In Japan, June is the month of rain and hydrangeas, and people across the nation enjoy their various types. Those in this post are one of them, two-toned mophead hydrangeas.
Hi! I'm Kei Narujima. This is a blog about flowers, plants, and bugs I saw in CENTRAL Tokyo, and sometimes art and Japanese culture that bring you a smile or make you think (or so I hope)!! こんにちは。花や虫、そして時々日本の文化などについて書いてます😊。
Two-Toned Mophead Hydrangeas 縁取りの紫陽花と上野(谷中)天王寺
In Japan, June is the month of rain and hydrangeas, and people across the nation enjoy their various types. Those in this post are one of them, two-toned mophead hydrangeas.
Viburnum Odoratissimum (Sweet Viburnum) 珊瑚樹(サンゴジュ)
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.
| 2026/5/28 |
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea Quercifolia) カシワバアジサイ(柏葉紫陽花)
These are oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia). As suggested by the name, they have oak leaf shaped leaves. The flowers are greenish white at first but turn white and then red. The leaves also turn red in autumn. Like other hydrangeas, what look like petals are not petals but are sepals. Some blooms below (scroll down) are called "harmony" oakleaf hydrangeas. If you like hydrangeas, read the following posts!
| 2026/5/29 |
Asiatic Dayflower (Commelina Communis) 露草(ツユクサ)
The Asiatic dayflower (Commelina Communis) is native to eastern Asia and can be found across Japan. It produces blue flowers from June to September in Japan, which look to me like a mantis head. The flower has been appreciated in Japan, mentioned in the Man'yōshū (i.e., the oldest extant collection of Japanese poetry in Classical Japanese), compiled sometime after 759 during the Nara period.
Canary Grass (Phalaris Canariensis) カナリークサヨシ(加那利草葦)
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
The Canary grass (Phalaris canariensis) is native to southern Europe and the Canary Islands. It was introduced to Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868) as food for canaries but can now be found across the country. It produces oval-to-cylindrical flower spikes (panicles) from May to August in Japan.
It was my first time to see the grass and I looked forward to observing the plant, so it was so sad to find everything in the area where the grass was growing entirely removed on the following day.
| 2026/5/27 |
Lesser Trefoil (Trifolium Dubium) コメツブツメクサ(米粒詰草)
The lesser trefoil (Trifolium dubium) is native to Europe and western Asia. The plant was discovered in Japan in the 1930s. The plant produces spherical clusters (less than 1 cm in diameter) of yellow flowers, which are as small as rice grains, from April to July in Japan, and that's why it's called in Japanese "kometsubu tsumekusa," which translates into "rice grain clover."
A Crane Fly on Bushkiller ヤブガラシ(薮枯)の上のガガンボ?
Bushkiller (Causonis japonica) is native to Japan and can be found across the country. The plant produces flowers from June to August in Japan, which are pale green at first, turning orange and then pink. (Scroll down to see such various colors of the flowers!) Bushkiller's Japanese name is "yabu garashi," which translates into "bush covering and killing other plants" due to its invasiveness.
| 2026/5/27 |
White Colicroot (Aletris Spicata) ソクシンラン(束心蘭)
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
The white colicroot (Aletris spicata) is native to Asia and can be found across Japan. It produces tiny white pale pink/beige flowers from April to June in Japan. When I took these photos, they were still buds, so I decided to observe their growth until they bloom, but when going there again the following day, I found everything there had been removed, which may be a preparation for summer.
| 2026/5/27 |
Lithocarpus Edulis (Japanese Stone Oak) 馬刀葉椎(マテバシイ)
The Japanese stone oak (Lithocarpus edulis) is native to Japan and can be found across the country. The nuts are edible, tasting like chestnuts when baked (according to a website).
In Japan, the nuts of Fagaceae trees, one of which is the Japanese stone oak, are collectively called "donguri" and there's a famous song for children about an acorn falling into a pond "Donguri korokoro (i.e., Rolling acorn)."
| 2026/5/28 |
Spotted Bellflower (Campanula Punctata) ホタルブクロ(蛍袋)
Slender Deutzia (Deutzia Gracilis) ヒメウツギ(姫空木)
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.
