Platycodon Grandiflorus (Balloon Flower) 桔梗（キキョウ）

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The balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) is native to eastern Asia and can be found across Japan, producing beautiful white and purple flowers from June to September in Japan. The Japanese name of the clasping Venus' looking-glass (Triodanis perfoliata) is "balloon flower plant" after their similar flower shapes and colors (but not the size).  

Surprisingly, the balloon flower was called "morning glory" during the Manyo period (from the mid-7th to the mid-8th century) in Japan because then beautiful flowers blooming in the morning were all called morning glory. Do you find it inclusive or sloppy?

This reminded me of another inclusiveness or sloppiness issue about the colors of Japan, specifically, blue and green. If you are interested, read "Goryeo Celadon and Colors of Japan."

2026/6/22

2026/6/22

Duranta Erecta (Golden Dewdrop) デュランタ

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The golden dewdrop (Duranta erecta) is native to the American tropics but can be found across Japan, producing white, blue, and purple flowers from June to October across the country. After that, the plant produces tiny orange fruits, which, despite their cute appearance, are toxic as well as leaves. 

2020/9/6

2020/9/6

Bamboo-Leaf Oak (Quercus Myrsinifolia) シラカシ（白樫）

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The bamboo-leaf oak (Quercus myrsinifolia) is native to eastern Asia and can be found across Japan. The tree produces flowers from April to May and then fruits, i.e., acorns. What I find most fun is to observe their growth. They're tiny and pale green at first, then getting chubbier while turning matcha green then brown toward autumn. The baby acorns still have styles, which are part of the pistils.  

2026/6/19

Lily (Lilium) ユリ（百合）

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Lilies are native to Asia, Europe, and North America. There are more than 100 wild species around the world and 15 in Japan, producing flowers in various colors from May to August in Japan, of which I've seen pale pink, yellow (scroll down), red (Blackout red), and orange (Thunberg orange). The lily bulb (mainly the Maximowicz's lily's [Lilium leichtlinii]) is edible, often steamed, sauteed or deep-fried (i.e., tempura), as a seasonal delicacy in Japan. So, if you have a chance to come to Japan in winter, don't miss eating lily bulb or "yurine" TEMPURA to enjoy its soft and fluffy texture.  

The lily's Japanese name is "yuri" after the term "yusuri," which means shaking or trembling, because lilies shake and/or tremble in the wind as their stems are thin but the flowers are big.

2026/6/19

Oriental Beetle (Anomala Orientalis) セマダラコガネ（背斑金亀子）

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The oriental beetle (Anomala orientalis) is native to the Philippines and/or Japan and can be found across Japan. Its Japanese name is "semadara kogane," which translates into "Japanese beetle with spots on the back," well describing its features, doesn't it? 

The beetle wasn't a major pest in Japan but it's been known as a garden pest in other countries. A byproduct of globalization. 

2026/6/19

2026/6/19

Cabbage White Butterfly モンシロチョウ（紋白蝶）

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The cabbage white butterfly (Pieris rapae) is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, believed to come to Japan before the Edo period (1603-1868). 

Although its English name and Japanese name (which translates into "spot white butterfly") both include the term "white," the male cabbage white butterflies are yellowish. Also, according to Kubota Corporation's website (in Japanese only), the butterflies can tell the male from the female by the wing color because they can see ultraviolet light. The female's wing, which reflects ultraviolet light, looks brighter than the male's wing, which absorbs the light. 

2026/6/19 Likely a female

Cape Jasmine (Gardenia Jasminoides) クチナシ（梔子）

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The cape jasmine (Gardenia jasminoides) is native to eastern Asia and can be found across Japan, producing single and double flowered blooms from June to July in Tokyo. When its buds start to open, their green bases are still visible, which gives the blooms a beautiful color accent.

Cape jasmine's Japanese name is "kuchi nashi," which translates into "no mouth," because the fruits (scroll down) don't crack even after ripening. The fruits are used to give a yellow color (unexpected from the flower's white) to food, such as kuri kinton or mashed sweet potato with chestnuts, one of the traditional Japanese New Year foods. 

Double flowered cape jasmine rarely produces fruits because most of their stamens have transformed into petals like some species of the Japanese camellia. 

2026/6/17

Loosestrife (Lythrum Anceps) ミソハギ（禊萩）

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The loosestrife (Lythrum anceps) is native to eastern Asia and can be found across Japan. The plant produces pink flowers from July to September and is special in Japan, often placed on the family grave during the Obon period (mid-July or mid-August depending on areas). The Lythrum anceps resembles purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) very much, although the latter is designated as an invasive species in some countries.

