November 10

Birth Flower

Cotton Rose Mallow
Confederate Rose Changeable Rose Mallow Dixie Rosemallow

Scientific Name: Hibiscus mutabilis
Family: Malvaceae

Flower Language

  • delicate beauty
  • graceful lover
  • wealth and honor
  • graceful beauty

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Cotton Rose Mallow is a deciduous shrub from the Hibiscus genus in the Malvaceae family, native to China, Taiwan, and Japan. It produces large flowers 10-15cm in diameter from August to October. The scientific name 'mutabilis' means 'changeable,' referring to how the flowers change from pink in the morning to red in the evening. Each flower is a one-day bloom, opening in the morning and closing by evening. Known as 'Mokufu-yo' in Japanese since ancient times, its elegant flower form has been used as a metaphor for beautiful women. The leaves are large and palmate, and the tree grows 1.5-3m tall. Cultivated in Japan since the Muromachi period, it remains popular as a garden plant today.

Trivia

  • Scientific name 'mutabilis' means 'changeable' referring to color change
  • Though one-day flowers, whole plant blooms for about one month
  • Called 'frost-resisting flower' in ancient China for cold tolerance
  • Adopted as prefectural flower by some Japanese municipalities

Uses

Ornamental
  • Ornamental garden tree
  • Park landscaping
  • Flower arrangements
  • Bonsai
Medicinal
  • Flowers used in folk medicine for fever reduction
  • Leaves used externally for bruises and swelling
  • Roots sometimes used as detoxifying medicine

Caution: Avoid medicinal use without expert knowledge; consult medical professionals

Culinary
  • Flowers
  • Young leaves
Other
  • Used as natural dye
  • Stem bark used for fiber
  • Roots used as soap substitute

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Roots, Bark

Symptoms: Large amounts may cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms

Common Cattail
Broadleaf Cattail Great Reedmace Cooper's Reed

Scientific Name: Typha latifolia
Family: Typhaceae

Flower Language

  • compassion
  • obedience
  • hasty person
  • rescue

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Common Cattail is a perennial emergent aquatic plant from the Typhaceae family that grows naturally in shallow waters of ponds, marshes, and riverbanks. Growing up to 2m tall with leaves reaching 150-200cm in length, it produces characteristic flower spikes from June to August. The brown sausage-shaped portion contains female flowers, while the thin rod-like section above contains male flowers. Flower spikes measure 10-20cm long and 2-3cm thick. Featured in the ancient Japanese text Kojiki in the 'White Rabbit of Inaba' tale, it has been familiar to Japanese people since ancient times. The pollen becomes a medicinal herb called 'hoou,' and both rhizomes and flower spikes are edible.

Trivia

  • Flower spikes burst vigorously when crushed by hand, scattering seeds
  • Kamaboko name derives from cattail spike shape
  • Single flower spike contains tens of thousands of seeds
  • Seeds can travel several kilometers by wind

Uses

Ornamental
  • Pond ornamental plant
  • Waterside landscaping
  • Dried flowers
  • Flower arrangements (spikes)
Medicinal
  • Pollen used as hemostatic medicine
  • Diuretic properties
  • Anti-inflammatory effects

Caution: Medicinal use requires expert knowledge

Culinary
  • Rhizomes
  • Young flower spikes
  • Pollen
Other
  • Flower spikes used as stuffing for pillows and cushions
  • Leaves used for weaving materials
  • Water purification properties
  • Origin of kamaboko name

Toxicity

Symptoms:

Bouvardia
Trompetilla Firecracker Bush

Scientific Name: Bouvardia hybrida
Family: Rubiaceae

Flower Language

  • dream
  • passion
  • fantasy
  • fellowship
  • purity

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Bouvardia is an evergreen shrub from the Rubiaceae family native to Mexico, characterized by beautiful four-petaled flowers that emerge from square buds, creating distinctive cross-shaped blooms. Individual flowers are small but cluster together at stem tips, with some clusters containing up to 30 flowers. As a short-day plant, it typically blooms from late October onwards. The Japanese name 'Kanchoji' refers to the tubular flower shape. The genus name honors Charles Bouvard, 18th-century French royal garden director. Flower colors include white, pink, and red, with some varieties having sweet fragrance.

