White Evening-Primrose (Oenothera Rosea) 白花夕化粧（シロバナユウゲショウ）

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Evening primroses (Oenothera rosea) are native to America but can now be found across Japan. It usually produces pink flowers from May to September but some have white ones like those in these pictures. Seeing flowers brings me happiness and seeing white evening primroses especially does so because it's so rare to find them. Finding white ones makes me feel as if I had found four-leaf clovers!   

2026/4/21

Yellow-Cress (Rorippa) イヌガラシ属（犬芥子）

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Yellow-cress (Rorippa) is native to Asia and should be found across Japan but not so often in Central Tokyo. The plant grows in wet habitat, producing yellow flowers from April to June in Japan. Its Japanese name is "inu garashi," which translates to "dog mustard greens," because the plant tastes like mustard greens but is of lower quality as food. (To be continued below the 1st photo.)

2026/4/28

Pale Grass Blue (Pseudozizeeria Maha) 大和小灰蝶（ヤマトシジミ）

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A male pale grass blue (Pseudozizeeria maha) butterfly looks completely different when its wings are open (1st photo) and closed (2nd photo). When closed, you may disregard it because it's plain, just a small white butterfly with black spots. When the wings are open, however, you would be surprised by the beautiful pale blue of the upper side of its wings as suggested by the name. (If you want to see the butterfly showing both sides, see the 3rd photo.) Butterflies are known to open their wings to bask in the sun to warm their bodies, so you're more likely to see the beautiful blue in autumn than summer.   

The pale grass blue resembles the plains cupid (Luthrodes pandava) very much except for the latter having orange spots on the wings. I once mistook a plains cupid for a pale grass blue.   

2025/11/2

Fuzzy Deutzia (Deutzia Scabra) マルバウツギ（丸葉空木）

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The shrub looks like slender deutzia (Deutzia gracilis) (and AI tells so) but I believe this is fuzzy deutzia (Deutzia scabra) because its leaves are round (which is why its Japanese name is "maruba utsugi," translating to "round leafed deutzia") and the flowers are upward facing (while slender deutzia flowers are downward facing). Fuzzy deutzia is native to Japan and can be found across the country. The plant produces white flowers from April to May. 

2026/4/19

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

Slender Deutzia (Deutzia Gracilis) ヒメウツギ（姫空木）

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Slender deutzia (Deutzia gracilis) is native to Japan and can be found across the country. The plant produces white flowers from May to June. Deutzia's Japanese name is "utsugi," which translates to "hollow tree" because its stems are hollow. Surprisingly (to me), Deutzia is in the hydrangea family. 

2025/5/21

Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia Glyptostroboides) メタセコイア

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Some plants are aesthetically pleasing throughout the year and dawn redwood trees (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) are one of them. In autumn, their leaves create a gorgeous view (scroll down) while from spring to summer, the leaves create a magnificent, fresh green view and the small deep green cones make me chuckle with their matcha chocolate like appearance. 

2026/4/15

Sawtooth Oak (Quercus Acutissima) クヌギ（櫟）

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Sawtooth oak trees (Quercus acutissima) are native to North East Asia and can be found across Japan. The trees are known for their acorns but the flowers, produced from April to May, are beautiful and remind me of a "noren" or bead curtain hung at the entrance of many izakaya restaurants in Japan😆.     

2026/4/1

Blueberry ブルーベリー

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Blueberry is native to North America but can now be found across Japan, producing flowers from April to May and fruits from early June to early September in Japan. Surprisingly, Tokyo is the largest producer of blueberries in Japan. 

2026/4/15

Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum Chinense) トキワマンサク（常盤万作）

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Chinese fringe flowers (Loropetalum chinense) are native to southern China, Japan, and Northeast India. They produce ribbon shaped white flowers from April to May. According to the internet, they have four ribbon shaped petals but they look like having more than four petals. The plant also produces pink flowers.

2024/4/10

Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria Floribunda) 藤（フジ）

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Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) is native to Japan but can't be so necessarily found in many places because of difficulty to get them to flower. Maybe for that reason, Japanese wisteria is grown in temples, shrines, famous gardens, and even churches! Some of these photos were taken at Hama-rikyu Gardens and Hie Jinja shrine in Tokyo.

2025/4/19

Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum Chinense Var. Rubrum) ベニバナトキワマンサク（紅花常盤万作）

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Chinese fringe flowers (Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum) are native to China but are now grown across Japan. They produce ribbon shaped pink flowers from April to May, which are pretty, and their ribbon shaped buds are also cute! According to the internet, they have four ribbon shaped petals, but to me, they look like having more than four petals. The plant also produces white flowers. 

