November 06

Birth Flower

Carnation
Pink Clove Pink Wild Carnation

Scientific Name: Dianthus caryophyllus
Family: Caryophyllaceae

Flower Language

  • Pure love
  • Respect
  • My love is alive

Characteristics

Colors: White

Description

Carnation is a perennial herb of the Caryophyllaceae family, native to the Mediterranean coast. Its scientific name Dianthus caryophyllus means 'flower of the gods.' The petals have distinctively serrated, wavy edges and emit a sweet, spicy fragrance. White carnations symbolize purity and love, expressing pristine beauty, though they are also used to remember deceased mothers, requiring care when giving as gifts. Cultivated worldwide, they are among the most traded cut flowers globally.

Trivia

  • National flower of Spain and used as anti-monarchy symbol during the French Revolution
  • State flower of Ohio and known as the origin flower of Mother's Day in America
  • Flower meanings vary greatly by color: red means 'mother's love,' pink means 'gratitude,' yellow means 'disappointment'
  • One of the world's most traded cut flowers with billions of stems traded annually

Uses

Ornamental
  • Cut flowers for bouquets and arrangements
  • Garden and container cultivation
  • Decorative uses in bouquets and corsages
Medicinal
  • Traditionally used in Europe for treating heart conditions and fever
  • Petals used for herbal tea

Caution: Medicinal use should be under professional guidance

Culinary
  • Petals
Other
  • Used as fragrance in perfumes and cosmetics
  • Dried flowers for interior decoration

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Stems and leaves

Symptoms: Large amounts may cause mild gastrointestinal upset, though petals are commonly used as food

Japanese Beautyberry
Purple Beautyberry Callicarpa

Scientific Name: Callicarpa japonica
Family: Lamiaceae

Flower Language

  • Intelligent woman
  • Elegance
  • Intelligence
  • Lovable

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Murasaki Shikibu is a deciduous shrub of the Lamiaceae family native to Japan, growing 2-3 meters tall. It blooms with small pale purple flowers in early summer and produces abundant beautiful purple berries about 3mm in diameter in autumn. The leaves are opposite, nearly diamond-shaped oblong with fine serrations, turning pale yellow in fall. Named after Murasaki Shikibu, author of The Tale of Genji, it carries flower meanings of 'intelligent woman' and 'intelligence,' making it popular as a garden plant for its elegant and intellectual impression. The berries persist through winter, providing valuable food for birds.

Trivia

  • Named after Murasaki Shikibu (c.973-1014), author of The Tale of Genji, a uniquely Japanese plant name
  • Most 'Murasaki Shikibu' sold in garden centers are actually the closely related species Komurasaki
  • Known for attracting Asagi Madara butterflies that seek nectar from its flowers
  • Though berries are only about 3mm in diameter, a single branch can bear hundreds of them

Uses

Ornamental
  • Planted as garden shrub to enjoy beautiful autumn berries
  • Can be trained as bonsai
  • Branches with berries used in flower arrangements
Medicinal
  • Berries sometimes used in folk medicine

Caution: Medicinal use requires expertise and is not recommended for amateurs

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Contributes to ecosystem as bird food
  • Purple berries occasionally used as natural dye

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Berries

Symptoms: Berries are not edible and may cause mild digestive symptoms if consumed in large quantities

Craspedia
Billy Buttons Drumstick Flower Gold Stick

Scientific Name: Craspedia globosa
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • Eternal happiness
  • Knocking on the heart's door
  • Energetic
  • Unique

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Craspedia is an annual herb of the Asteraceae family native to Australia. The genus name Craspedia derives from the Greek word 'Kraspedon' meaning 'fringe ornament.' Its most distinctive feature is the perfectly spherical bright yellow flowers, 3-4cm in diameter, resembling drumsticks, hence the English name 'Drumstick Flower.' Growing 60-90cm tall, it blooms from early summer to autumn. The flowers have exceptional longevity and are highly popular as dried flowers. The flower meaning 'eternal happiness' comes from the belief that yellow flowers bring happiness and from their ability to maintain beauty for extended periods.