Dock (Rumex) ギシギシがいっぱい
There are a variety of dock (Rumex) and those in these photos are some of them. I first tried to identify them like Japanese dock, spinach dock, common sorrel, etc., but gave up. Too many types and too subtle the differences are😂. But finding so many people discussing how to identify each dock on websites shows that the dock is loved around the world including Japan!
| 2026/5/27 |
Hollyhock (Alcea Rosea) 立葵(タチアオイ)
Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) are native to Turkey and East Europe but can be found across Japan. The plant produces white, pink, purple, and red flowers (single and double flowered) from June to August in Japan. Their Japanese name is "tachi aoi," which translates into "standing mallow," and mallows have a special connotation in Japan.
| 2026/5/27 |
Hydrangea Serrata Var. 'Kurenai' 紅山紫陽花(クレナイヤマアジサイ)
| 2025/5/25 |
My First Herbal Tea Blends 自分でハーブブレンドしてみました
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is a herbal tea blend I made for the first time using fresh lemon balm and chocolate mint leaves, and lavender flowers (that can't be seen though).
I've joined a local herbal group and harvest several fresh herbs once or twice a week but there was one problem. Too many fresh herbs! I'm happy with the harvest but also feel guilty because of a concern about them being rotten. So, I did research, finding a very easy solution, i.e., dry herbs in the microwave!
Then, voila! The flavor and taste are great. Now the thing is whether I can tell group members about this cutting corners...
| 2026/5/27 |
Showy Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa) ヒルザキツキミソウ(昼咲月見草)
I thought that they were gigantic rosy evening-primroses (Oenothera rosea) at first and found at home they are not but showy evening primroses. This primrose is native to North America and was imported to Japan as an ornamental plant and can now be found across Japan. The primrose produces flowers from May to July in Japan, which are 4-5 cm in diameter and open during only the day. Because of that, its Japanese name is "hiruzaki tsukimisou," which translates into "primrose opening during the day."
Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia Glyptostroboides) メタセコイア
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.
Goldencup St. John's wort (Hypericum Patulum) キンシバイ(金糸梅)
Goldencup St. John's wort (Hypericum patulum) is native to China, coming to Japan in around 1760 and can now be found across the country. It produces bright yellow flowers from May to July, which resemble the flowers of Chinese St. John's wort (Hypericum monogynum) but can be easily distinguished by the length of stamens. The stamens of Hypericum patulum are much longer than those of Hypericum monogynum.
| 2026/5/24 |
East Asian Mallotus (Mallotus Japonicus) アカメガシワ(赤芽柏)
East Asian mallotus (Mallotus japonicus) is native to East Asia and can be found across Japan. The tree is dioecious, producing male and female flowers on separate trees from June to July. The trees in this post are all female with female flowers, producing clusters of fruits and seeds (scroll down) in two months.
| 2026/5/23 Female flowers |
Blue Mophead Hydrangeas 青い紫陽花
Hydrangeas attract not only people but bumblebees! These hydrangeas are cream at first, turning blue ultimately. If you like hydrangeas, read the following posts:
Cogon Grass (Imperata Cylindrica) チガヤ(千萱)
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
(I believe that) they are cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica). The grass is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Australia, Micronesia, Melanesia, and parts of Africa and can be found across Japan. It produces fluffy, white seed spikes from May to June.
Love-In-A-Mist (Nigella Damascena) ニゲラ(黒種草)
Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena) is native to the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and Southwestern Asia. The plant produces blue, pink (scroll down), purple, white (scroll down), and yellow flowers from April to July, which are distinguished from other flowers by their many long stamens. What appear to be petals are actually sepals as in the case of hydrangeas.
Pink/Purple Lacecap Hydrangea ピンク・紫のガクアジサイ(額紫陽花)
Hydrangeas are pleasing with their colors and these pink and purple mountain hydrangeas in particular because the blooms have not only beautiful sepals (sterile flowers) but also pretty petals (fertile flowers). The 4th photo is a close up of the center part consisting of real (fertile) flowers, which are so tiny and so beautiful! To see lacecap hydrangeas in other colors, read this post!
