October 19

Birth Flower

Lemon Verbena
Lemon Beebrush Verveine Hierba Luisa

Scientific Name: Aloysia triphylla
Family: Verbenaceae

Flower Language

  • patience
  • charm
  • generosity
  • broad-minded

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Lemon Verbena is a deciduous shrub from the Verbenaceae family, genus Aloysia, native to Argentina, Chile, and Peru in South America, introduced to Europe by Spain in the 17th century. Growing 1-3m tall, it has bright lime-green elongated leaves arranged in groups of three, emitting a strong lemon fragrance. Small white flowers bloom in spikes at branch tips from August to September. Japanese names 'Kousui-boku' (fragrant water tree) and 'Boushuu-boku' (odor-preventing tree) derive from its aromatic properties. Known as 'Verveine' in France, it's beloved as an after-dinner herbal tea. The essential oil component citral in the leaves produces the strong lemon scent, which is believed to have sedative and relaxing effects. The flower language 'patience' comes from its resilience in harsh environments, while 'charm,' 'generosity,' and 'broad-minded' derive from how its rich fragrance heals people and promotes tolerant feelings. As herbal tea, it's believed to aid digestion, improve insomnia, and provide antioxidant effects. It's also widely used as fragrance in perfumes, cosmetics, and culinary flavoring.

Trivia

  • Contains citral, the same main aromatic component as lemons
  • Famous as herb beloved by Napoleon's wife Josephine
  • Excellent preservation due to long-lasting fragrance even when dried
  • Beloved as 'Verveine' in France, a national herbal tea

Uses

Ornamental
  • Featured plant in fragrant herb gardens
  • Material for potpourri and wreaths
  • Indoor potted plant for fragrance enjoyment
Medicinal
  • Herbal tea for digestion aid and insomnia improvement
  • Aromatherapy applications for relaxation
  • Antioxidant effects for skin health

Caution: Consult professionals before use during pregnancy or nursing.

Culinary
  • Leaves
  • Flowers
Other
  • Important fragrance ingredient in perfumes and cosmetics
  • Natural insect repellent properties
  • Raw material for soaps and aromatic oils

Toxicity

Symptoms: No toxicity reported at normal usage levels

Angel's Trumpet
Brugmansia Tree Datura Trumpet of Death

Scientific Name: Brugmansia suaveolens
Family: Solanaceae

Flower Language

  • charm
  • affection
  • false charm
  • intoxicating you

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Angel's Trumpet is an evergreen shrub from the Solanaceae family, genus Brugmansia, native to Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and other South American countries. Growing 2-5m tall, it produces beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers about 25cm long that hang downward. Flowers come in various colors including white, yellow, orange, and pink, characterized by petals that curl back in five divisions. At night, it emits strong fragrance to attract moths. Leaves are large, oval-shaped, alternately arranged, and covered with fine hairs throughout. Introduced to Japan as medicinal plant during the Edo period for anesthetic use. Currently popular as ornamental plant, but highly toxic throughout, especially containing alkaloids like scopolamine and atropine, which can cause hallucinations and respiratory difficulties if ingested. Flower language meanings 'charm' and 'affection' derive from beautiful flower appearance, while 'false charm' and 'intoxicating you' reflect the dangerous toxicity behind its beautiful exterior. Once classified with Datura genus, now treated as separate genus due to woody nature and downward-facing flowers.

Trivia

  • Scientific name Brugmansia derives from Dutch botanist Brugmans
  • Previously classified as Datura genus, now independent genus
  • Feared as 'Devil's Trumpet' in Colombia
  • Single flower contains enough toxicity to render person unconscious

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden cultivation as night-fragrant plant
  • Greenhouse ornamental plant
  • Large container cultivation
Medicinal
  • Historically used as anesthetic (now discouraged)
  • Folk medicine use as painkiller (dangerous)

Caution: Extremely dangerous toxicity - absolutely avoid any medicinal use.

Culinary

Entirely toxic and absolutely cannot be used for culinary purposes

Other
  • Research material for plant alkaloid extraction
  • Experimental material for toxicity research
  • Horticultural night fragrance plant

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Severe

Toxic Parts: Entire plant, Especially flowers and seeds

Symptoms: Deadly alkaloids like scopolamine and atropine can cause hallucinations, consciousness disorders, respiratory difficulties, and potentially death.

Solidago
Goldenrod Tall Goldenrod Canada Goldenrod

Scientific Name: Solidago altissima
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • vitality
  • life force
  • shyness
  • look back

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Solidago (Tall Goldenrod) is a perennial from the Asteraceae family, genus Solidago, native to North America, introduced to Japan during the Taisho period as ornamental cut flower plant. The scientific name Solidago derives from Latin 'solidus' meaning 'complete' and 'ago' meaning 'state,' relating to its historical use as wound medicine. This large plant grows 1-2.5m tall, reaching 3.5-4.5m under favorable conditions, producing countless small yellow flowers in autumn that create a beautiful golden foam-like appearance. Flowers are insect-pollinated, often mistakenly blamed for hay fever, though the actual culprit is ragweed blooming simultaneously. It secretes chemicals (allelopathy) from roots that suppress other plant growth, tending to dominate areas once established. Flower language meanings 'vitality' and 'life force' derive from vigorous reproductive power, while 'shyness' and 'look back' come from small flowers clustering together. Currently forms large colonies in riverbanks and vacant lots, continuing to bloom until November. Popular as filler flower in arrangements, maintaining beautiful yellow color when dried, making it valuable for dried and preserved flower applications.