Trivia

  • Genus named after Charles Bouvard, French royal garden director
  • Cross-shaped flowers maintain form well when pressed
  • Short-day plant that forms flower buds when daylight hours shorten
  • Called 'Trompetilla (little trumpet)' in Mexico

Uses

Ornamental
  • Cut flowers (bouquet, arrangements)
  • Potted plants
  • Greenhouse cultivation
  • Wedding decorations
Medicinal
  • Traditionally used as fever reducer in Mexico
  • Sometimes used in folk medicine

Caution: Medicinal use requires expert knowledge and is not generally recommended

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Sometimes used for fragrance
  • Pressed flower materials
  • Horticultural education materials

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: All parts

Symptoms: Ingestion may cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms

Eucharis
Amazon Lily Eucharist Lily

Scientific Name: Eucharis grandiflora
Family: Amaryllidaceae

Flower Language

  • elegance
  • pure heart
  • refreshing days
  • innocence

Characteristics

Colors: white

Description

Eucharis is a bulbous plant from the Amaryllidaceae family native to the Amazon basin of South America. It has large green leaves resembling hostas and produces pure white narcissus-like flowers that hang slightly downward from flower stems. The flowers have sweet, refreshing fragrance and no fixed blooming season, forming flower buds when temperatures of 25-30°C continue for over four weeks. Characteristically, two flowers bloom per stem, with one new flower opening as another fades. The scientific name combines 'eu' meaning 'good' and 'charis' meaning 'to attract,' expressing its beauty.

Trivia

  • Scientific name 'eucharis' means 'well-attracting'
  • Can bloom year-round but requires strict conditions
  • One of the most luxurious bridal flowers
  • Fragrance strongest from evening to night

Uses

Ornamental
  • Bridal bouquets
  • Wedding decorations
  • Cut flowers
  • Potted plants (greenhouse)
Medicinal
  • Sometimes used in folk medicine in South America

Caution: Avoid medicinal use due to toxicity; do not use without expert knowledge

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption (toxic)

Other
  • Used for fragrance
  • Luxury flower arrangements
  • Horticultural enthusiast collections

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Moderate

Toxic Parts: Bulbs, All parts

Symptoms: Ingestion may cause vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions and other poisoning symptoms

Oriental Staff Vine
Japanese Bittersweet Oriental Bittersweet

Scientific Name: Celastrus orbiculatus
Family: Celastraceae

Flower Language

  • late bloomer
  • good fortune
  • good luck
  • truth

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Oriental Staff Vine is a deciduous climbing tree from the Celastraceae family distributed throughout Japan from Hokkaido to Okinawa. It's dioecious, producing small yellowish-green five-petaled flowers from May to June. The leaves are 5-10cm oval-shaped, resembling plum leaves, which gives the plant its name. In autumn, green fruits turn yellow and split into three parts, revealing bright orange-red seeds inside. These beautiful fruits can be enjoyed from October to December and naturally dry, making them popular for wreaths and flower arrangements. The flower language 'late bloomer' comes from the six-month period from flowering to fruit ripening.

Trivia

  • Scientific name 'orbiculatus' means 'circular' referring to leaf shape
  • Can actually hear the sound of fruits bursting open
  • Each fruit contains 3-6 seeds
  • Problematic invasive species in North America, displacing native plants

Uses

Ornamental
  • Wreath making
  • Flower arrangements (fruits)
  • Dried flowers
  • Bonsai
  • Garden climbing plant
Medicinal
  • Roots used as medicinal herb in China
  • Sometimes used in folk medicine for joint pain

Caution: Medicinal use requires expert knowledge; amateur use is dangerous

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Vines used for basket weaving
  • Craft materials
  • Christmas decorations
  • Autumn decoration materials

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Fruits, Seeds

Symptoms: Large amounts may cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms

Gladiolus
Sword Lily Corn Flag

Scientific Name: Gladiolus hybridus
Family: Iridaceae

Flower Language

  • victory
  • caution
  • secret meeting
  • steadfast
  • unwavering effort

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Gladiolus is a bulbous plant from the Iridaceae family native to South Africa, Mediterranean coast, and Central Europe, with about 200 species distributed worldwide. The scientific name derives from Latin 'gladium' (sword, dagger), referring to the sword-like pointed leaves. From June to October, numerous flowers bloom sequentially from bottom to top on one side of long flower stems. The bulb is technically called a corm, which is a swollen stem that stores nutrients. In ancient Europe, lovers used the number of these flowers to signal meeting times, giving rise to the flower meanings 'secret meeting' and 'caution.' Today it's beloved worldwide as a cut flower.

Trivia

  • Scientific name 'gladius' means 'sword' in Latin
  • Ancient lovers used flower numbers to signal meeting times
  • Single flower stem can produce over 20 blooms
  • One of the most traded cut flowers globally

Uses

Ornamental
  • Cut flowers (bouquets, arrangements)
  • Garden beds
  • Potted plants
  • Memorial flowers
Medicinal
  • Corms traditionally used medicinally in South Africa
  • Sometimes used in folk medicine

Caution: Medicinal use requires expert knowledge and is not generally recommended

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Pressed flower materials
  • Horticultural education materials
  • Important crop in cut flower industry

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Corms

Symptoms: Corm ingestion may cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms