Broadleaf Plantain (Plantago Major) セイヨウオオバコ（西洋大葉子）

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The broadleaf plantain (Plantago major) is native to Eurasia while the Chinese plantain (Plantago asiatica) is native to east Asia and both can now be found across Japan. The former is larger than the latter but otherwise they resemble each other very much, so I can't tell which those in these photos are. The Plantago major flowers in summer and the Plantago asiatica from April to September in Japan. When I took these pictures, most had no flowers but I found one with many tiny cream flowers drooping after rain. 

  

2026/6/26

Sawtooth Oak (Quercus Acutissima) クヌギ（櫟）

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The sawtooth oak (Quercus acutissima) is native to North East Asia and can be found across Japan. The tree is known for its acorns but its calybia and cupules are beautiful and so are its flowers, produced from April to May (scroll down), which always remind me of a "noren" or bead curtain hung at the entrance of many izakaya restaurants in Japan😆.     

By the way, the term "noren" has another meaning in Japan, that is, goodwill for accounting and tax purposes because noren, which often has a trade name on it, is believed to represent customers' trust and brand value. Noren or goodwill is generally amortized over 20 years or less under Japanese GAAP and 5 years for Japanese tax purposes but not amortized but impaired when devalued for IFRS purposes. Why so different?  

As a relatively conservative country, Japan has preferred to take a conservative approach that goodwill, i.e., value in excess of market value, should decline as time goes by. Japan also doesn't like an impairment test, which could be manipulated by the management. Which approach would you choose?   

2026/6/26 Calybium and cupule

Marvel of Peru (Mirabilis Jalapa) オシロイバナ（白粉花）

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The marvel of Peru (Mirabilis jalapa) is native to South America, came to Japan at the beginning of the Edo period (1603-1868), and is now planted for ornamental purposes across the country. It produces white, red, yellow, pink, and variegated flowers from late June to October. Its another name "four o'clock flowers" is after it usually opening at around 4 p.m.  

Its Japanese name is "Oshiroi bana," which translates into "white makeup powder flower," after the endosperm in the black seeds looking like white makeup powder.

2026/6/24

Pokeweed (Phytolacca Americana) 洋種山牛蒡（ヨウシュヤマゴボウ）

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The pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) is native to North America, came to Japan at the beginning of the Meiji period (1868-1912), and can now be found across the country. It produces tiny flowers with white petals and green ovaries from June to September, followed by fruits which are green at first but turn dark purple beautifully when ripe. (Scroll down!) The plant is toxic in its entirety despite its beautiful appearance. 

2026/6/24

Annabelle Hydrangea (Hydrangea Arborescens 'Annabelle') アナベル

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The Annabelle hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle') is a cultivar of Hydrangea arborescens. The hydrangea is a late bloomer, producing flowers from May to July, which are lime green at first, turning white and then green again. Below are the shots of various hydrangeas. Hope you enjoy them!

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ayesha' (Popcorn hydrangea)

Hydrangea changing from pale green to white then to pale blue
Hydrangea blooming all year round (Hydrangea serrata var. yesoensis f. cuspidata cv.)

Purple and pink lacecap hydrangeas

Various lacecap hydrangeas

Pink mophead hydrangea

Kurenai lacecap hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata var. 'Kurenai')

Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)

Tea of heaven 'Mikata-yae' (blue Hydrangea serrata)

Nettle-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea hirta)

White and whitish hydrangea

2026/6/2

Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus) アガパンサス（紫君子蘭）

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The Lily of the Nile or the African lily is native to Southern Africa, was introduced to Japan during the Meiji era (1868-1912) and can now be found across the country, producing pale purple and white (sometimes pink, which I've never seen) flowers from May to August in Tokyo. The lily is popular for its flowers blooming during the muggy rainy season in Japan (usually from June to mid-July).   

2025/6/20

Himalayan Ash (Fraxinus Griffithii) シマトネリコ（島梣）

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The Himalayan ash (Fraxinus griffithii) is native to subtropical to tropical Asia and can be found in Japan (mainly in southern Japan), producing large panicles of small white flowers from May to June. 

The tree is known to attract Japanese rhinoceros beetles (Trypoxylus dichotomus) but is designated as an invasive species in some wards of Tokyo. 

2026/6/22

Trailing Abutilon (Abutilon Megapotamicum) ウキツリボク（浮釣木、チロリアンランプ）

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The trailing abutilon (Abutilon megapotamicum) is indigenous to Brazil, was imported to Japan during the Meiji period (1868-1912), and can now be found across the country. It produces lantern shaped flowers from May to October in Japan. The red part that looks like a lantern is sepals, the yellow part is petals, and the protruding brown thing is the style.  

2026/6/21

Salt Cedar (Tamarix Chinensis) ギョリュウ（御柳）

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The salt cedar (Tamarix chinensis) is native to Mongolia and northern China, came to Japan in the mid-18th century, and can now be found across the country, mainly in parks and botanical gardens. The tree produces dense plums of pale pink flowers twice a year, in May and from August to September, in Japan. 

Its Japanese name is "gyoryu," which translates into "imperial willow," after its weeping appearance like willows and it being said to be appreciated by Lady Yang, an imperial consort.

2026/6/22

Angel's Trumpet (Brugmansia) キダチチョウセンアサガオ（木立朝鮮朝顔）属

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Brugmansia is native to tropical regions of South America, was introduced to Japan during the Meiji period (1868-1912) for ornamental purposes, and can now be found across Japan. Its flowers resemble Datura metel very much but it's quite easy to tell. Brugmansia flowers face downward while Datura metel upward. They're related and both toxic.

2026/6/21

Woodland Elaeocarpus (Elaeocarpus Sylvestris) 胆八樹（ホルトノキ）

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The woodland elaeocarpus (Elaeocarpus sylvestris) is native to eastern Asia and can be found across Japan. What I like best about the tree is its spin mop-like flowers, which bloom from June to August in Japan. (Scroll down!)

The tree is named "horuto no ki" in Japanese, which translates into "Portugal tree," after an innocent mistake made by Gennai Hiraga (1728 - 1780), a famous Japanese pharmacologist, student of Rangaku (i.e., western learning), physician, author, painter, and inventor (in short, a genius!) in the Edo period (1603-1858). He mistook this tree for an olive tree, which was then called "Portugal tree." Even Homer sometimes nods. Gennai isn't an exception😉!

2026/6/22