Persian Speedwell (Veronica Persica) オオイヌノフグリ（大犬の陰嚢）

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Persian speedwell (Veronica persica) is native to West Asia or Europe. The plant is believed to have come to Japan in the late 19th century and now can be found across Japan. There are a variety of speedwell (see below the 1st photo) but Persian speedwell is the easiest to tell because of its relatively larger size than other types. Persian speedwell usually produces blue flowers but some produce pinkish blue ones (scroll down). (To be continued below the 1st picture.)

2026/4/19

Red Flowering Dogwood (Cornus Florida) 赤い花水木（ハナミズキ）

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Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is native to North America but can now be found across Japan, producing red, white, and cream white flowers from April to May. The dogwood was donated by the U.S. to Japan in 1915 in exchange for cherry trees, a gift of friendship from Japan to the U.S.

Flowering dogwood shows us not only beautiful flowers but also gorgeous leaves in autumn. 

2026/4/19

Hyacinth Orchid (Bletilla Striata) シラン（紫蘭）

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Hyacinth orchids or Chinese ground orchids (Bletilla striata) are native to China, Taiwan, and Japan and can be found across Japan. The plant produces beautiful pinkish purple flowers from April to May, which look even more beautiful against the green leaves and/or the blue sky. The plant can also have white flowers, which I've never seen. 

Hyacinth orchids are relatively easy to grow but are so invasive that many Japanese websites advise against growing them in the garden. 

2021/4/19

Lesser Quaking-Grass (Briza Minor) ヒメコバンソウ（姫小判草）

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Lesser quaking-grass (Briza minor) is native to Europe and came to Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868). The plant produces spikelets form April to June, which are very tiny and cute but are so small that you wouldn't normally notice them. According to the internet, the spikelets produce a rattling sound when shaken or when wind passes through them. Next time I find them, I'll shake them, of course, gently. 

2026/4/17

Spanish Bluebell (Hyacinthoides Hispanica) ツリガネズイセン（釣鐘水仙）

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Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) is native to Spain, Portugal, and North West Africa, coming to Japan in around 1910, and can now be found across the country. The plant produces white, pink, and blue flowers from spring to early summer in Japan. Spanish bluebell is "tsurigane suisen" in Japanese, which translates to "bell daffodil" because of the bell shaped flowers resembling daffodils although Spanish bluebells are not daffodils. They're in the Asparagaceae family while daffodils are in the Amaryllidaceae family. 

2026/4/17

Japanese Red Maple (Acer Pycnanthum) ハナノキ（花之木）

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Japanese red maple trees (Acer pycnanthum) are native to Japan. Their Japanese name is "hananoki," translating to "flower tree," which is too general, isn't it? The tree is named as such after its deep red flowers standing out because they're produced before green leaves are in early spring when no other flowers are seen. This makes sense. I first found the flowers because the red color stood out in early March.  

2026/4/17

2026/3/29

White Ajuga 白のアジュガ

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These are WHITE ajuga. I've seen purple and pink ajuga but it's my first time to see white ones.

2026/4/17

Ring-Cupped Oak (Quercus Glauca) アラカシ（粗樫）

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Ring-cupped oak or Japanese blue oak trees (Quercus glauca) are native to Asia and can be found across Japan. They produce acorns from October to November and the acorns are not only fed on by insects and birds but were eaten by people as a famine food in Japan. Oak trees are usually known for the acorns but ring-cupped oak trees produce beautiful cylindrical flowers and red shoots, which look like the heads of Pteranodon to me (scroll down), from April to May.

2026/4/15

Ginkgo (Ginkgo Biloba) イチョウ（銀杏）

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Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is native to China but can now be found across Japan. The tree, a gymnosperm plant, has male and female trees. The male trees have catkin like male flowers from April to May, which produce pollen, while the female trees have female flowers also from April to May and fruits from September to November. 

2024/11/30

2025/11/1

Satsuki Azalea (Rhododendron Indicum) サツキ

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Satsuki azalea (Rhododendron indicum) is native to Japan and can be found across the country. The plant produces white, pink, and red flowers from April to June in Japan. As azalea usually flowers in dense masses, they attract not only attention but also tourists and fee in some parks! 

2026/4/15

Japan categorizes azalea broadly into three types as follows:

Japanese Snowball Bush (Viburnum Plicatum Var. Plicatum F. Plicatum) オオデマリ（大手毬）

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The Japanese snowball bush (Viburnum plicatum var. plicatum f. plicatum) is native to, and can be found across, Japan. The bush generally produces flowers from April to June, which are green and like broccoli when in bud and then turn snow white when open.

2023/4/21