October 01

Birth Flower

Globe Amaranth
Gomphrena Bachelor Button Thousand Day Red

Scientific Name: Gomphrena globosa
Family: Amaranthaceae

Flower Language

  • immortality
  • unfading love
  • unchanging affection
  • maiden's sincerity

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Globe Amaranth is an annual flower from the Amaranthaceae family, native to tropical America and introduced to Japan in the 17th century. The colorful parts that appear to be flowers are actually bracts (modified leaves) in purple, pink, white, yellow, and red, while the true flowers are tiny, about 1mm in size, blooming on top of the bracts. Named for its longer blooming period than Crape Myrtle (Hundred Days Red), it can maintain its beautiful colors from May to November. It's highly resistant to heat and drought, making it popular for dried flower arrangements.

Trivia

  • The colorful parts are bracts, not flowers, which is why they don't fade
  • Named for blooming longer than Hundred Days Red (Crape Myrtle)
  • Recorded in Edo period literature, beloved by Japanese for centuries
  • Considered one of the longest-lasting cut flowers in the world

Uses

Ornamental
  • Long-lasting cut flowers
  • Garden planting for summer to autumn color
  • Dried flower arrangements and crafts
Medicinal
  • Traditional use for hemostatic effects
  • Folk medicine for anti-inflammatory purposes

Caution: Medical evidence is insufficient; consult professionals before medicinal use.

Culinary

Not suitable for culinary use

Other
  • Potpourri ingredient as dried flowers
  • Natural dye source for purple and pink colors

Toxicity

Symptoms: No particular toxicity reported

Heliotrope
Cherry Pie Garden Heliotrope

Scientific Name: Heliotropium arborescens
Family: Boraginaceae

Flower Language

  • eternal love
  • devoted love
  • infatuation
  • I keep watching you

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Heliotrope is a plant from the Boraginaceae family, native to Ecuador and Peru in South America, introduced to Japan during the Meiji period. Its name comes from Greek meaning 'flower that turns toward the sun,' and indeed the flowers face the sun. Small purple or white flowers, 3-5mm in diameter, bloom in dense umbrella-like clusters, known for their sweet vanilla-like fragrance. Called 'perfume plant' in Japanese, it has been used as a perfume ingredient, and is said to be the source of the first perfume introduced to Japan.

Trivia

  • The first perfume introduced to Japan was reportedly made from heliotrope
  • Famous as a favorite flower of Napoleon's wife Josephine
  • Called 'sun-chasing flower' for its heliotropic behavior
  • Essential flower in Victorian flower language dictionaries

Uses

Ornamental
  • Potted plants for indoor fragrance
  • Scented garden landscaping
  • Cut flowers for adding fragrance to bouquets
Medicinal
  • Traditional use for respiratory ailments
  • Aromatherapy for relaxation effects

Caution: Contains alkaloids throughout the plant; internal consumption should be avoided.

Culinary

Not edible due to toxicity

Other
  • Essential oil extraction for perfume production
  • Dried flowers for potpourri
  • Component in aromatic oils

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Moderate

Toxic Parts: Entire plant, Especially seeds

Symptoms: Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause liver damage; ingestion may result in poisoning symptoms.

Bush Clover
Japanese Bush Clover Lespedeza

Scientific Name: Lespedeza thunbergii
Family: Fabaceae

Flower Language

  • contemplation
  • shyness
  • flexible spirit
  • thoughtfulness

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Bush clover is one of the seven autumn flowers and a native Japanese deciduous shrub from the Fabaceae family, famously the most frequently mentioned plant in the Manyoshu poetry collection. Growing 1.5-2m tall, it produces numerous small butterfly-shaped flowers (1-1.5cm diameter) on slender, drooping branches. Blooming from July to October, flowers are typically red-purple, though white and pink varieties exist. With trifoliate compound leaves and symbiotic root nodule bacteria typical of legumes, it thrives even in poor soil. Long celebrated in Japanese literature, its easily scattered small flowers that fall in the wind inspired flower language meanings of transience, shyness, and contemplation.

Trivia

  • Featured in 142 poems in Manyoshu, the most of any plant
  • Only shrub among the seven autumn flowers; others are herbaceous
  • Miyagino-hagi variety named after the most beautiful bush clover area
  • Edo period had 'hagi flower viewing' custom alongside moon viewing

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden trees for autumn atmosphere
  • Tea ceremony flowers
  • Autumn ikebana arrangements
Medicinal
  • Traditional use for diuretic effects
  • Folk medicine for fever reduction

Caution: Scientific evidence is limited; consult professionals before medicinal use.

Culinary
  • Young leaves
  • Flowers
Other
  • Soil improvement for land reclamation
  • Nectar source for beekeeping
  • Bark used in traditional paper making

Toxicity

Symptoms: No particular toxicity reported

Chrysanthemum
Mum Autumn Flower

Scientific Name: Chrysanthemum morifolium
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • I love you
  • love
  • nobility
  • integrity

Characteristics

Colors: red

Description

Chrysanthemum is one of Japan's most representative flowers, with red chrysanthemums particularly carrying flower language meanings of love. The scientific name Chrysanthemum derives from Greek 'chrysos (gold)' and 'anthemon (flower),' originally referring to yellow flowers. Cultivation began in Japan during the Heian period, and it became highly esteemed as the Imperial family adopted the 'sixteen-petal double chrysanthemum' crest. September 9th, the Chrysanthemum Festival (Choyo no Sekku), celebrates this flower deeply rooted in Japanese culture. Blooming from September to November in various colors and forms, red chrysanthemums are especially used as gifts to express passionate love.

Trivia

  • One of Japan's national flowers, featured on passport covers
  • Chrysanthemum dolls are unique Japanese art form from Edo period
  • One of the world's most diverse flowers with thousands of varieties
  • Adopted in medal designs during the Meiji period

Uses

Ornamental
  • Long-lasting cut flowers
  • Autumn star in garden plantings
  • Artistic bonsai cultivation
Medicinal
  • Chrysanthemum tea for eye strain and fever relief
  • Traditional Chinese medicine ingredient

Caution: May cause allergic reactions in some individuals; caution advised.

Culinary
  • Petals
  • Young leaves
Other
  • Health tea ingredient
  • Natural insect repellent
  • Yellow dye source

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Leaves, Stems

Symptoms: May cause dermatitis or allergic reactions in some individuals.