as lawn alternative.

Trivia

  • Probability of finding four-leaf clover is about 1 in 10,000
  • Guinness record holder is a 56-leaf clover
  • Name derives from being used as 'packing material' for imports
  • Important honey source plant, 'clover honey' is high quality

Uses

Ornamental
  • Lawn alternative
  • Ground cover
  • Flower crown making
Medicinal
  • Used in folk medicine for cough suppression and wound treatment
  • Consumed as herbal tea

Caution: Avoid excessive consumption

Culinary
  • young leaves
  • flowers
Other
  • Forage crop
  • Honey plant
  • Soil improvement (nitrogen fixation)
  • Biomass fuel

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic (except in large quantities)

Crepe Myrtle
Lagerstroemia Pride of India Queen's Flower

Scientific Name: Lagerstroemia indica
Family: Lythraceae

Flower Language

  • eloquence
  • charm
  • I believe in you

Characteristics

Colors: red, white, pink

Description

Crepe myrtle is a small deciduous tree of the Lythraceae family native to southern China, also called 'hundred-day red.' From June to October, it blooms beautiful red, white, and pink flowers for an extended period, earning the name 'hundred-day red' for its long flowering season. Its most distinctive feature is the smooth bark - once old bark peels off, white wood surface appears and becomes very smooth. This characteristic led to the name 'sarusuberi' meaning 'even monkeys slip and fall.' While each flower lasts only one day, new buds continuously open, allowing long-term enjoyment.

Trivia

  • English name 'Crepe Myrtle' comes from crinkled petals resembling crepe fabric
  • Also called 'monkey slip' due to smooth bark
  • Though one-day flowers, amazing blooming period of nearly 100 days
  • Sometimes called 'Southern Cherry' in America

Uses

Ornamental
  • Street trees
  • Park plantings
  • Garden symbol trees
Medicinal
  • Bark used in folk medicine for treating diarrhea
  • Leaves sometimes used for wound treatment

Caution: Medical effectiveness not confirmed

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Timber (hard and heavy)
  • Railway sleepers
  • Craft material

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic