November 19

Birth Flower

Statice
Sea Lavender Limonium Marsh Rosemary

Scientific Name: Limonium sinuatum
Family: Plumbaginaceae

Flower Language

  • unchanging heart
  • forever unchanging
  • knowledge

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Statice is a perennial plant from the Limonium genus in the Plumbaginaceae family, native to the Mediterranean coast. While officially called Limonium now, it's still beloved by the old name Statice in horticulture. Blooming from May to July, the colorful parts are actually sepals, with true flowers being small white parts in the center. The sepals don't fall and maintain color for long periods, earning it the name 'everlasting flower,' making it extremely popular for dried flowers. Growing 35-90cm tall, flower colors include blue, pink, yellow, white, purple, red, and recently antique mauve nuanced colors. Available as cut flowers year-round, valued for gifts due to excellent flower longevity.

Trivia

  • Current scientific name Limonium is more official than old genus Statice, but Statice remains mainstream in horticulture
  • About 150 species exist worldwide, adapted to saline environments like coasts and deserts
  • What appears as single flower is actually aggregate of numerous small flowers
  • Papery texture makes it easy for beginners to create dried flowers

Uses

Ornamental
  • Cut flowers
  • Dried flowers
  • Flower arrangements
  • Bouquet filler flowers
Medicinal
  • Used as astringent in Mediterranean regions since ancient times

Caution: Medicinal use not common today; avoid use without expert knowledge

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Craft materials
  • Interior decoration
  • Pressed flower materials
  • Wedding decorations

Toxicity

Symptoms:

St. John's Wort
Common St. John's Wort Perforate St. John's Wort

Scientific Name: Hypericum erectum
Family: Hypericaceae

Flower Language

  • secret
  • resentment
  • superstition

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

St. John's Wort is a perennial herb from the Hypericum genus in the Hypericaceae family, native to Japan, Korean Peninsula, and China. Growing 30-60cm tall, it produces pale yellow 5-petaled flowers about 2cm in diameter at stem tips from July to August. Leaves are opposite and broad-lanceolate, with numerous black oil dots visible when held up to light. Used as medicinal herb since ancient times, containing hypericin and tannins in all parts, believed to have hemostatic, analgesic, astringent, and diuretic properties. The name derives from a sad Heian period legend where a falconer killed his brother, hence called 'brother-cutting grass.' Known as 'Shorenggyo' in traditional medicine.

Trivia

  • Scientific name Hypericum derives from Greek meaning 'growing among weeds'
  • Black oil dots on leaves clearly visible when held up to light
  • Different species from European St. John's Wort with different properties
  • Research reports suggest blood sugar suppression effects

Uses

Ornamental
  • Wildflower appreciation
  • Cultivation in alpine gardens
  • Natural garden planting
Medicinal
  • Dried whole plant used as hemostatic and analgesic medicine
  • External application for cuts and bruises
  • Decoction for menstrual irregularities and tonsillitis

Caution: Risk of photosensitivity from hypericin; avoid internal use or undiluted application

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption (contains medicinal compounds)

Other
  • Used in traditional Chinese medicine as 'Shorenggyo'
  • Research subject for folk medicine
  • Educational material in medicinal herb gardens

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: All parts, Especially flowers and leaves

Symptoms: Hypericin may cause photosensitivity leading to dermatitis and gastrointestinal symptoms

Great Burnet
Burnet Garden Burnet Salad Burnet

Scientific Name: Sanguisorba officinalis
Family: Rosaceae

Flower Language

  • change
  • contemplation
  • adoration

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Great Burnet is a perennial plant from the Sanguisorba genus in the Rosaceae family, native to Japan, Korean Peninsula, China, and Siberia. Growing 1-1.5m tall, it produces cylindrical spikes 1-3cm long at stem tips from July to October, densely packed with small dark reddish-purple flowers. Characteristic feature is flowers blooming from top to bottom sequentially, origin of the flower language 'change.' Leaves are pinnately compound with 7-15 elliptical leaflets. Used as medicinal herb since ancient times, dried rhizome called 'Chiyu' used for hemostasis and treating diarrhea. Beautiful swaying in autumn fields, also cherished for tea ceremony flowers and ikebana.

Trivia

  • Various theories for name origin, but 'I am also red' theory is famous
  • Scientific name Sanguisorba means 'blood absorber' referring to hemostatic effect
  • What appears as flowers are actually sepals with no petals
  • Rhizome contains tannins and saponins with astringent properties

Uses

Ornamental
  • Tea ceremony flowers
  • Ikebana arrangements
  • Natural garden planting
  • Cut flowers
Medicinal
  • Dried rhizome 'Chiyu' used as hemostatic medicine
  • Treatment for diarrhea and stomatitis
  • External application for burns and eczema

Caution: Medicinal use requires expert knowledge; avoid excessive consumption

Culinary
  • Young leaves
  • Young shoots
Other
  • Used as natural dye
  • Educational material in medicinal herb gardens
  • Subject of ecological research

Toxicity

Symptoms:

Rice Flower
White Rice Flower Scentless Everlasting

Scientific Name: Ozothamnus diosmifolius
Family: Asteraceae

Flower Language

  • abundance
  • rich harvest

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Rice Flower is an evergreen shrub from the Ozothamnus genus in the Asteraceae family, native to northeastern Australia. Growing 30-300cm tall, it branches well forming clumping tree shape. Blooming from late March to early June, named 'Rice Flower' because small buds resemble rice grains. Long period from bud to bloom, with dotted bud stage having higher ornamental value than opened flowers. Has distinctive lavender-like fragrance, scientific name Ozothamnus meaning 'fragrant shrub.' Popular for cut flowers and dried flowers due to good flower longevity, also valued as accent in mixed plantings.

Trivia

  • Rare flower where bud stage is most beautiful, decreasing value after blooming
  • Flowers don't fall easily when dried, long-lasting enjoyment
  • Scientific name 'ozo' means smell, 'thamnos' means shrub
  • About 40 Ozothamnus species native to Australia

Uses

Ornamental
  • Cut flowers
  • Dried flowers
  • Accent in mixed plantings
  • Flower arrangements
Medicinal
  • Little record of medicinal use

Caution: Medicinal effects not proven; use not recommended

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Craft materials
  • Interior decoration
  • Fragrance sachet materials
  • Horticultural education material

Toxicity

Symptoms: