October 07

Birth Flower

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
  • Traditional broom making material

Toxicity

Symptoms: No particular toxicity reported

Echinacea
Purple Coneflower Coneflower

Scientific Name: Echinacea purpurea
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • healing your pain
  • deep love
  • gentleness

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Echinacea is a North American prairie perennial from the Asteraceae family, with its name derived from the Greek word 'echinos' meaning hedgehog, referring to the spiky appearance of the flower's center. Growing 60-120cm tall, it produces large 7-10cm diameter flowers from summer to autumn. The petals are purple, pink, or white, with a distinctive raised cone-shaped center. Native Americans traditionally used this plant for various medicinal purposes, and it continues to be valued worldwide as an herb for immune support and infection prevention.

Trivia

  • Scientific name derives from Greek 'echinos' meaning hedgehog
  • One of the most important medicinal plants for Native Americans
  • Approved as pharmaceutical medicine in some European countries
  • Important nectar source for butterflies and bees in ecosystems

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden planting for summer to autumn color
  • Long-lasting cut flowers
  • Perfect for naturalistic garden styles
Medicinal
  • Immune system support
  • Cold and flu prevention and treatment
  • Anti-inflammatory effects for wound healing

Caution: Consult healthcare providers before use if you have autoimmune conditions or are pregnant.

Culinary
  • Leaves
  • Roots
  • Flowers
Other
  • Cosmetic ingredient for skin healing
  • Pet supplements for immune support
  • Research subject for natural antimicrobial properties

Toxicity

Symptoms: Generally safe when used appropriately, though rare allergic reactions may occur

Chinese Artichoke
Stachys Chorogi

Scientific Name: Stachys sieboldii
Family: Lamiaceae

Flower Language

  • longevity
  • good fortune
  • health

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Chinese Artichoke is a Chinese perennial from the Lamiaceae family, introduced to Japan during the Edo period. It's characterized by spiral white tubers formed underground, named 'grass stone silkworm' for their resemblance to caddisfly larvae. Growing 50-60cm tall, it blooms with small pink flowers from May to June. The tubers have a crunchy texture and are used as auspicious food in Japanese New Year dishes. Various kanji like 'long elder tree' reflect wishes for longevity. Rich in stachyose oligosaccharide, it's believed to have beneficial intestinal effects.

Trivia

  • Named for resemblance to caddisfly larvae (stone silkworm)
  • Various auspicious kanji characters are used for its name
  • Contains 63% stachyose oligosaccharide by dry weight
  • Called 'crosne' in France, treated as gourmet ingredient

Uses

Ornamental
  • Summer color in flower beds
  • Herb garden cultivation
  • Suitable as cut flowers
Medicinal
  • Believed to have tonic effects
  • Antitussive properties for cough relief
  • Intestinal regulation for digestive health

Caution: Some traditional sources suggest avoiding consumption with fish.

Culinary
  • Tubers
Other
  • Health food supplement ingredient
  • Traditional preserved food use
  • Probiotic food ingredient

Toxicity

Symptoms: No particular toxicity reported, though traditional caution with fish consumption

Fir
Japanese Fir Abies

Scientific Name: Abies firma
Family: Pinaceae

Flower Language

  • nobility
  • time
  • eternity
  • sincerity

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Fir is a Japanese endemic evergreen conifer from the Pinaceae family, distributed from Akita Prefecture westward on Honshu to Yakushima in Kyushu. This tall tree can reach 40m in height, with gray-brown bark that splits vertically. Leaves are glossy, linear, 1-4cm long with bifurcated tips. Monoecious, flowering in April-May, with mature cones pointing upward from October-November. The wood is white, soft, and odorless, used for coffins, memorial tablets, and food containers. Popular as Christmas trees, its noble appearance inspired flower language meanings of 'nobility' and 'eternity'.

Trivia

  • Only native Abies species in Japan
  • Sometimes called 'divine tree' for white, odorless wood
  • Christmas trees mainly use Western fir varieties
  • Upward-pointing cones characteristic of Abies genus

Uses

Ornamental
  • Christmas tree use
  • Memorial tree planting in gardens
  • Ikebana and floral arrangement material
Medicinal
  • Rich in vitamin C in needles
  • Folk medicine for cold prevention
  • Aromatherapy for relaxation

Caution: Those with allergies should be cautious of tree resin.

Culinary
  • Young shoots
  • Needles
Other
  • Construction material for pillars and beams
  • Musical instrument soundboard material
  • Food packaging material

Toxicity

Symptoms: No particular toxicity reported, though resin may cause allergic reactions

Fragrant Orange-colored Olive
Sweet Osmanthus Gold Osmanthus

Scientific Name: Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus
Family: Oleaceae

Flower Language

  • modesty
  • noble person
  • truth
  • first love
  • intoxication

Characteristics

Colors: orange-yellow

Description

Sweet Osmanthus is a Chinese evergreen small tree from the Oleaceae family, introduced to Japan during the 17th century Edo period with only male plants. Growing 3-6m tall, it densely clusters small orange-yellow flowers in leaf axils from September to October, emitting an extremely strong sweet fragrance. This scent can be detected hundreds of meters away, especially strong at night and after rain. One of Japan's three most fragrant trees alongside Daphne and Gardenia, its scientific name Osmanthus derives from Greek words meaning 'fragrance' and 'flower'. In Japan, female plants are rare, so fruits are seldom seen.

Trivia

  • Scientific name combines Greek words for 'fragrance' and 'flower'
  • Only male plants introduced to Japan, female plants extremely rare
  • Fragrance can be detected hundreds of meters away
  • In China, osmanthus flowers sometimes flavor moon cakes

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden trees for autumn fragrance
  • Street trees for urban greening
  • Fragrant branch material for ikebana
Medicinal
  • Used medicinally as 'guihua' in China
  • Believed to aid digestion
  • Aromatherapy for relaxation effects

Caution: Strong fragrance may be overwhelming for scent-sensitive individuals.

Culinary
  • Flowers
Other
  • Perfume and cosmetic fragrance ingredient
  • Incense material
  • Natural air freshener

Toxicity

Symptoms: No particular toxicity reported, though strong fragrance may cause discomfort