2026/3/28

Reeve's Spiraea (Spiraea Cantoniensis) コデマリ（小手毬）

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Reeve's spiraea (Spiraea cantoniensis) is native to China but can now be found across Japan. The plant produces pompom-like clusters of snow-white flowers from April to May in Japan, which is why its Japanese name is "kodemari," translating to "small temari ball." Despite its innocent appearance, Reeve's spiraea is hardy or too hardy and invasive. Many websites in Japan advise against planting Reeve's spiraea in the garden.

2026/4/13

Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium Corymbosum) ノーザンハイブッシュブルーベリー

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Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) is native to North America, producing flowers from April to May and berries from June to July in Japan. The blueberry was introduced to Japan in 1951 but it took 20 years for farmers to become able to commercially grow the plant due to lack of skills to grow it and the completely different weather from its place of origin. It's hotter and more humid in Japan. But now, highbush blueberries are grown in several places and the Nagano and Gunma prefectures are the main producers of the berry.  

2026/4/7

List of Cherry Blossoms 桜いろいろ

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Below are the more than 20 types of cherry blossoms I've ever seen in Central Tokyo. Hope you'll enjoy them! これまでいろんな桜を楽しんできたのでリストにしてみました😊。（20種類以上あります。）

White Enkianthus (Enkianthus Perulatus) ドウダンツツジ（満天星躑躅）

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White enkianthus (Enkianthus perulatus) is native to Japan and can be found across the country. The plant produces tiny white flowers from April to May but not just that. White enkianthus produces two other beautiful things. 

2026/4/11

White Skullcaps (Scutellaria Indica Var. Parvifolia F. Alba.) シロバナコバナタツナミ（白花小葉の立浪草）

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Skullcaps usually produce purple flowers but they also have white ones (Scutellaria indica var. parvifolia f. alba). Their profile (i.e., appearance from the side) brings me happiness while reminding someone on the internet of "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" by the Japanese ukiyo-e artist Hokusai (1760–1849), which I agree with. 

2026/4/16

White Common Vetch (Vicia Angustifolia Var. Segetalis F. Albiflora) 白花矢筈豌豆（シロバナヤハズエンドウ）

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Common vetch (Vicia sativa) is native to the Orient and the Mediterranean regions but now can be found across Japan. The vetch usually produces pink purple flowers from March to June in Japan but I've finally found white ones! If you're interested in the vetch's Japanese names, read this post. 

2026/4/5

Sato Cherry Blossoms サトザクラ（里桜）

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There are a variety of Sato cherry trees (Cerasus sato-zakura group) but they're all cultivated from Oshima cherry. Sato cherry trees are late bloomers, so you can enjoy their cherry blossoms after the "cherry blossom" season in Japan, which means the Somei Yoshino cherry blossom season. If you're interested in other types of cherry trees, read this post!

2023/4/9

Pink Ajuga モモイロジュウニヒトエ（桃色十二単）

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These are pink ajuga. I've seen ajuga many times but they were all purple. 

2026/4/8

Three-Cornered Leek (Allium Triquetrum) ミツカドネギ（三角葱）

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Three-cornered leeks (Allium triquetrum) are native to the Mediterranean region but can now be found across Japan. It produces flowers with a beautiful contrast between the white petals and the green stripes against the thin green leaves from March to May. Their appearance is angelic but the smell is not as you can guess from their not only English name but also Japanese name mitsukado negi, which translates to "triangular leeks," after their triangular flower stems. Three-cornered leeks are invasive. The solution proposed on many websites in Japan is to EAT, EAT, and EAT.

2026/4/7

Yellow Cherry Blossoms (Ukon Cherry) 黄色の桜「ウコン（鬱金）」

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These are Ukon cherry blossoms (Cerasus Sato-zakura Group ‘Grandiflora’ A. Wagner). Yes, cherry blossoms are not necessary pink. Ukon blossoms are YELLOW while those of Gioiko cherry trees are GREEN. Ukon and Gioiko cherry trees are both late bloomers.

 

2025/4/20

2024/4/13

European Ajuga (Ajuga Reptans) セイヨウキランソウ（西洋金瘡小草）

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Ajuga is native to Europe and western and central Asia but can now be found across Japan. You would see mainly two types of Ajuga in Japan, Ajuga reptans or bugleweed, which is native to Europe and grows taller, and Ajuga decumbens, which is native to Japan and low growing. Ajuga are so hardy that you can find both in many places even on sidewalks in Central Tokyo. Although their height differs, the flowers resemble each other very much. 

2026/4/7 European ajuga (Ajuga reptans)

Japanese Ajuga (Ajuga Decumbens) 金瘡小草（キランソウ）

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Ajuga is native to Europe and western and central Asia but can now be found across Japan. You would see mainly two types of Ajuga in Japan, Ajuga reptans or bugleweed, which is native to Europe and grows taller, and Ajuga decumbens, which is native to Japan and low growing. Ajuga are so hardy that you can find both in many places even on sidewalks in Central Tokyo. Although their height differs, the flowers resemble each other very much. 

