October 28

Birth Flower

Black-eyed Susan Vine
Thunbergia Clock Vine Orange Clock Vine

Scientific Name: Thunbergia alata
Family: Acanthaceae

Flower Language

  • dark eyes
  • beloved one
  • small love

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Black-eyed Susan Vine is a climbing annual from the Acanthaceae family native to East Africa, named for its distinctive flowers with dark centers. The flowers are 3-5cm in diameter with orange, yellow, or white petals and a dark purple to black center (actually the deep-colored corolla tube). This vigorous climber grows 1-2m tall and wraps around supports, making it excellent for covering fences and walls. While perennial in warm climates, it's grown as an annual in Japan due to low cold tolerance. It prefers sunny locations with good drainage and blooms continuously from summer through autumn.

Trivia

  • Universally named for its distinctive dark 'eye' center across cultures
  • Called 'wild gem' in Africa for its natural beauty
  • Fast-growing vine can extend over 2 meters in one summer
  • Flowers are day-blooming, opening in morning and closing by evening

Uses

Ornamental
  • Green curtains for summer shade
  • Decorative climbing plant for fences and walls
  • Trailing plant in hanging baskets
Medicinal
  • Traditional African medicine for wound treatment
  • Leaf juice used in folk remedies for skin conditions

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

Culinary

Not suitable for culinary use

Other
  • Nectar source attracting butterflies and bees
  • Ground cover for erosion control
  • Use in ecosystem restoration projects

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Leaves, Stems

Symptoms: May cause skin irritation; sensitive individuals may develop dermatitis.

African Marigold
American Marigold Aztec Marigold Big Marigold

Scientific Name: Tagetes erecta
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • beauty blooming in adversity
  • overcoming despair
  • courage
  • health

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

African Marigold is an annual from the Asteraceae family native to Mexico, despite its name suggesting African origin. Spanish conquistadors brought it from Mexico to Europe, from where it spread to Africa and worldwide, hence the name. Growing 50-100cm tall, it produces large 5-10cm diameter flowers in yellow, orange, white, and cream colors, often in double-flowered varieties. Extremely hardy and easy to grow with good disease and pest resistance, making it popular with beginning gardeners. The roots secrete substances that help control soil nematodes, making it valuable as a companion plant.

Trivia

  • Named 'African' despite Mexican origin due to historical trade routes
  • NASA research subject for potential space cultivation
  • Hundreds of millions used annually in Indian religious ceremonies
  • Traditional bright orange decorations for Mexican Day of the Dead cemeteries

Uses

Ornamental
  • Vibrant color displays in flower beds and containers
  • Long-lasting cut flowers
  • Can be used as dried flowers
Medicinal
  • Traditional Mexican medicine for digestive issues
  • Folk remedies for anti-inflammatory effects
  • Petals used for wound healing in some regions

Caution: Scientific evidence is limited; avoid internal use and consult professionals for external applications.

Culinary
  • Petals
  • Young leaves
Other
  • Natural pesticide and nematode control in agriculture
  • Source of yellow dye
  • Companion plant in vegetable gardening

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Leaves, Stems

Symptoms: May cause skin irritation and allergic reactions in some individuals.

Wild Aster
Japanese Wild Aster Ageratoides Aster

Scientific Name: Symphyotrichum ageratoides
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • memories
  • I won't forget you
  • farewell
  • resilience

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Wild Aster is a perennial from the Asteraceae family native to mountains and fields throughout Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu in Japan. The name 'Nokongiku' literally means 'field navy chrysanthemum,' referring to its navy-blue flowers blooming in wild fields. Growing 50cm-1m tall, it produces numerous 2-3cm diameter flower heads from September to November. Flowers range from white to light purple to purple with yellow disc florets in the center. Leaves are elliptical, alternate, and clasp the stem. One of Japan's representative autumn wildflowers, commonly found along mountain paths, riverbanks, and grasslands. Long beloved by Japanese people and featured in traditional poetry and haiku. Though wild, it's hardy and easy to grow, used in natural garden plantings.

Trivia

  • Often confused with other asters; accurate classification is relatively recent
  • Flower colors vary widely from white to deep purple depending on soil and climate
  • Important nectar source for butterflies, especially along Asagimadara migration routes
  • Historic wildflower recorded in Edo period botanical illustrations

Uses

Ornamental
  • Autumn color in naturalistic garden plantings
  • Cultivation in wildflower and alpine plant collections
  • Cut flowers for autumn arrangements
Medicinal
  • Traditional use for colds and fever reduction
  • Decoction used as digestive remedy in some regions

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

Culinary
  • Young leaves
  • Flowers
Other
  • Important nectar source for butterflies and bees
  • Native plant for ecosystem restoration
  • Material for pressed flowers and plant specimens

Toxicity

Symptoms: No particular toxicity reported

Hop
Common Hop European Hop Beer Hop

Scientific Name: Humulus lupulus
Family: Cannabaceae

Flower Language

  • hope
  • believing heart
  • lightness
  • injustice

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Hop is a climbing perennial from the Cannabaceae family native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, renowned as a crucial ingredient providing aroma and bitterness to beer. It's dioecious, with female cone-like inflorescences called strobiles being used in brewing. The vines climb clockwise up to 6-10m high, sprouting new growth in spring and flowering from summer to autumn. The strobiles contain lupulin, a yellow powdery gland that provides beer's bitterness and preservative properties. Historically used as medicinal herb for sedative and digestive effects. Now cultivated worldwide for brewing, with numerous varieties developed through breeding for different aromatic and bitter profiles.

Trivia

  • Hops were first used in beer in 8th-9th century Europe
  • Hop cultivation began in Japan during Meiji period in Sapporo with beer production
  • Germany is the world's largest hop producer, followed by USA and Czech Republic
  • Cone harvesting is manual work where timing critically affects quality

Uses

Ornamental
  • Green curtains for summer shade
  • Decorative climbing plant for fences and pergolas
  • Dried cone flowers for decoration
Medicinal
  • Herbal tea with purported sedative effects
  • Traditional use for insomnia treatment
  • Believed to aid digestion and appetite

Caution: Contains estrogenic compounds; avoid use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Culinary
  • Young shoots
  • Young leaves
Other
  • Primary use in beer brewing for aroma and bitterness
  • Natural preservative in food storage
  • Stem fibers for textile production
  • Cone extracts in cosmetic products

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Cones, Leaves

Symptoms: Large amounts may cause strong sedative effects, leading to drowsiness and fatigue.