September 17

Birth Flower

Tuberose
Polianthes tuberosa Night Queen Moonlight Fragrance

Scientific Name: Polianthes tuberosa
Family: Agavaceae

Flower Language

  • dangerous pleasure
  • dangerous relationship
  • sensual

Characteristics

Colors: white

Description

Tuberose, scientifically known as Polianthes tuberosa, is a perennial bulb plant native to Mexico. It releases stronger fragrance at night rather than during the day, especially under moonlight, earning the Japanese name 'moon-night fragrance.' Its bewitching and sensual scent is called 'flower perfume' and is prized as a raw material for luxury perfumes along with jasmine. It forms spike-like inflorescences with 20-30 white 6-petaled flowers, blooming around August. Cultivation is popular in Hawaii and tropical Asia, where it's also used as a sacred flower in leis and religious ceremonies.

Trivia

  • Scientific name 'tuberosa' means 'tuberous' referring to bulb shape
  • Used in many famous perfumes including Chanel No.5
  • Called 'Queen of the Night' in Hawaii and 'Moon Beauty' in Malaysia
  • Amazing lasting power with single inflorescence fragrant for over 2 weeks

Uses

Ornamental
  • Night-fragrant garden plant
  • Indoor decoration as cut flowers
  • Hawaiian lei material
Medicinal
  • Believed to have sedative effects in traditional medicine
  • Relaxation effects in aromatherapy

Caution: Caution needed for sensitive individuals due to strong fragrance

Culinary

Not edible

Other
  • Luxury perfume ingredient
  • Essential oil
  • Incense for religious ceremonies

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: bulbs

Symptoms: May cause mild gastrointestinal upset if bulbs are ingested

Rose Campion
Lychnis coronaria Flannel Flower Mullein Pink

Scientific Name: Lychnis coronaria
Family: Caryophyllaceae

Flower Language

  • love at a turning point
  • my love is unchanging
  • strong feelings

Characteristics

Colors: red

Description

Lychnis coronaria (Rose Campion) is a perennial of the carnation family native to Southern Europe, growing 30cm to 1m tall. Its most distinctive feature is the silvery-gray leaves covered with white down, earning it the name Flannel Flower. From July to September, it blooms vivid red flowers similar to carnations at the stem tips, rarely producing white or pink flowers. It prefers sunny locations and is drought-resistant, but is weak against humidity and stuffiness, sometimes dying during the rainy season or hot, humid summers.

Trivia

  • Japanese name 'drunken sage' comes from red flowers resembling a drunkard
  • Silver leaves act as natural parasol protecting flowers from strong sunlight
  • Cold-hardy but heat and humidity sensitive, typical Mediterranean climate plant
  • Plant with taxonomic transition, sometimes classified in Silene genus now

Uses

Ornamental
  • Dry garden decoration
  • Rock gardens
  • Use as cut flowers
Medicinal
  • Sometimes used in folk medicine for cough suppression and expectorant

Caution: Self-medication is not recommended

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Dried flowers
  • Breeding material for horticultural varieties

Toxicity

Symptoms: No particular toxicity

Partridge Pea
Chamaecrista nomame Sensitive Pea Wild Sensitive Plant

Scientific Name: Chamaecrista nomame
Family: Fabaceae

Flower Language

  • freedom
  • courage
  • hope

Characteristics

Colors: yellow

Description

Chamaecrista nomame is a native Japanese annual legume that grows in colonies in sunny places such as sandy riverbanks, mountain foothills, and roadsides throughout Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Growing 30-60cm tall with pinnate compound leaves, it blooms small yellow flowers from summer to autumn. Long used as tea substitute called 'Kobo-cha' or 'beach tea,' it's believed to have diuretic and tonic medicinal effects. Known by the medicinal name 'sanpenzu,' it's valued as folk medicine. It also has ecological value in enriching soil through root nodule bacteria characteristic of legume plants.

Trivia

  • 'Ketsumei' means 'brightening eyes' from expectations of vision improvement effects
  • As legume plant, fixes atmospheric nitrogen to enrich soil
  • Historic plant recorded as medicinal herb in Edo period botanical texts
  • Still produced as health tea in some regions today

Uses

Ornamental
  • Cultivation in wildflower gardens
  • Natural-style garden decoration
  • Riverbank greening plant
Medicinal
  • Diuretic effects (folk medicine)
  • Tonic effects
  • Consumption as Kobo-cha tea

Caution: Consult physician if pregnant or have kidney disease

Culinary
  • stems and leaves
  • seeds
Other
  • Soil improvement (root nodule bacteria)
  • Riverbank greening
  • Medicinal herb material

Toxicity

Symptoms: No particular toxicity

Hardy Begonia
Begonia grandis Pink Begonia Autumn Begonia

Scientific Name: Begonia grandis
Family: Begoniaceae

Flower Language

  • unrequited love
  • love troubles
  • love of nature

Characteristics

Colors: light pink

Description

Hardy Begonia is a perennial plant from China that was introduced to Japan during the Edo period as a naturalized plant. Characterized by asymmetrical heart-shaped leaves, it blooms light pink flowers facing downward from late July to mid-October. Being monoecious with separate male and female flowers, its modest downward-facing blooming habit gave rise to the flower language of 'unrequited love.' Known as one of the few begonias that can easily overwinter outdoors in Japan, it prefers semi-shaded, moist locations. It has been beloved by literary figures, with even Masaoka Shiki composing poems about its beauty from his sickbed.

Trivia

  • Famous through Masaoka Shiki's haiku about watermelon-colored autumn begonia
  • Female flowers have distinctive triangular ovaries
  • Propagates through bulbils, providing annual flowers once planted
  • Rare among begonias for ability to overwinter outdoors in Japan

Uses

Ornamental
  • Semi-shade garden plant
  • Understory plant in Japanese gardens
  • Potted plant appreciation
Medicinal
  • Traditionally used for fever reduction and anti-inflammation in China
  • Folk medicine for bruises and swelling as topical treatment

Caution: Avoid self-medication without professional guidance

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Ikebana flower material
  • Subject for haiku and tanka poetry
  • Autumn tea ceremony flowers

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: leaves, stems

Symptoms: May cause mild gastrointestinal upset if ingested

White Heath
White Erica White Heather Tree Heath

Scientific Name: Erica arborea
Family: Ericaceae

Flower Language

  • good luck
  • peace
  • purity

Characteristics

Colors: white

Description

Erica is an evergreen shrub of the Ericaceae family with over 700 species mainly centered in South Africa. White-flowered varieties are particularly popular, blooming small white urn-shaped or bell-shaped flowers covering branches from autumn to spring. With countless flowers densely covering delicate branches, the entire plant appears like a beautiful white cloud. Called Heath in Europe, it frequently appears in literature as a hardy plant that blooms beautifully even in wastelands. It excels in cold winter periods but struggles with hot, humid summers, being representative of Mediterranean climate plants.

Trivia

  • White heather found only once in 100,000 plants in Scotland
  • Erica etymology from ancient Greek 'to break' referring to bladder stone crushing medicinal effects
  • Raw material for briar pipes treasured by pipe enthusiasts
  • Valuable garden plant blooming long-term during winter when few flowers available

Uses

Ornamental
  • Winter garden decoration
  • Rock gardens
  • Potted plant appreciation
Medicinal
  • Traditionally used as diuretic in Europe
  • Used as cold remedy in folk medicine

Caution: Self-medication is not recommended

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Pipe material (briar)
  • Broom material
  • Dried flowers

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: leaves, flowers

Symptoms: May cause mild gastrointestinal upset if consumed in large quantities