Chinese St. John's Wort (Hypericum Monogynum) ビヨウヤナギ(未央柳)
MINI Pomegranate (Punica Granatum) ミニザクロ(ミニ柘榴)
Smiling Monkey Forest Tree (Magnolia Maudiae) ミヤマガンショウ(深山含笑)
Smiling monkey forest trees (Magnolia maudiae) are native to China but can be found in some places in Tokyo (although not as often as you would find Yulan magnolias). The smiling monkey forest tree produces white flowers from February to March in Tokyo.
| 2026/2/28 |
| 2026/2/28 |
Pink Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Articulata) イモカタバミ(芋酢漿草、芋片喰)
There are two types of pink wood sorrel, Oxalis articulata (those in this post) and Oxalis debilis. Both are native to South America but can now be found across Japan.
| 2026/5/18 |
Pink Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Debilis) ムラサキカタバミ(紫酢漿草)
| 2026/5/17 |
St. John's Wort (Hypericum Perforatum) セイヨウオトギリソウ(西洋弟切草)
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| 2022/6/30 |
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| 2022/6/30 |
Japanese Bay Tree (Machilus Thunbergii) タブノキ(椨の木)
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Beautiful green attracted my eye. These are fruits of the Japanese bay tree (Machilus thunbergii). The Japanese bay tree is native to East Asia and can be found across Japan. The fruits turn deep purple in summer, which, according to the internet, taste like avocado. This is understandable. The Japanese bay tree and avocado are both in the Lauraceae family. Japanese bay tree fruits are much smaller though, about 1 cm in diameter.
| 2026/5/17 |
Kurogane Holly (Ilex Rotunda) 黒鉄黐(クロガネモチ)
Who can imagine the tree has such pretty flowers! They're flowers of Kurogane holly trees (Ilex rotunda), which are native to East Asia and can be found across Japan. I've seen the trees several times but only their fruits, which are also beautiful, and never expected them to produce such tiny beautiful flowers. After the flower season, Kurogane holly trees produce fruits (scroll down), which are green at first, turning orange, then red beautifully in autumn.
False Strawberry (Potentilla Hebiichigo Yonek. et H.Ohashi) ヘビイチゴ(蛇苺)
False strawberries (Potentilla hebiichigo Yonek. et H.Ohashi) are native to east to south Asia and can be found across Japan. False strawberries produce yellow flowers from April to June and berries at almost the same time. The berries are edible and look delicious, but tasteless and that's why in Japan they're called "hebiichigo" as contained in its scientific name, which translates into "snake strawberries" or "strawberries for snakes."
| 2026/5/17 |
| 2026/5/14 |
Fish Mint (Houttuynia Cordata) ドクダミ
Fish mint (Houttuynia cordata) is invasive and smelly but its color contrast between the green yellow spike, the white bracts surrounding it, and the deep green leaves (whose edge is red) is so beautiful and always attracts me.
Fish mint tea is known for curing acne in Japan. It didn't taste good and I didn't like it, but I was so desperate that I drank the tea as many times as possible. My acne problem hadn't been cured until a skin doctor applied special treatment, but I'm pretty sure that the fish mint tea grandma gave me improved my skin condition!
Fish mint's English and Japanese names both don't describe its prettiness or medical efficacy, but even so, when passing by the flowers, I always feel warm and encouraged by Grandma, who lost her husband in her early 30s and after that raised her four daughters by herself, and maybe because of that, who was too busy to smile. Her favorite line was, "What's inside counts most!" When seeing fish mint I always ask myself what's inside of me.
| 2026/5/16 |
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| 2022/5/20 |
Longstalk Holly (Ilex Pedunculosa) ソヨゴ(戦)
Longstalk holly (Ilex pedunculosa) is native to Asia and can be found across Japan. The tree produces tiny white flowers (about 1 cm in diameter) from May to June and red fruits from October to November.
Carolina Horsenettle (Solanum Carolinense) ワルナスビ(悪茄子)
| 2025/6/20 |
Bottlebrush (Callistemon) ブラシノキ(金宝樹)
Names and natures often agree and so do bottlebrush (Callistemon) trees. Bottlebrush (Callistemon) is native to Australia but can be found across Japan. Bottlebrush is known in Japan as "burashi no ki," which translates into "brush tree" (easy to understand), but also "kinpouju," which translates into "golden treasure tree," due to their anthers, which turn golden as they fill with pollen.
I still remember when I saw them for the first time. I was so surprised that I climbed a wall surrounding the tree to take their close-up photos without realizing how dangerous it could be. So reckless, but I couldn't resist. Luckily, I wasn't hurt!
Various Lacecap Hydrangeas 額紫陽花(ガクアジサイ)いろいろ
英語の後に日本語が続きます。 It's almost impossible to classify lacecap hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla f. normalis) based on color. Each one has ...
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英語の後に日本語が続きます。 I read "A Pale View of Hills" by Kazuo Ishiguro a few years ago. The book was my second Ishiguro's book after...
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Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。 Is he being boiled to death? (This is a revised version of the story originally posted on Se...


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