Plants and Flowers in Tokyo & Japanese Culture by Kei Narujima　東京の草花＆つぶやき

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

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The Japanese cornel (Cornus officinalis) is native to China, Korea, and Japan and can be found across Japan. The tree produces umbels of bright yellow flowers from March to April and berries that get redder 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, which I believe is true. In spring, many stop in front of the trees to look at their pretty flowers talking about the joy of spring but surprisingly and sadly, most don't know the Japanese cornel. The Japanese cornel is one of the most underestimated trees because of their blossoming at almost the same time as cherry and Japanese apricot trees.

2025/3/20

2025/3/9

Pink Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Debilis)　ムラサキカタバミ（紫酢漿草）

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These are pink woodsorrel (Oxalis debilis) growing near small skullcaps. There are two types of pink (wood)sorrel, Oxalis debilis and Oxalis articulata. Both are pink but Oxalis debilis (pink sorrel in this post) is a little bluish and paler than the other. Despite such a color difference, however, these two are often confused with each other in Japan.

2026/2/23

2025/4/5

薄ピンクのツバキ

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I've seen Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica) blooms many times but it's my first time to see such beautiful pale pink blooms with no spots. While I was photographing them, a horsefly came, starting to have breakfast (2nd and 3rd photos).

2026/2/23

Red Deadnettle (Lamium Purpureum)　ヒメオドリコソウ（姫踊子草）

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Red deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) is native to Europe and came to Japan during the Meiji period (1868-1912) and now can be found across Japan. The plant resembles henbit deadnettle very much but their leaf colors differ. Red deadnettle's leaves are (as the name suggests) reddish while henbit deadnettle's leaves are green. I often mistook red deadnettle for henbit but not anymore. The 6th photo shows myrmecochory, i.e., the dispersal of seeds by ants.

2026/2/23

2024/3/20

Japanese Andromeda 'Rosea' (Pieris Japonica F. Rosea)　アケボノアセビ（曙馬酔木）

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Japanese andromeda usually produces white flowers but this type, i.e., Japanese andromeda 'Rosea' (Pieris japonica f. Rosea), produces pink flowers. The plant's Japanese name is "asebi (馬酔木)," which translates into "a tree which makes horses drunk" because horses that eat this plant look drunk due to a toxin contained in it. Deer in the Nara Koen park in the Nara prefecture don't eat this plant (how clever they are!), resulting in many Japanese andromeda trees left growing in the park.

2026/2/22

2025/3/4

Winter Daphne (Daphne Odora)　沈丁花

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Winter daphne (Daphne odora) is native to China but can be found across Japan. From February to April daphne flowers are so fragrant that even I, who have a stuffy nose due to hay fever, can enjoy their citrus like fragrance through a mask. Winter daphne produces red berries in spring, but don't even think of eating. They're very toxic. Most of them in Japan are male, though.

2026/2/22

Kawazu Cherry (Cerasus x Kanzakura 'Kawazu-Zakura')　カワヅサクラ（河津桜）

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Kawazu cherry is a crossbreed of Oshima cherry (Prunus speciosa) and Taiwan cherry (Prunus campanulata) and named in 1972 after the Kawazu town, Shizuoka prefecture (Source: Kawazu town tourist association). Kawazu cherry trees bloom from early February to March, a little earlier than other cherry trees. A Kawazu cherry blossoms festival is held in the town every February.

Below is a list I've enjoyed viewing for the last couple of years. Hope you'll enjoy them, too!

2025/3/9

It's Okay for Women to be Assertive in Japan

In Japan, people often say it's important to read the air, that is, understand the unspoken wishes, and satisfy such wishes not to be marginalized. And this is truer of women. Below is a case I experienced many years ago when working for a large Japanese bank where I understood the intention of my supervisor but did not satisfy it.

Weeping Plum Blossoms　しだれ梅

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You can find many Chinese plum trees in Tokyo but not so many when it comes to weeping ones. Usual plum blossoms are beautiful but weeping plum blossoms are more gorgeous and spectacular when in full bloom!

Plants make people more talkative. A Hamilton's spindletre tree did so and plum trees did so, too. And thanks to that, I learned about the only weeping Japanese plum tree in my neighborhood (as far as I know) and was able to take these pictures.

The last three photos were taken three years ago in Ueno, Tokyo on a late afternoon when the Moon started rising in the sky.

2025/2/22

2026/2/8

2026/2/12

White Japanese Camellia　白椿

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In winter, you would see sasanqua camellias in many places in Tokyo. You would also find red Japanese camellias quite often, but not white Japanese camellias. The flowering season of Japanese camellia (Camellia japonica) is from December to April, the end of which overlaps with the beginning of the cherry blossom season. White Japanese camellias mean "perfection," "admiration," and "lovely."