Trivia

  • Scientific name 'Solidago' derives from wound healing meaning 'heal completely'
  • Designated as state flower of Kentucky and Nebraska in the US
  • Japanese name means 'taller than goldenrod'
  • Mistakenly blamed for hay fever, but actual cause is simultaneous ragweed

Uses

Ornamental
  • Popular as filler flower in floral arrangements
  • Processed into dried and preserved flowers
  • Planted in naturalistic autumn gardens as wildflower
Medicinal
  • Traditionally used as wound medicine in North America
  • Folk medicine applications for anti-inflammatory effects

Caution: Consult professionals before medicinal use.

Culinary
  • Young leaves
  • Flowers
Other
  • Natural dye extraction for yellow pigments
  • Nectar source attracting insects
  • Soil improvement effects (allelopathic action)

Toxicity

Symptoms: No particular toxicity reported

Autumn Goldenrod
Japanese Goldenrod Asian Goldenrod Fall Goldenrod

Scientific Name: Solidago virgaurea var. asiatica
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • peace of mind
  • strong heart
  • caution
  • eternity

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Autumn Goldenrod is a native Japanese perennial from the Asteraceae family, genus Solidago, distributed from Hokkaido to Kyushu and the Korean Peninsula, growing naturally in sunny mountainous and hilly areas. Growing 70-80cm tall, it produces numerous yellow capitula about 1.3cm in diameter in racemes on upper stems from August to November. Leaves are alternate, with lower stem leaves being pointed oval and upper leaves lanceolate. Flowers have typical Asteraceae structure with yellow ray and disc florets. The Japanese name derives from yellow flower color and shape resembling 'Kirinsou' from the Crassulaceae family, named 'Autumn Kirinsou' because it blooms in autumn unlike the spring-summer blooming Kirinsou. Though closely related to Tall Goldenrod as same genus species, it's distinguished by being native, shorter height, and racemose flower arrangement. Flower language meanings 'peace of mind' and 'strong heart' come from its resilience in harsh mountain environments, 'caution' from serving as landmark when lost in mountains, and 'eternity' from blooming in same locations annually. Young leaves are edible as mountain vegetables, and dried leaves are used medicinally for diuretic effects.

Trivia

  • Historic Japanese autumn flower appearing in ancient Manyoshu poetry
  • Was representative yellow autumn flower before Tall Goldenrod naturalization
  • Name 'Kirinsou' derives from legendary Chinese animal 'Kirin' (qilin)
  • Long used as landmark when lost in mountains

Uses

Ornamental
  • Planted as autumn wildflower in Japanese gardens
  • Used as cut flower in autumn ikebana arrangements
  • Natural styling in rock gardens
Medicinal
  • Dried leaves used as tea for diuretic effects
  • Folk medicine applications for bladder inflammation relief
  • Relief effects for throat pain and headaches

Caution: Consult professionals before medicinal use.

Culinary
  • Young leaves
  • Young shoots
Other
  • Natural dye extraction for yellow pigments
  • Nectar source attracting autumn insects
  • Native species conservation in ecological gardens

Toxicity

Symptoms: No particular toxicity reported

Garden Balsam
Rose Balsam Touch-me-not Spotted Snapweed

Scientific Name: Impatiens balsamina
Family: Balsaminaceae

Flower Language

  • don't touch me
  • impatience
  • opening heart
  • passion

Characteristics

Colors: crimson

Description

Garden Balsam is an annual plant from the Balsaminaceae family, genus Impatiens, native to Southeast Asia, introduced to Japan from China and cultivated since ancient times. The scientific name Impatiens balsamina's 'Impatiens' means 'impatient,' referring to seed pods that burst immediately when touched. Growing 30-80cm tall with thick, succulent stems having swollen nodes, it produces 3-5cm diameter flowers at leaf bases from June to September in various colors including crimson, pink, white, and purple. Its most distinctive feature is the fruit, which when ripe, bursts coil-like at the slightest touch, scattering seeds in all directions. This characteristic inspired flower language meanings 'don't touch me' and 'impatience.' The Japanese name 'Hōsenka' derives from flowers resembling the legendary Chinese bird 'Phoenix' (Hōō) in flight. Alternative name 'Tsumabeni' (nail crimson) comes from historical practice in China and Korea where women and children used the flowers to dye their nails red. Currently widely cultivated as elementary school science teaching material for observing seed dispersal. Resilient to Japan's hot, humid summers and relatively easy to cultivate, it's beloved as essential summer flower bed plant.

Trivia

  • Scientific name 'Impatiens' derives from impatient seed bursting
  • Cultivated in Japan since Edo period with many garden varieties developed
  • Seed bursting pressure results from internal fruit water pressure
  • Still widely cultivated in 2nd grade elementary life studies classes

Uses

Ornamental
  • Main attraction in summer flower beds
  • Container cultivation in planters
  • Short-term indoor decoration as cut flowers
Medicinal
  • Traditional Chinese use for joint pain treatment
  • Folk medicine external applications for skin conditions

Caution: Consult professionals before medicinal use.

Culinary

Generally not used for culinary purposes

Other
  • Natural dye for nail and fabric coloring
  • Educational material for observing seed dispersal mechanisms
  • Companion plant with insect repellent effects

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Stems, Leaves

Symptoms: Stem sap may cause skin irritation. Care needed to avoid contact with eyes.