December 28

Birth Flower

Strawberry Candle
Crimson Clover Strawberry Torch Red Clover

Scientific Name: Trifolium incarnatum
Family: Fabaceae

Flower Language

  • goodness
  • simple loveliness
  • sparkling love

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Strawberry Candle gets its name from the red flowers that resemble upside-down strawberries or candle flames. It belongs to the legume family and is in the same genus as clover. Originally introduced as fodder, it has become beloved as an ornamental plant due to its beautiful flowers. The flowers and leaves are edible and can be used in salads and herbal teas.

Trivia

  • Originally introduced as fodder but became beloved as an ornamental
  • Retains beautiful color when dried
  • Member of clover family but larger and more showy than common clover
  • Treated as annual in Japan due to inability to survive hot, humid summers

Uses

Ornamental
  • Spring garden beds
  • Dried flowers
  • Cut flowers
Medicinal
  • Used as herbal tea

Caution: Avoid excessive consumption

Culinary
  • Flowers
  • Leaves
Other
  • Fodder
  • Soil improvement

Toxicity

Symptoms:

Mikan
Satsuma Mandarin Japanese Orange Unshu Mikan

Scientific Name: Citrus unshiu
Family: Rutaceae

Flower Language

  • generosity
  • purity
  • affection

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Unshu Mikan is a variety that originated in Japan's Satsuma region, named after China's Wenzhou region. It is characterized by being seedless and having thin skin that can be easily peeled by hand. Rich in vitamin C, it helps prevent colds and promotes healthy skin. The white flowers bloom in early summer with an elegant and refined fragrance.

Trivia

  • Despite being named after Wenzhou, it actually originated in Japan
  • Unique worldwide as a 'hand-peelable citrus' due to its thin skin
  • Representative Japanese fruit beloved since the Edo period
  • Eating mikan by the kotatsu is a Japanese winter tradition

Uses

Ornamental
  • Ornamental fruit tree
  • Garden tree
  • Bonsai
Medicinal
  • Cold prevention
  • Skin health benefits
  • Fatigue recovery

Caution: Excessive consumption may cause yellowing of hands and feet

Culinary
  • Fruit flesh
  • Peel (used medicinally as chenpi)
Other
  • Fragrance
  • Chenpi (traditional Chinese medicine)

Toxicity

Symptoms:

Pomegranate
Granada Chinese Apple

Scientific Name: Punica granatum
Family: Lythraceae

Flower Language

  • mature beauty
  • mature elegance
  • protection of offspring

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Pomegranate is a deciduous small tree native to the Middle East that produces beautiful red-orange flowers in early summer. In autumn, it bears fruit with numerous red seeds, and due to the abundance of seeds, it has been considered a symbol of fertility. It appears in Greek mythology and has been treated as a sacred fruit since ancient times. The fruit has a sweet-tart flavor and is used in juices and cooking.

Trivia

  • One fruit contains an average of 600 seeds
  • Placed as burial goods in ancient Egyptian royal tombs
  • The city of Granada, Spain is named after pomegranate
  • Can live up to 200 years, making it a long-lived tree

Uses

Ornamental
  • Garden tree
  • Bonsai
  • Flower arrangement
Medicinal
  • Antioxidant properties
  • Anti-aging effects
  • Menopause symptom relief

Caution: Avoid excessive consumption

Culinary
  • Seeds (arils)
Other
  • Natural dye
  • Cosmetic ingredient

Toxicity

Toxicity Level: Mild

Toxic Parts: Roots, Bark

Symptoms: Roots and bark are toxic and may cause gastrointestinal disorders if consumed

Paphiopedilum
Lady's Slipper Orchid Slipper Orchid Venus Slipper

Scientific Name: Paphiopedilum spp.
Family: Orchidaceae

Flower Language

  • thoughtfulness
  • elegant attire
  • person with strong sense of responsibility

Characteristics

Colors:

Description

Paphiopedilum is a terrestrial orchid native to Southeast Asia, also called 'Lady's Slipper' due to its characteristic pouch-like lip. The scientific name derives from the Greek words 'Paphia' meaning goddess and 'pedilon' meaning sandal. It is one of the world's four major orchid types, suitable for indoor cultivation and relatively easy to grow.

Trivia

  • About 80 species exist worldwide
  • A single flower can bloom for several months
  • Countless horticultural varieties created through hybridization
  • One of the few orchids that can be grown indoors year-round

Uses

Ornamental
  • Indoor ornamental
  • Cut flowers
  • Gift potted plants
Medicinal

Caution: Not commonly used for medicinal purposes

Culinary

Not suitable for consumption

Other
  • Horticultural therapy
  • Collection purposes

Toxicity

Symptoms: