November 25

Birth Flower

Nerine
Diamond Lily Japanese Spider Lily

Scientific Name: Nerine sarniensis
Family: Amaryllidaceae

Flower Language

  • looking forward to seeing you again
  • patience
  • sheltered maiden
  • splendor

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Nerine is a bulbous plant from the Nerine genus native to South Africa. It produces pink flowers resembling spider lilies from November to December, with glossy petals that sparkle like jewels when light hits them, earning it the nickname 'Diamond Lily'. Named after the water nymph Nerine (Nereid) from Greek mythology. As a summer-planted bulb, it has excellent longevity as a cut flower, lasting about two weeks. Flower colors include red, pink, purple, and white, with some varieties having striped patterns. It's sensitive to excessive moisture during summer dormancy, requiring careful watering. Introduced to Japan during the Taisho period, it's now popular as a representative autumn cut flower.

Trivia

  • Beloved by the nickname Diamond Lily
  • Excellent longevity as cut flower lasting two weeks
  • Relatively new flower introduced to Japan during Taisho period
  • About 30 wild species known in South Africa

Uses

Ornamental
  • Cut flowers
  • Potted plants
  • Garden beds
  • Bouquets
Medicinal
  • No specific medicinal properties

Caution: For ornamental purposes only, not suitable for medicinal use

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Horticultural education material
  • Research subject for bulb cultivation
  • Important in cut flower industry

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Bulbs

Symptoms: Bulbs contain alkaloids that may cause gastrointestinal issues if ingested

Pampas Grass
Pampas Plume Silver Pampas

Scientific Name: Cortaderia selloana
Family: Poaceae

Flower Language

  • radiance
  • magnificent love
  • bold heart
  • popularity

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Pampas Grass is a large perennial grass from the Cortaderia genus native to the pampas (grasslands) of South America. Known in Japanese as Shirogane-yoshi (silver reed) or also called giant miscanthus or western miscanthus. Growing 1-3m tall, it produces feathery plumes 50-70cm long on upright stems from August to October. It's dioecious, with male plants having narrow plumes and female plants having broader, fluffier ones. The plumes are silver-white with a slight pink tinge, sparkling beautifully in the gentle autumn light. While somewhat sensitive to cold, it's very heat-tolerant. Since its introduction to Japan during the Meiji period, it's been widely used for park landscaping, road median greenery, and dried flower arrangements.

Trivia

  • Dioecious species with female plants producing more beautiful plumes
  • Can withstand strong winds up to 25m/s
  • Can be preserved as dried flowers for several years
  • Regulated as invasive species in some regions

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden planting
  • Park landscaping
  • Road medians
  • Dried flowers
  • Flower arrangements
Medicinal
  • No specific medicinal properties

Caution: For ornamental purposes only, not suitable for medicinal use

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Soil conservation
  • Windbreak effects
  • Erosion control
  • Research subject for biomass fuel

Toxicity

Symptoms:

African Violet
Saintpaulia Usambara Violet

Scientific Name: Streptocarpus ionanthus
Family: Gesneriaceae

Flower Language

  • small love
  • delicate love
  • familiar
  • secluded beauty

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Saintpaulia is a perennial plant from the Gesneriaceae family discovered in 1892 in the Usambara Mountains of Tanzania. Named after its discoverer, German Baron Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire. Characterized by velvety, thick leaves and short stems, it produces elegant violet-like flowers year-round. Through extensive breeding, over 15,000 varieties now exist with diverse flower colors including purple, pink, white, and blue, and various forms like single, double, and frilled blooms. Easy to cultivate indoors when maintained at optimal temperatures of 18-25°C, it's a popular houseplant due to its compact size and minimal space requirements. Known as the 'Queen of Indoor Flowers', it can even grow under fluorescent light alone.

Trivia

  • Over 15,000 varieties exist
  • Can be grown using only plant-growing LED lights
  • Easily propagated through leaf cuttings
  • One of the most popular houseplants in America

Uses

Ornamental
  • Potted plants
  • Indoor houseplants
  • Miniature gardens
  • Terrariums
Medicinal
  • No specific medicinal properties

Caution: For ornamental purposes only, not suitable for medicinal use

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Horticultural education material
  • Test subject for plant-growing LED lights
  • Research material for plant breeding

Toxicity

Symptoms:

Smoke Tree
Smoke Bush Wig Tree

Scientific Name: Cotinus coggygria
Family: Anacardiaceae

Flower Language

  • smoke screen
  • wisdom
  • lively family
  • fleeting youth

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Smoke Tree is a deciduous tree from the Cotinus genus native to China, the Himalayas, and Europe. Known in Japanese as Kemuri-no-ki (smoke tree) or Haguma-no-ki (yak tail tree). It's dioecious, producing numerous small yellow flowers in panicles in early summer. After flowering, the female trees develop elongated pedicels that become fluffy and cotton-like in appearance. These plumes appear like smoldering smoke from a distance, giving the tree its name. The leaves are also attractive, providing beautiful autumn colors. As a member of the Anacardiaceae family, handling cut branches with bare hands may cause skin irritation. Popular as garden trees and also used for dried flower arrangements.

Trivia

  • Only female trees produce beautiful smoke-like plumes
  • Can be preserved as dried flowers for several years
  • Dual-season appeal known for beautiful autumn foliage
  • Historical use as dye dating back to ancient times

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden trees
  • Park trees
  • Dried flowers
  • Cut flowers
Medicinal
  • Leaves and bark used in folk medicine in some regions

Caution: May cause skin irritation as member of Anacardiaceae, medicinal use requires expert knowledge

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Wood used for small crafts
  • Used as dye in some regions
  • Important species in landscaping industry

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Sap, Leaves, Stems

Symptoms: May cause dermatitis when sap contacts skin as member of Anacardiaceae family

Channelled Heath
Black-Eyed Heath Cross-Leaved Heath

Scientific Name: Erica canaliculata
Family: Ericaceae

Flower Language

  • lovely princess
  • good fortune
  • philanthropy
  • loneliness

Characteristics

Colors: pink

Description

Channelled Heath is an evergreen shrub from the Erica genus native to the Cape Province of South Africa. The Japanese name 'Janome Erica' (snake-eye heath) refers to the prominent dark purple anthers protruding from the flower center, resembling a snake's eye. It grows 20-50cm tall in pots and can reach 1-4m when planted in the ground. From November to April, it produces pink bell-shaped flowers 3-4mm long in clusters of three at the tips of finely divided branches. The needle-like leaves are 2-6mm long and arranged in whorls of three. Introduced to Europe in 1802 and brought to Japan in the late Taisho period. Cold-hardy and easy to grow, it's widely cultivated in pots and gardens.

Trivia

  • Snake-eye name derives from prominent black anthers
  • Blooms continuously for about 5 months from November to April
  • About 800 Erica species native to South Africa
  • Cold-hardy and can overwinter outdoors in Kanto region and south

Uses

Ornamental
  • Potted plants
  • Garden planting
  • Mixed plantings
  • Cut flowers
Medicinal
  • No specific medicinal properties

Caution: For ornamental purposes only, not suitable for medicinal use

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Horticultural education material
  • Used as nectar source plant
  • Accent plant for mixed plantings

Toxicity

Symptoms: