September 11

Birth Flower

Crape myrtle
Crepe myrtle Pride of India Queen's flower

Scientific Name: Lagerstroemia indica
Family: Lythraceae

Flower Language

  • Eloquence
  • Charm
  • I believe in you
  • Carelessness

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Crape myrtle is a deciduous tree in the loosestrife family native to southern China, known for its long blooming period of over 100 days from July to October, true to its name 'hundred-day red.' It's a representative summer flowering tree along with oleander. The bark, once shed, reveals smooth white skin so slippery that even monkeys skilled at climbing would slip, hence the Japanese name 'monkey-slip tree.' Flowers bloom in clusters at the tips of new branches in colors including red, pink, white, and purple. A Korean legend tells of flowers that bloomed for 100 days on a girl's grave as she waited faithfully for a prince's return, giving rise to the flower language 'I believe in you.'

Trivia

  • Named for smooth bark so slippery that 'even monkeys would slip and fall'
  • Scientific name Lagerstroemia honors Linnaeus's friend in the East India Company
  • Chinese name '百日紅' means 'hundred-day red' for its 100+ day blooming
  • Continuous blooming possible as flowers successively bloom on new branch tips

Uses

Ornamental
  • Street trees
  • Park trees
  • Garden trees
  • Bonsai
Medicinal
  • Bark and roots traditionally used medicinally in China

Caution: Consult professionals for medicinal use

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Timber (furniture, construction)
  • Urban greening
  • Nectar source

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic

Saffron
Autumn crocus Saffron crocus

Scientific Name: Crocus sativus
Family: Iridaceae

Flower Language

  • Joyful smile
  • Cheerfulness
  • Joy
  • Beauty of moderation

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Saffron is a perennial plant in the iris family native to Iran and a member of the crocus genus. It blooms beautiful pale purple flowers in autumn, and its stigmas are prized as the world's most expensive spice. About 170,000 flowers (500,000 stigmas) are needed to obtain 1kg of saffron, all hand-picked, making it extremely expensive. The red stigmas have a distinctive aroma and bitter taste, used for coloring and flavoring food, particularly essential for Mediterranean dishes like paella and bouillabaisse. Cultivated for over 3000 years, it has been used since ancient times as spice, dye, perfume, and medicine. It was introduced to Japan as Chinese herbal medicine in the late Edo period.

Trivia

  • 160 flowers are needed to produce 1g of saffron
  • Name derives from Arabic 'zafran' meaning 'yellow'
  • Traded at equivalent value to gold in ancient Greece
  • Iran still accounts for about 90% of world production

Uses

Ornamental
  • Bulb plants
  • Autumn flower beds
  • Rock gardens
Medicinal
  • Used as herbal medicine 'Bankoka'
  • Analgesic, sedative, emmenagogue, hemostatic effects
  • Remedy for women's health issues
  • Warming effect on body

Caution: Large amounts are dangerous. Consult professionals for medicinal use

Culinary
  • Stigmas
Other
  • Natural dye
  • Perfume ingredient
  • Cosmetic ingredient
  • Textile dyeing

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Stigmas when consumed in large quantities

Symptoms: Safe in culinary amounts, but dangerous in large quantities (5g+)

Rose of Sharon
Korean rose Hibiscus syriacus Shrub althea

Scientific Name: Hibiscus syriacus
Family: Malvaceae

Flower Language

  • Captive of love
  • New beauty
  • Conviction
  • Delicate beauty

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Rose of Sharon is a deciduous tree in the mallow family native to China, introduced to Japan via the Korean Peninsula during the Nara period. It serves as Korea's de facto national flower, called 'Mugunghwa.' In the 9th century, Silla called itself 'Geunhwa-hyang (Land of Rose of Sharon),' showing its long-cherished status. Koreans found eternal power in the flower that blooms anew even after falling, entrusting their hopes for national independence to it. It's also essential as a summer tea ceremony flower, favored by tea master Sen no Sotan, with its ephemeral nature matching the spirit of 'ichigo ichie' (one time, one meeting) in tea ceremony.

Trivia

  • Called 'Mugunghwa' in Korea and beloved as the national flower
  • Became representative summer tea ceremony flower through Sen no Sotan's love
  • Korean hotel ratings use rose of Sharon marks instead of stars
  • Though one-day flowers, new blooms appear successively for long enjoyment

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden trees
  • Hedging
  • Tea ceremony flowers
  • Cut flowers
Medicinal
  • Traditional medicinal use in Korea

Caution: Consult professionals for medicinal use

Culinary
  • Flowers
  • Young leaves
Other
  • Branches used as structural material in flower arrangement
  • National symbol
  • Nectar source

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic

Grape
Grapevine Vitis

Scientific Name: Vitis vinifera
Family: Vitaceae

Flower Language

  • Intoxication
  • Compassion
  • Forgetfulness
  • Charity

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Grape is a climbing deciduous shrub in the grape family native to the Middle East, one of the oldest cultivated fruits by humanity. The Book of Genesis mentions Noah beginning to plant vineyards after the great flood, giving it the longest history as a cultivated plant. Fruits are enjoyed fresh and processed into wine and raisins worldwide. In Christianity, grape wine used in communion symbolizes Christ's blood, and in Greek mythology it was a sacred plant offered to Dionysus, god of wine. Used as motif in arabesque patterns, grape designs can be found in artifacts from Greece and Rome to West Asia and China.

Trivia

  • Said to be the first plant Noah planted after the great flood
  • Used as arabesque motif across cultures worldwide
  • One of the plants Columbus brought to the Americas
  • Hand-picking still essential for high-quality wine production

Uses

Ornamental
  • Trellis cultivation
  • Garden arches
  • Shade creation
Medicinal
  • Antioxidant effects (polyphenols)
  • Cardiovascular benefits

Caution: Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to health

Culinary
  • Fruits
  • Leaves (in some regions)
Other
  • Wine production
  • Raisin production
  • Grape seed oil
  • Religious ceremonies

Toxicity

Symptoms: Fruits are safe for humans but may be harmful to pets

Aloe
Aloe vera Medicine plant Wonder plant

Scientific Name: Aloe arborescens
Family: Asphodelaceae

Flower Language

  • Versatility
  • Health
  • Pain

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Aloe is a succulent plant in the asphodelaceae family native to South Africa, with over 300 known species. In Japan, mainly Aloe arborescens is cultivated and beloved under the nickname 'doctor unnecessary.' The thick leaves are said to have moisturizing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects, and were used medicinally in ancient Egypt and Greece from before Christ. There are anecdotes that Cleopatra used it for beauty and Columbus loaded it on ships to maintain crew health during voyages. Introduced to Japan around the Kamakura period, it's still used as folk medicine for treating burns and cuts. The genus name 'Aloe' derives from ancient Arabic 'alloeh' meaning 'bitter.'

Trivia

  • Cleopatra used it for beauty treatments
  • Columbus carried it on ships during voyages
  • Genus name derives from ancient Arabic meaning 'bitter'
  • Called 'doctor unnecessary' and 'rokai' in Japan

Uses

Ornamental
  • Houseplants
  • Succulent collections
  • Dry gardens
  • Potted plants
Medicinal
  • Treatment for burns and cuts
  • Relief of dermatitis
  • Moisturizing effects
  • Laxative effects (aloin component)

Caution: Consult professionals for internal use. Avoid during pregnancy and nursing

Culinary
  • Leaf gel
Other
  • Cosmetic ingredients
  • Shampoo and soap
  • Health foods
  • Sunscreen

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Leaf skin (contains aloin)

Symptoms: Safe for external use, but internal use may cause diarrhea