2026/4/1

Winter Cherry (Cerasus x Parvifolia/Cerasus Subhirtella) フユザクラ（冬桜）

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The winter cherry (Cerasus x parvifolia 'Fuyu-zakura') is a crossbreed of Cerasus incisa and Cerasus speciosa. The cherry differs from other cherry trees in its time of blossoming. The winter cherry blossoms twice a year, in early April and in winter (from October to December), because of which the cherry tree is called "winter cherry" in Japan. 

2021/11/25

Japanese Camellia 'Beauty Blush' ツバキ 'Beauty Blush'

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These are Japanese camellia 'Beauty Blush.' It was my first time to see this type of camellias. The blooms are so small (and many of them were still buds) that I didn't realize they're camellias when photographing them. I was lucky though. A couple of bees with bee pollen came, starting to collect pollen. The bee pollen of one of the bees was so big (1st photo) that I worried if it might fall but that was an unnecessary worry. The bee landed from one flower to another collecting pollen from each flower and flew away.    

2026/4/5

2026/4/5

2026/4/5

Somei Yoshino Cherry Blossoms (Prunus x Yedoensis) 染井吉野（ソメイヨシノ）

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These are Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms (Prunus x yedoensis or Cerasus x yedoensis). There are a variety of cherry trees but Somei Yoshino is so special in Japan that the term "cherry blossoms" often means Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms. Cherry blossoms are all gorgeous but differently from other flowers, i.e., always associated with death or ephemerality because of their short life span of one to two weeks. 

The beauty reminds me of "The Makioka Sisters" by Junichiro Tanizaki, which ends with cherry blossoms viewing in Kyoto. The novel has no plot but is so intriguingly beautiful, based on the real life of the sisters of Tanizaki's wife, with a writing style which currently may not be necessarily popular due to long sentences. Its original title "sasame yuki" translates to "light snow," a metaphor of the Makioka family, which is declining and therefore showing the ephemeral beauty as cherry blossoms. The novel was translated into English by Edward G. Seidensticker. It's pretty long but worthwhile reading if you're interested in Japanese culture.  

Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms are pinkish white as opposed to Oshima cherry blossoms, which at first are whitish pink, then turn to baby pink. If you're interested in other types of cherry blossoms, read the posts below!!

• Taiwan cherry (Prunus campanulata)
• Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
• Kawazu cherry (Cerasus lannesiana)
• Pink & white Oshima cherry (Prunus speciosa)
• Weeping cherry blossoms

2023/3/29

2025/4/6

Chinese Quince (Pseudocydonia Sinensis) カリン（花梨）

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The Chinese quince (Pseudocydonia sinensis) is native to China but now can be found across Japan. The plant is known for the fruits but enjoyable throughout the year. Its pink flowers are pretty, jam made from the fruits is yummy, and the autumn leaves are so colorfully beautiful.  

2025/4/9

2026/4/7

2025/4/9

Japanese Star Anise (Illicium Anisatum) シキミ（樒）

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Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum) is native to Japan and can be found across the country. The plant produces pretty cream white flowers from March to May and fruits from September to October but it's toxic in its entirety and the toxicity of the fruits and seeds is quite high, resulting in death when eaten. The thing is the fruits resemble those of Chinese star anise (Illicium verum) very much, which are used in cooking, so the mistaking of Japanese star anise for Chinese ones could lead to fatal accidents. The tree grows in my neighborhood without any protection, so I did research, wondering if the tree might be Chinese star anise but it's not. Chinese star anise flowers are red. For their toxic nature, Japanese star anise fruits are designated as a deleterious substance under Poisonous Deleterious Substances Control Act in Japan but the growing the plant is not prohibited.

2026/3/31

Small Skullcaps (Scutellaria Indica L. Var. Parvifolia (Makino) Makino) コバノタツナミ（小葉の立浪）

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Small skullcaps (Scutellaria indica L. var. parvifolia (Makino) Makino) are native to Japan, Korea, China, and the Indochina Peninsula and can be found across Japan. Small skullcaps produce pale purple translucent flowers from May to June. 

Small skullcaps may require various conditions to grow. I've found the plant in only two places so far. Because of their unique shape, small skullcaps always remind me of Hattifatteners and I prefer their side view to the front! 

2026/4/5

2026/4/5

Takasago Cherry Blossoms タカサゴザクラ（高砂桜）

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Takasago cherry is said to be a crossbreed of Choji cherry and Sato cherry. The cherry produces beautiful pale pink double flowered blossoms. If you're interested in other types of cherry blossoms, read this post!   

2025/4

2026/4/1

2026/4/1