December 07

Birth Flower

Great Chrysanthemum
Saxifrage Fortune's Saxifrage

Scientific Name: Saxifraga fortunei
Family: Saxifragaceae

Flower Language

  • freedom
  • affection
  • moderation

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Daimonjisou is a perennial plant native to Japan, China, and Korea that blooms distinctive white flowers from September to November. The five petals, with three short upper petals and two long lower petals, precisely resemble the Chinese character '大' (big), hence the name. It naturally grows in shaded, moist rocky areas and valley rocks in mountainous regions. Cultivated varieties come in diverse flower colors including red, pink, and white. It's popular as a wildflower in horticulture, enjoyed in pots and garden plantings.

Trivia

  • Rare plant named for flower shape resembling Chinese character '大'
  • Affectionately called 'Daimonji' among wildflower enthusiasts
  • Many horticultural varieties created with variations in flower color and form
  • Possesses strong vitality adapted to harsh rocky environments

Uses

Ornamental
  • Wildflower pot plants
  • Rock gardens
  • Autumn tea ceremony flowers
Medicinal
  • Sometimes used as hemostatic medicine in folk medicine
  • Believed to have anti-inflammatory effects

Caution: Self-medication is not recommended

Culinary

Not edible

Other
  • Breeding material for horticultural varieties
  • Display in wildflower exhibitions

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic

Kalanchoe
Flaming Katy Madagascar Widow's-thrill

Scientific Name: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Family: Crassulaceae

Flower Language

  • announcing happiness
  • many small memories
  • protecting you

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Kalanchoe is a succulent plant of the Crassulaceae family, mainly native to Madagascar, with thick glossy leaves and bright small flowers in red, pink, yellow, orange, white, and other colors. It blooms for a long period from November to May, and as a short-day plant, it forms flower buds when daylight hours become shorter. Being hardy and easy to grow, it can be enjoyed indoors with beautiful flowers, making it widely popular as winter potted flowers. There are many varieties, divided into types for enjoying flowers and types for enjoying succulent leaves.

Trivia

  • About 140 native species and hundreds of horticultural varieties exist
  • Short-day plant that forms flower buds when daylight is less than 12 hours
  • Popular as particularly beautiful flowering succulent
  • Sometimes listed as one of NASA-recognized air-purifying plants

Uses

Ornamental
  • Winter potted plants
  • Indoor decoration
  • Container garden material
Medicinal
  • Some species used as medicinal herbs in folk medicine in certain regions
  • Some species believed to have anti-inflammatory effects

Caution: Self-medication is dangerous

Culinary

Not edible

Other
  • Believed to have air purifying effects
  • Popular as interior plants

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: leaves, stems

Symptoms: May cause mild gastroenteritis or dermatitis

Japanese Winterberry
Fine-tooth Holly Finetooth Holly

Scientific Name: Ilex serrata
Family: Aquifoliaceae

Flower Language

  • wisdom
  • cheerfulness
  • deep affection

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Umemodoki is a deciduous small tree endemic to Japan, growing up to 2-3m in height. It blooms small pale purple flowers from May to July, and produces numerous beautiful red berries about 5mm in diameter around September. Being dioecious, only female trees bear fruit, which remains on branches until around December, beautifully coloring the winter landscape. Named for its leaves resembling those of plum trees. The berries contain germination inhibitors, and have an ingenious mechanism for seed dispersal where birds eat them and excrete them far away.

Trivia

  • Despite leaf resemblance to plum, it's completely different plant in holly family
  • Berries contain germination inhibitors specialized for bird seed dispersal
  • Has male and female trees with only females bearing berries
  • Representative berry material in winter ikebana alongside nandina

Uses

Ornamental
  • Winter flower arrangement material
  • Garden trees (berry plants)
  • Bonsai
Medicinal
  • Bark sometimes used in folk medicine
  • Believed to have antibacterial effects

Caution: Berries are very bitter and not suitable for consumption

Culinary

Not edible (very bitter)

Other
  • Contributes to ecosystem as bird food
  • Sometimes used as natural dye

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic (though berries are very bitter)

African Violet
Saintpaulia Saint Paul's Violet

Scientific Name: Saintpaulia ionantha
Family: Gesneraceae

Flower Language

  • small love
  • delicate love
  • secluded beauty

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Saintpaulia is a perennial plant native to the mountainous regions of East Africa, popular as a houseplant called the 'queen of indoor flowers.' It's characterized by thick, velvety leaves and delicate flowers with five petals resembling violets, coming in rich colors including purple, pink, white, and blue. Under proper conditions, it blooms year-round, with 20,000-30,000 horticultural varieties existing. Named after German explorer Baron Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire who discovered it in Tanzania.

Trivia

  • One of plants with most horticultural varieties worldwide, 20,000-30,000 varieties exist
  • Has special propagation method of easy leaf cutting propagation
  • Can bloom continuously 365 days under proper conditions
  • Popular plant with numerous specialized societies in America

Uses

Ornamental
  • Indoor potted plants
  • Windowsill decoration
  • Gift plants
Medicinal

Caution: No medicinal uses

Culinary

Not edible

Other
  • Believed to have air purifying effects
  • Used in horticultural therapy

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic

Cape Cowslip
Lachenalia African Hyacinth

Scientific Name: Lachenalia aloides
Family: Asparagaceae

Flower Language

  • fickleness
  • lasting love
  • curiosity

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Lachenalia is a bulb plant native to the Cape region of South Africa, with about 100 species distributed. Named after Swiss botanist W. de la Chenal, it blooms from November to December. Its greatest characteristic is the gradual color change from bud to bloom, which gave rise to the flower language 'fickleness.' However, it has excellent flower longevity, maintaining beautiful flowers for 2 weeks to a month, hence the contrasting flower language 'lasting love.' It comes in diverse flower colors including white, red, orange, and pink.

Trivia

  • Named after Swiss botanist Werner de la Chenal
  • Large genus with about 100 species distributed in South Africa
  • Rare characteristic of flower color changing from bud to bloom
  • Excellent cut flower with very long lasting quality of nearly a month

Uses

Ornamental
  • Potted plants
  • Greenhouse cultivation
  • Bulb collections
Medicinal

Caution: No medicinal uses

Culinary

Not edible

Other
  • Botanical research material
  • Educational material for bulb gardening

Toxicity

Symptoms: Non-toxic