October 21

Birth Flower

Scarlet Rose Mallow
Texas Star Hibiscus coccineus

Scientific Name: Hibiscus coccineus
Family: Malvaceae

Flower Language

  • mildness
  • gentleness

Characteristics

Colors: red

Description

Momijiaoi is a large perennial herb from the Malvaceae family, native to North America and introduced to Japan in early Meiji period. Growing 1.5-2m tall, it blooms with vivid red hibiscus-like flowers from summer to autumn. Named 'maple mallow' because its palmately divided leaves resemble maple leaves. Individual flowers are day flowers that open in morning and close by evening, but continuous blooming provides long-lasting display. Preferring wetlands, it naturally grows near ponds and marshes, mainly cultivated for ornamental purposes in Japan. Also called 'red hollyhock,' its vivid colors and large flowers are representative plants that grace gardens from summer to autumn.

Trivia

  • Sometimes planted as comparison plant due to slight resemblance to hemp
  • Day flowers but continuous blooming provides long enjoyment
  • Introduction to Japan in early Meiji was part of gardening boom
  • Large perennial reaching 2m in height

Uses

Ornamental
  • Background plants in garden plantings
  • Landscape plants for pond sides and wetlands
  • Cut flowers for summer to autumn arrangements
Medicinal
  • Limited records of folk medicine use

Caution: No established medicinal uses.

Culinary

Not suitable for culinary use

Other
  • Environmental improvement plants in wetland restoration projects
  • Ecosystem support in ecological gardens
  • Educational comparison plant for hemp identification

Toxicity

Symptoms: No particular toxicity reported

Waratah
New South Wales Waratah Telopea

Scientific Name: Telopea speciosissima
Family: Proteaceae

Flower Language

  • person who stands out anywhere
  • attention seeker

Characteristics

Colors: red

Description

Telopea speciosissima is an evergreen shrub from the Proteaceae family, native to New South Wales, Australia, and designated as the state flower. The scientific name 'Telopos' means 'visible from afar' in Greek, and 'speciosissima' means 'most showy,' aptly describing its vivid red flowers visible from great distances. Flower heads are about 10cm in diameter, with tubular red flowers clustered in spherical form surrounded by red bracts. Growing 2-3m tall, it blooms from June to August. Leaves are leathery and large, elongated oval shaped with alternating arrangement, and short stiff hairs on the underside. Widely cultivated for cut flowers in Australia and popular as garden plants.

Trivia

  • Scientific name means 'most showy flower visible from afar'
  • Designated as state flower of New South Wales
  • Aboriginal word 'waratah' means 'red flower'
  • Appropriate size as garden tree reaching about 3m height

Uses

Ornamental
  • Greenhouse ornamental plant cultivation
  • High-end floral arrangements as cut flowers
  • Special landscape plants in gardens
Medicinal
  • Limited records of folk medicine use

Caution: No established medicinal uses.

Culinary

Not suitable for culinary use

Other
  • Popular as Australian souvenir flower
  • Educational exhibition plants in botanical gardens
  • Research material as representative of Proteaceae family

Toxicity

Symptoms: No particular toxicity reported

Cotton Plant
Cotton Tree Cotton Flower

Scientific Name: Gossypium hirsutum
Family: Malvaceae

Flower Language

  • excellence
  • embrace me
  • useful
  • mother's love

Characteristics

Colors: pale yellow

Description

Cotton tree is one of the world's most important fiber crops from the Malvaceae family, genus Gossypium. It blooms with delicate pale yellow five-petaled flowers from July to August, with very thin and delicate petals. Individual flowers last only one day, blooming during daytime and withering with reddish tinge by evening, but new flowers continuously emerge. After flowering, green bolls swell and eventually burst open to reveal white or brown cotton fibers. This cotton becomes the raw material for textile production, making it a crucial plant supporting human clothing. It's a major industrial crop with millions of tons cultivated annually in China, India, and America. In Japan, while naturally perennial, it's treated as annual due to climatic conditions.

Trivia

  • Scientific name Gossypium derives from Latin 'swollen thing' referring to bulging bolls
  • Crop produced in millions of tons annually worldwide
  • Day flowers but continuous blooming provides long enjoyment
  • One of the most important plants supporting human clothing civilization

Uses

Ornamental
  • Ornamental plants enjoying both flowers and bolls
  • Educational plants for learning cotton growth process
  • Cotton bolls used for dried flower arrangements
Medicinal
  • Limited records of folk medicine use
  • Seed oil used as cosmetic ingredient

Caution: No established medicinal uses.

Culinary
  • Seed oil
Other
  • Fiber crop as raw material for cotton textiles
  • Seed oil used as industrial oil
  • Cotton used as stuffing for cushions and pillows

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Seeds

Symptoms: Seeds contain mild toxic compounds, avoid large quantities of unprocessed seeds

Mexican Sunflower
Tithonia Red Sunflower

Scientific Name: Tithonia rotundifolia
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • happiness
  • fortunate person

Characteristics

Colors: orange

Description

Tithonia is an annual plant from the Asteraceae family, native to Mexico and Central America, growing into a large plant 1-2m tall. It blooms with passionate orange flowers facing upward from July to September, called 'Mexican Sunflower' or 'Broad-leaved Sunflower' for its vivid coloration. Said to be the national flower of the ancient Aztec Empire, also called 'red sunflower' in parts of Hokkaido. Flowers are 5-8cm in diameter with sunflower-like appearance but characterized by more vivid orange color. Heat-resistant and beloved as representative plant coloring summer gardens. In India, leaf juice is used as folk medicine for malaria, and seeds contain about 20% oil content.

Trivia

  • Said to be the national flower of ancient Aztec Empire
  • Sometimes called 'red sunflower' in Hokkaido
  • Not suitable for cut flowers due to hollow stems, but can be used with wire support
  • Seeds contain about 20% oil content

Uses

Ornamental
  • Background plants in summer to autumn flower beds
  • Accent plants in large containers
  • Cut flowers for short-term decorations
Medicinal
  • Leaf juice used as folk medicine for malaria in India
  • Used in traditional medicine in Central America

Caution: Consult professionals before medicinal use.

Culinary

Generally not suitable for culinary use

Other
  • Oil extraction from seeds (about 20% content)
  • Nectar source attracting butterflies and bees
  • Research subject for biomass fuel

Toxicity

Symptoms: No particular toxicity reported

Thistle
Cirsium Japanese Thistle

Scientific Name: Cirsium japonicum
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • independence
  • revenge
  • austerity
  • don't touch

Characteristics

Colors: purple

Description

Thistle is a perennial herb from the Asteraceae family with about 300 species worldwide, originating from the Mediterranean coast. The scientific name 'Cirsium' derives from 'Kirusion,' a plant used for treating varicose veins in ancient Greece. Characterized by thorns on leaves and bracts, the flower language of 'independence' and 'revenge' comes from Scottish legend where these thorns protected the nation. Beautiful purple flowers bloom from spring to summer, with young stems, leaves, flowers, and roots being edible. Roots are used as pickled mountain burdock, and medicinally it has stomachic, diuretic, and detoxifying effects. 'Silymarin' extracted from milk thistle seeds is known for liver function improvement.

Trivia

  • Beloved as Scotland's national flower since 13th century
  • Scientific name derives from ancient Greek varicose vein treatment
  • Large genus with about 300 species worldwide
  • Roots said to be more flavorful than burdock

Uses

Ornamental
  • Plantings in wild-style gardens
  • Potted cultivation as mountain wildflowers
  • Used as dried flowers
Medicinal
  • Dried roots used as herbal medicine for stomach, diuretic, detoxification
  • Liver function improvement with silymarin from milk thistle
  • Blood stasis relief and waste elimination promotion

Caution: Consult professionals before medicinal use.

Culinary
  • Young stems and leaves
  • Flowers
  • Roots
Other
  • Used in Scottish coat of arms and emblems
  • Herbal tea preparation
  • Natural dye source

Toxicity

Symptoms: No particular toxicity reported (used as food)