November 26

Birth Flower

Gladiolus
Sword Lily Corn Flag

Scientific Name: Gladiolus × hybridus
Family: Iridaceae

Flower Language

  • secret meeting
  • caution
  • remembrance
  • victory
  • strength
  • tireless effort
  • passionate love

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Gladiolus is a perennial plant from the Gladiolus genus native to South Africa. Named after Latin 'gladius' meaning sword, referring to its sword-like rigid leaves. It produces large flowers in vertical spikes on tall stems, with extremely diverse colors including white, pink, red, orange, yellow, green, and purple. Over 5000 varieties now exist, making it a representative summer garden flower. While often called a bulb plant, it actually grows from a corm (enlarged stem). Historically used in Roman gladiatorial arenas, which contributes to its flower language of 'victory'.

Trivia

  • Over 5000 varieties exist today
  • Used as gladiators' flower in ancient Rome
  • Grows from corms, not true bulbs
  • Flowers bloom sequentially from bottom to top

Uses

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

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

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Horticultural education materials
  • Subject of breeding research
  • Important crop in floriculture

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Corms

Symptoms: May cause gastrointestinal discomfort if consumed in large quantities

Spotted Bellflower
Japanese Bellflower Campanula

Scientific Name: Campanula punctata var. punctata
Family: Campanulaceae

Flower Language

  • faithfulness
  • sincerity
  • justice
  • chastity

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Spotted Bellflower is a perennial plant from the Campanula genus native to Northeast Asia, Korea, and Japan. Growing 30-80cm tall, it produces beautiful bell-shaped flowers hanging downward during June-July when fireflies are active. Flower colors include white, pink, and light purple. Named 'Hotarubukuro' (firefly bag) because children used to capture fireflies inside the flowers. Also known by alternative names like Tourouban, Chouchinbana, and Fukurobana. A mountain wildflower long native to Japanese hills and fields, it's extremely hardy and easy to grow, adapting well to various environments. The above-ground parts die back in winter, but new shoots emerge in spring to bloom beautifully in early summer.

Trivia

  • Named after children's practice of catching fireflies in flowers
  • Has many alternative names varying by region
  • Blooms beautifully even in partial shade
  • Long used as tea ceremony flowers

Uses

Ornamental
  • Wildflower gardens
  • Tea ceremony flowers
  • Potted plants
  • Natural gardens
  • Shade gardens
Medicinal
  • Used in folk medicine for cough relief
  • Believed to have fever-reducing properties

Caution: Medicinal use requires expert knowledge

Culinary
  • Young leaves
  • Flowers
Other
  • Contributes to ecosystem conservation
  • Symbol of native species protection
  • Nature education materials

Toxicity

Symptoms:

Calla Lily
Arum Lily Zantedeschia

Scientific Name: Zantedeschia aethiopica
Family: Araceae

Flower Language

  • modest beauty
  • purity
  • magnificent beauty
  • majestic beauty
  • passion
  • dreamy beauty

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Calla Lily is a perennial plant from the Zantedeschia genus native to South Africa. The white part commonly mistaken for petals is actually a spathe (modified leaf), while the true flowers are the yellow spike-like structures in the center. Characterized by its simple, sophisticated trumpet-shaped form that curls elegantly, complemented by graceful stems of high ornamental value. Flower colors are extremely diverse including red, pink, orange, yellow, white, purple, green, brown, black, and multicolored varieties, making it beloved worldwide as cut flowers. Two main types exist: marsh-loving aethiopica and dryland callas with different cultivation requirements. Name origin theories include resemblance to shirt collars or derivation from Greek 'kalos' meaning beautiful.

Trivia

  • Apparent petals are actually modified leaves called spathes
  • Two main types: marsh-loving and dryland varieties
  • Long-lasting cut flowers, 7-20 days vase life
  • Multiple theories exist for name origin

Uses

Ornamental
  • Cut flowers
  • Bouquets
  • Floral arrangements
  • Potted plants
  • Wedding flowers
Medicinal
  • No specific medicinal properties

Caution: For ornamental purposes only, contains toxic compounds

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption, toxic

Other
  • Important crop in floriculture
  • Subject of breeding research
  • Horticultural education materials

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Moderate

Toxic Parts: All parts, Bulbs, Leaves, Stems

Symptoms: Ingestion causes oral inflammation, difficulty swallowing, gastrointestinal upset

Firecracker Vine
Brazilian Firecracker Candy Corn Plant

Scientific Name: Manettia luteorubra
Family: Rubiaceae

Flower Language

  • let's talk a lot
  • pleasant conversation
  • friendship

Characteristics

Colors: orange and yellow

Description

Manettia is an evergreen semi-climbing plant from the Manettia genus native to Paraguay and Uruguay in South America. Named after 18th-century Italian botanist Saverio Manetti. It produces beautiful orange and yellow bicolored tubular flowers that are long-ovate funnel-shaped with shallow 4-lobed tips. Called 'Firecracker vine' in English because the flowers resemble firecrackers or fireworks. Vines can grow about 2 meters in a year, providing long-blooming enjoyment from June to November. Introduced to Japan around the Edo period, it was named 'Kaensou' (fire flame grass) likening flower shape to candle flames. Available year-round through greenhouse cultivation with particular demand during Christmas season.

Trivia

  • Named after 18th-century botanist Saverio Manetti
  • Vines can grow about 2 meters per year
  • High demand during Christmas season
  • Introduced to Japan during Edo period

Uses

Ornamental
  • Potted plants
  • Greenhouse cultivation
  • Hanging baskets
  • Vine training
  • Christmas decorations
Medicinal
  • No specific medicinal properties

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

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Greenhouse horticulture education
  • Research subject for climbing plants
  • Decorative industry applications

Toxicity

Symptoms:

Cape Cowslip
African Hyacinth Lachenalia

Scientific Name: Lachenalia aloides var. aurea
Family: Asparagaceae

Flower Language

  • lasting love
  • unchanging heart
  • curiosity

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Lachenalia is a bulbous plant from the Lachenalia genus native to the Cape region of South Africa. Named after Swiss botanist Werner de la Chenal. It produces tubular or urn-shaped flowers resembling slightly enlarged muscari blooms in spike or raceme formations. The greatest characteristic is its remarkable color diversity including white, red, yellow, orange, blue, green, purple, pink, and multicolored varieties - so extensive it's said 'there's no color that doesn't exist.' Growing 15-30cm tall, it's compact and easy to cultivate, with blooming periods varying by variety from late autumn to spring. Due to low cold tolerance, it's grown in pots and protected from frost in winter. Representative varieties include the yellow-flowered 'Aurea' and the mystical turquoise 'Viridiflora,' with about 100 species distributed throughout South Africa.

Trivia

  • About 100 species distributed in South Africa
  • Extremely diverse flower colors available
  • Named after Swiss botanist Werner de la Chenal
  • Highly popular among bulb enthusiasts

Uses

Ornamental
  • Potted plants
  • Bulb collections
  • Greenhouse cultivation
  • Cut flowers
  • Rock gardens
Medicinal
  • No specific medicinal properties

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

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Bulb gardening education materials
  • Subject of botanical classification research
  • Target for variety conservation efforts

Toxicity

Symptoms: