Pink and White Bush Clovers (Lespedeza Buergeri) キハギ（木萩）

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Pink and white bush clovers (Lespedeza buergeri) can be found across Japan. Generally, bush clovers produce pink/purple flowers but this type produces flowers which have the large white upper petal (banner) with a base and the two side petals (wings) both of which are purple. Lespedeza buergeri blooms from July to September, making it the earliest to flower among the bush clovers.

2026/9/5

Japanese Winterberry (Ilex Serrata) ウメモドキ（梅擬）

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Japanese winterberry (Ilex serrata) is native to China and Japan, so can be found across Japan. The winterberry produces cute, tiny (i.e., 3-4 mm in diameter) flowers from May to July and red fruits from September to next January, which turn red.  

Its Japanese name is "ume modoki," which translates into "fake Japanese apricot," after the resemblance of its leaves and branches to those of Japanese apricot. Do they? 

2026/9/5

Japanese Chestnut (Castanea Crenata) 日本グリ（和栗）

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Finding a still-green chestnut burr on the ground made me look up at the tree above me. The Japanese chestnut (Castanea crenata) is native to Japan and Korea and can be found across Japan. Chestnuts are used for many dishes in Japan, not only sweets but also mixed rice or kuri gohan. 

There are the following types of chestnuts according to Adachi Otoemon, a confectionery shop in Kyoto: 

• Japanese chestnut (Castanea crenata)
• Western chestnut (Castanea sativa)
• Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima)
• American chestnut (Castanea dentata)

I want to taste them all to decide which is the sweetest😋!

2026/9/4

Sweet Viburnum (Viburnum Odoratissimum) サンゴジュ（珊瑚樹）

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Sweet viburnum (Viburnum odoratissimum) is native to Asia and can be found across Japan. The tree produces clusters of white flowers from June to July and red berries from July to October in Japan and because of the color of the berries, the tree's Japanese name is "sango ju," which translates into "coral tree." The berries are beautiful but toxic. 

2026/9/4

Queen Coralbead (Cocculus Trilobus) アオツヅラフジ（青葛藤）

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Queen coralbead (Cocculus trilobus) is native to east Asia and can be found across Japan, producing tiny cream flowers from July to August and fruits in autumn. The fruits are green at first but turn deep purple, which look like smaller blueberries but are toxic. 

2026/9/4

False Parasol (Chlorophyllum Molybdites) オオシロカラカサタケ（大白唐傘茸）

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The false parasol mushroom (Chlorophyllum molybdites) is native to temperate and subtropical regions but can now be found across Japan. The mushroom is beautiful and looks delicious but has poisoned many people...😱 As nicknamed the " vomiter," the mushroom is poisonous, causing literally vomiting and diarrhea! 

2026/9/2

Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia Indica) サルスベリ（百日紅）

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Crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) is native to China, coming to Japan before the Edo period (1603 - 1867) and can now be found across Japan. The tree produces flowers in various colors, white, pink, and red. Its leaves turn orange and red beautifully in autumn and the dark brown fruits are also beautiful.   

The crepe myrtle has two names in Japan, "saru suberi," which translates to "monkeys slip" because of its slippery bark, on which even monkeys (are said to) slip, and "hyaku jitsu ko," which translates to "red for one hundred days," after that the crepe myrtle flowers bloom for a long period of time.

According to Flower Meanings, the crepe myrtle flower means;
- Prosperity;
- Good luck;
- Chastity;
- Good luck in love and marriage; and
- Marital fidelity.

But here in Japan, it means:

- Eloquence;
- Charm and;
- Carelessness.

2026/8/26 Tuscarora

Japanese Chaff Flower (Achyranthes Bidentata) イノコヅチ（猪子槌）

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Japanese chaff flower (Achyranthes) is native to east Asia and can be found across Japan. The Achyranthes is divided into two types in Japan as follows:

Scientific name	Japanese name	Translation of Japanese name
Achyranthes bidentata var. fauriei	Hinata inokoduchi	Achyranthes in the sun
Achyranthes bidentata var. japonica	Hikage inokoduchi	Achyranthes in the shade

The one in these photos is Achyranthes bidentata var. fauriei.

Achyranthes fruits stick to clothing, so they're called "hittsuki mushi," which translates into "sticking bug" in Japanese.

2026/8/29

Confederate Rose (Hibiscus Mutabilis cv. Versicolor) スイフヨウ（酔芙蓉）

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These are Confederate roses (Hibiscus mutabilis cv. versicolor) and the first five photos are of one flower, taken at 10:00, 12:30, 15:30 and 16:30 on 16 September 2024 and at 5:30 on the following morning. Because of such a color change from pure white in the morning to pink in the afternoon, this type of Confederate roses is called "drunken Confederate rose" in Japan.

The sixth and the last ones are red and white marbled. Some Japanese apricot trees produce such colored flowers but (I believe that) a Confederate rose tree producing such flowers is quite unusual. White apricot trees don't exist but red ones produce white or red/white marbled flowers when they cannot produce enough anthocyanins to make flowers red. The same may apply to this hibiscus tree. 

If you want to see peach, Japanese apricot, or lespedeza having white, pink/red or marble-colored flowers on a tree, read the following posts: 

- Red & White Marble Colored Flowering Peach

- Half & Half Colored Japanese Apricot (White & Pink)!

- Lespedeza Japonica Bailey cv. Versicolor (Variegated Bush Clover)

10:00 a.m., 2024/9/16

Red Ring Skirt (Hestina Assimilis) アカボシゴマダラ（赤星胡麻斑）

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The red ring skirt (Hestina assimilis) can be found in east Asia, including Japan. The butterfly is beautiful but designated as a quarantine pest under Japan's Plant Protection Law.

I found this one at 9:30 on a Saturday morning on my way from home and found it again at 11:30 on my way home.   

2026/8/29

White-Banded Hunter Hawkmoth (Theretra Oldenlandiae) セスジスズメ（背筋雀）

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Impatiens hawkmoths or white-banded hunter hawkmoths (Theretra oldenlandia) can be found across Japan. Their caterpillars are beautifully black with a stark contrast with orange spots at first and turn brownish before burrowing into the ground and pupating. The adults are cool, looking like fighter aircrafts, and can be found from May to October in Japan.   

2026/8/25

2026/8/5