Sasanqua Camellia 'Hana Jiman' 花自慢

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Sasanqua camellia (Camellia sasanqua) is native to Japan and can be found throughout the country. It produces white, pink, and red flowers from October to December. The blooms are so beloved in Japan that the country boasts over 300 cultivars. The one in these photos is Hana Jiman, which translates to 'proud of flowers.' It features white, semi-double petals distinctly lined or blushed with fuchsia-pink along the edges. Hana Jiman resembles the Japanese camellia 'Apple Blossom,' but they are quite easy to tell apart, as Japanese camellias bloom much later, in early-to-mid spring.

11/13/2026

Double-Flowered Camellia Sasanqua 八重咲の白山茶花

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The Camellia sasanqua is native to Japan and can be found across the country. It blooms from October to December, unlike the Camellia japonica, which flowers from February to April. Its colors vary from white to pink and red, and its petals range from single to double forms. The blooms in this post are double-flowered, white with pink edges, and can easily be spotted across Tokyo. Before opening, they look just like wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets).

11/13/2026

Japanese Cornel Dogwood (Cornus Officinalis) サンシュユ（山茱萸）

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The Japanese cornel (Cornus officinalis), native to China and Korea, can also be found across Japan. The tree produces clusters of bright yellow flowers from March to April, followed by red berries from October to November.

The bright yellow of Japanese cornel flowers is called a "vitamin color" in Japan because it's said to energize people—something I definitely believe is true. In spring, many people stop to admire the pretty blossoms and talk about the joy of the season. Surprisingly and sadly, though, most don't actually know what the tree is called. The Japanese cornel is one of the most underrated trees because it blooms at almost the same time as cherry and Japanese apricot blossoms.

2026/3/11

Pink Camellia Sasanqua (Sasanqua Camellia) ピンクの山茶花（サザンカ）

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The sasanqua camellia is native to Japan and can be found across the country. It blooms from October to December—unlike Camellia japonica, which flowers from February to April. Its colors range from white to pink and red, and its petals vary from single to double. The combination of pink shades and layered petals in these photos makes the blooms look gorgeous.

The blooms of the sasanqua and the Japanese camellia resemble each other, but they differ in several ways—such as how the flower dies. A sasanqua sheds its petals one by one, while a Japanese camellia falls off in its entirety.

11/11/2026

Autumn Leaves of Flowering Dogwood (Cornus Florida) ハナミズキ（花水木）の紅葉

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One of the best parts of autumn is watching the leaves turn red and yellow. My favorites are maple, Chinese tallow, and the flowering dogwood shown in these pictures.

2024/10/21

Garden Mum (Chrysanthemum x Morifolium) キク（菊）

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Here are some red and yellow garden mums (Chrysanthemum × morifolium) with a green plant bug (Apolygus lucorum) on one of them (see the third and fourth photos).

Chrysanthemums are special in Japan. The Imperial Seal of Japan is called the Chrysanthemum Seal and is used by the Emperor and the Imperial Family. But for me, the flowers are special in a different way—they always remind me of The Inugami Clan, a murder mystery book by Seishi Yokomizo (1902–1981). Yokomizo is one of Japan's most famous crime authors and the creator of the private detective character Kosuke Kindaichi.

11/13/2026

Hamilton's Spindletree (Euonymus Hamiltonianus) マユミ（檀）

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Some plants bring you happiness throughout the year and Hamilton's spindletree (Euonymus hamiltonianus) is one of them. Native to East Asia, the plant can be found across Japan. It produces tiny, cream flowers from May to June and fruits in autumn. The fruits are four-lobed and green at first, later turning pale pink and cracking open to show seeds with red arils.

One great thing about photographing plants is that it makes people more talkative. When I was photographing Hamilton's spindle tree fruit this past September, two women approached me to ask what they were. I told them they were the fruits of a Hamilton's spindle tree, but the women insisted they were buds about to flower, not fruit. It was fun chatting with strangers about the little things.

2026/4/24

Lantana ランタナいろいろ

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These photos show trailing lantanas. They're called 'seven changes' in Japan as its bright color changes as time goes by. Hydrangea is also called 'seven changes' for the same reason. So confusing!!  

11/12/2026

Chinese Tallow (Triadica Sebifera) 南京櫨（ナンキンハゼ）

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The Chinese tallow tree is one of my favorite plants for its beauty throughout the year: spike-like green flowers and beautiful three-lobed green fruits from spring to summer, gorgeous gradients of red, orange, and yellow leaves in autumn, and chubby white seeds covered in capsules that start green and turn black in winter. The tree is native to China but can be found across Japan. Its leaves offer great habitats to insects, like nettle caterpillars (scroll down to see them) and yellow spotted stink bugs.

2021/12/2

Glossy Privet (Ligustrum Lucidum) トウネズミモチ（唐鼠黐）

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The glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum) is native to China, was introduced to Japan during the Meiji period (1868–1912), and can now be found across the country. In Japan, it produces flowers from June to July and fruits in October (scroll down to see them). The fruits are green at first and turn purplish-black toward winter. Its Japanese name is tou-nezumi-mochi, which translates to "Chinese mouse mochi," because the fruits look like mouse droppings and the leaves resemble those of the mochi tree, or nepal holly (Ilex integra). Despite their resemblance to mouse droppings, the fruits of this privet are used in herbal medicine.

The glossy privet is widely planted in urban areas (e.g., Tokyo) because it's highly tolerant of air pollution, heavy urban smog, and poor soil conditions.

2026/6/22

Sacred Bamboo (Nandina Domestica) ナンテン（南天）

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The sacred bamboo (Nandina domestica) is native to China, was brought to Japan for ornamental and medical purposes before the 16th century, and can now be found across the country. It is called nanten in Japanese—derived from the Chinese nantianzhú (meaning 'southern heavenly bamboo')—because people once believed it came from South Asia. The name nanten can also be written with the kanji 難転, which shares a sound with words meaning 'turning away misfortune.' Because of this wordplay, the plant is traditionally used in Japanese New Year decorations.

The sacred bamboo is known for its beautiful red berries, though its leaves also turn a gorgeous red from late autumn to winter (see the last three photos).

11/10/2026