Trivia

  • The English name 'Billy Buttons' referred to gold buttons in 19th century Australia
  • Plants producing perfectly spherical flowers are rare and botanically fascinating
  • Can maintain color and shape for over a year when dried
  • Frequently used in Australian stamp and souvenir designs

Uses

Ornamental
  • Cut flowers for floral arrangements
  • Dried flowers for interior decoration
  • Garden beds and container cultivation
Medicinal
  • No significant medicinal use recorded

Caution: Medicinal use is not recommended

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Used as craft material
  • Popular as photography props

Toxicity

Symptoms: No significant toxicity reported

Senno
Lychnis Silene

Scientific Name: Lychnis bungeana
Family: Caryophyllaceae

Flower Language

  • Honor
  • Quick wit
  • Heart flutter of love

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Senno is a perennial herb of the Caryophyllaceae family native to China, introduced to Japan from the late Kamakura to early Muromachi period. Its most distinctive feature is the striking carmine-red (bright red with vermillion tinge) flowers with finely serrated petal tips. The entire plant is covered with short hairs, and the upright stems bear opposite leaves. Named 'Senno' after being cultivated at Saga Senno-ji Temple in Kyoto, it was also called 'Sensetsu' due to the custom of giving cut flowers during the Tanabata festival. The plants currently cultivated in Japan are triploid and sterile, propagated through division.

Trivia

  • In the Muromachi period, Tanabata was called 'Senno no Sekku' with a custom of giving Senno cut flowers
  • All Senno plants currently cultivated in Japan are triploid and sterile, making them genetically identical clones
  • Kyoto's Saga Senno-ji Temple is now defunct but remains in history as the origin of the plant's name
  • The flower's vivid color has become a traditional Japanese color name called 'Senno-iro'

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden cultivation for ornamental purposes
  • Cut flowers for tea ceremony and ikebana
  • Container cultivation
Medicinal
  • Used medicinally in traditional Chinese medicine

Caution: Medicinal use requires expertise and is not recommended for amateurs

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Flower pigments sometimes used as dye
  • Used as subject matter in literature and poetry

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Entire plant

Symptoms: Large amounts may cause mild gastrointestinal upset, but normal cultivation poses no problems

Thoroughwort
Boneset Joe Pye Weed Eupatorium

Scientific Name: Eupatorium japonicum
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • Hesitation
  • Hesitation
  • Delay
  • Remembering that day

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Fujibakama is a perennial herb of the Asteraceae family, genus Eupatorium, native to China and the Korean Peninsula. As one of the seven autumn grasses, it's a historically significant flower mentioned in the Manyoshu anthology. From late summer to early autumn, it produces numerous small pale purple flowers about 5mm in diameter in clustered arrangements at stem tips. Named 'Fujibakama' because its flower color resembles wisteria (fuji) and the petal shape resembles hakama (traditional Japanese trousers). When half-dried, it emits a fragrance similar to cherry blossom leaves, containing coumarin glycosides. Due to declining natural habitats in modern Japan, it has become an endangered species, and most commercially available plants are actually Sawa-fujibakama, a hybrid variety.

Trivia

  • The only non-native species among the seven autumn grasses (naturalized plant)
  • Mentioned alongside 'morning glory flowers' in the Manyoshu by Yamanoue no Okura, leaving its mark in Japanese literary history
  • The cherry blossom-like fragrance from half-dried leaves and stems comes from coumarin glycosides
  • Known as an important nectar source for Chestnut Tiger butterflies during their long-distance migrations

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden planting for autumn seasonal display
  • Cut flowers for tea ceremony and ikebana
  • Container cultivation
Medicinal
  • Used as 'rancao' in traditional Chinese medicine
  • Believed to have fever-reducing and diuretic effects

Caution: Medicinal use requires expertise and caution due to coumarin glycoside content

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Used as fragrant herb for scenting clothes and rooms
  • Utilized as dried flowers
  • Important nectar source for Chestnut Tiger butterflies

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Entire plant (especially leaves and stems)

Symptoms: Contains coumarin glycosides which may burden the liver if consumed in large quantities