2024/8/5

European Lime (Tilia x Europaea) セイヨウシナノキ（西洋科の木）

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The linden (Tilia) is native throughout most of the temperate Northern Hemisphere and Japan has also its native one but most of the linden trees you would see in Tokyo and other cities in Japan are European ones or common linden. Common linden trees produce flowers from May to June in Tokyo and after that fruits, which turn brown toward autumn. The long strap shaped things are bracts, i.e., modified leaves, which help the seeds spin and disperse efficiently in the wind.

 

2026/6/17

Hollyhock (Alcea Rosea) 立葵（タチアオイ）

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Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) are native to Turkey and East Europe but can be found across Japan. The plant produces single and double flowered white, pink, purple, and red flowers (scroll down!) from June to August in Tokyo. Their Japanese name is "tachi aoi," which translates into "standing mallow," and mallows have a special connotation in Japan. 

"Mitsuba aoi," which translates to "three leafed mallow," is the crest of the Tokugawa clan, who ruled Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868). This is known nationwide even now because of a long run "samurai" television program about Mitsukuni Tokugawa (1628-1701), one of the grandchildren of Ieyasu Tokugawa, the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan. This period drama was aired initially from 1969 to 2011 and is still rerun now.   

In the drama, Mitsukuni travels throughout the country incognito to discover and investigate injustice and in the end defeats and punishes corrupt samurai and merchants. At the end of each episode, Mitsukuni (or more specifically, one of his two samurai retainers) brandishes an "inro" pillbox with the "three leafed mallow" crest to reveal Mitsukuni's identity, i.e., a member of the Tokugawa clan. (By the way, although Mitsukuni existed and was a relation of the shogun, the drama episodes are all fictional.)

Interestingly, however, the Tokugawa clan's crest is not "three leafed mallow" actually but Asarum caulescens Maxim., which is a very plain, two-leafed or heart shaped plant. The Tokugawa clan's crest, three-leafed mallow, is said to be modeled on this plain plant.

Then, another question comes up. Why did someone who wanted to rule the country choose such a plain plant as their crest? One website says that many samurai clans during the age of warring states (1467-1615) chose plain plants as their crests to show that they were strong and hardy enough to survive in such harsh circumstances as these plants were. 

I found a (maybe) varied carpet beetle covered in pollen in the center of a white flower (the first 3 photos). The beetle must have been having breakfast but looked to me like playing with pollen by itself.   

2026/6/17

Blue Dawn Flower ノアサガオ（野朝顔）

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Blue dawn flowers or blue morning glories (Ipomoea indica) are native to subtropical and tropical areas (including southern Japan) and can now be found across the country including the mainland. Unlike other morning glories (e.g., Ipomoea nil), this morning glory produces flowers for nearly half a year in Japan from June to November, suggesting its hardiness.

Blue morning glories are larger, about 10 cm in diameter. They're hardy or in other words invasive and for that, they're designated as an invasive plant in Japan and other countries. 

I thought the bee in the center of the blue dawn flower in the first two photos was dead because it didn't move at all even if I touched the flower gently. So, I touched it less gently and less and less... Then the bee woke up and flew away. OMG! It must have been in a dream where it's having a sumptuous feast after such a feast. Sorry... 

2026/6/16

2026/6/16

Hydrangea Serrata Var. Yesoensis F. Cuspidata Cv. 四季咲き姫紫陽花（シキザキヒメアジサイ）

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These are Hydrangea serrata var. yesoensis f. cuspidata cv., a type of mountain hydrangea. Their Japanese name is "shikizaki hime ajisai," which translates into "hydrangea blooming all year round." As the name suggests, the hydrangeas bloom for a longer period, i.e., the six months from June to December (not throughout the year though). Another feature is that the blooms change color at different pace one by one, resulting in various shades of pink, blue and purple. 

Their blue and purple color is beautiful but their bluish, pinkish, and purplish sepia gradients evoke a sense of nostalgic beauty. (Scroll down!)

Below are the shots of various hydrangeas. Hope you enjoy them, too!

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ayesha' (Popcorn hydrangea)

Hydrangea changing from pale green to white then to pale blue
Hydrangea blooming all year round (Hydrangea serrata var. yesoensis f. cuspidata cv.)

Purple and pink lacecap hydrangeas

Various lacecap hydrangeas

Pink mophead hydrangea

Kurenai lacecap hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata var. 'Kurenai')

Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)

Tea of heaven 'Mikata-yae' (blue Hydrangea serrata)

Nettle-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea hirta)

White and whitish hydrangea

Annabelle hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle')

2023/5/28

2023/5/28

Carolina Horsenettle (Solanum Carolinense) ワルナスビ（悪茄子）

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The Carolina horsenettle (Solanum carolinense) is (as you can guess from its name) native to North America, was introduced to Japan during the Meiji era (1868-1912), and can now be found across the country. The plant produces white and pale purple flowers from June to October and fruits from July to October in Tokyo. 

The Carolina horsenettle is named by a pioneer Japanese botanist Dr. Tomitaro Makino "waru nasubi" in 1906, which translates into "rogue eggplant." This is justifiable. The plant is poisonous in its entirety with thorns that would prick you if you try to remove it. So, although it's in the same family as the eggplant (i.e., Solanaceae), nobody would disagree the Carolina horsenettle is ROGUE as you can see in its other English names "radical weed," "apple of Sodom," and "devil's tomato." 

Despite such a bad perception, however, Carolina horsenettle flowers are beautiful and its fruits are pretty, which look like kumquats (scroll down) although again they're toxic. We shouldn't be fooled by appearances.

2026/6/16

Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus) アガパンサス（紫君子蘭）

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The Lily of the Nile or the African lily is native to Southern Africa, was introduced to Japan during the Meiji era (1868-1912) and can now be found across the country, producing pale purple and white (sometimes pink, which I've never seen) flowers from May to August in Tokyo. The lily is popular for its flowers blooming during the muggy rainy season in Japan (usually from June to mid-July).   

2025/6/20

Lithocarpus Edulis (Japanese Stone Oak) 馬刀葉椎（マテバシイ）

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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)."    

The tree's Japanese name is "mateba shii," which translates into "a tree becoming a chinquapin tree soon," because people prefer(ed) chinquapin nuts to the Japanese stone oak nuts.

2026/6/14

Common Myrtle (Myrtus Communis) ギンバイカ（銀梅花）

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The common myrtle (Myrtus communis) is native to regions spanning the Mediterranean basin, North Africa, Western Asia, and the Indian subcontinent, came to Japan during the Meiji period (1868-1912), and can now be found across the country. The myrtle produces white flowers from May to July in Japan. The common myrtle tree is considered in Feng Shui to bring luck if planted in the kimon (devil's gate) direction (i.e., north east).

2026/6/15

Chinese Trumpet Vine (Campsis Grandiflora) ノウゼンカズラ（凌霄花）

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These are Chinese trumpet vines (Campsis grandiflora). They're native to China, coming to Japan in as early as the Heian period (794 to 1185) and used as kigo for summer. (A kigo is a word or phrase associated with a particular season in haiku or Japanese poetry.)  

Flowers of Chinese trumpet vine (Campsis grandiflora) resemble those of American trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) very much. Both are orange and shaped like trumpets, but are still distinctly different in the length of the flower tube. Chinese ones have shorter and thicker flower tubes than the American counterparts. 

The phrase contained in the Japanese name "nouzen kazura" means "vine blooming towards the sky." The bright orange flowers were literally blooming towards the sky!! 

2026/6/14

2025/6/22

Japanese Ternstroemia (Ternstroemia Gymnanthera) 木斛（モッコク）

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Japanese ternstroemia trees are said to be the king of garden trees in Japan and there's a reason for that. They produce tiny buds in early June, which look like cat's paws, and then beautiful male and hermaphroditic flowers from late June to July. And in autumn, they bear fruits, which turn from green to red, and some of them stick out bright red seeds like tongues after cracking. Japanese ternstroemia trees bring us happiness throughout the year. 

2026/6/14

Plantain Lily (Hosta) ギボウシ（擬宝珠）

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Plantain lilies are native to eastern Asia and about 20 types of Hosta can be found across Japan, producing pale pink flowers from June to August. Their young leaves and petioles are edible, used in various Japanese dishes such as salads, pickles, and miso soup.  

The lily's Japanese name is "giboshi" or "giboshu," a type of ornamental finial used on Japanese railings (no English translation), after the shape of the lily's bud looking like the finial.

2026/6/14

Coppertips (Crocosmia x Crocosmiiflora) 姫檜扇水仙（ヒメヒオウギスイセン）

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The Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora is a cross breed of Crocosmia aurea and Crocosmia pottsii, both of which are native to South Africa. The Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora was introduced to Japan at the end of the 19th century for ornamental purposes but because of its invasiveness, the plant has been designated as an invasive alien species by some prefectures.

Its Japanese name is "hime hiogi suisen," which translates into "princess blackberry lily narcissus," because of the resemblance of its leaves to those of blackberry lilies and the bulbs to those of narcissus. The term "hime," which means princess, is used to describe its smallness.  

2026/6/14

Apple Mint (Mentha Suaveolens) アップルミント

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A weevil was resting on, and a bee was gathering pollen from, flowers of apple mints in my neighborhood. They're growing on the sidewalk. I have no idea about how they got there. 

2026/6/13

2026/6/13

Hydrangea 'Magical Revolution' マジカルレボリューション

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Hydrangea macrophylla 'Magical Revolution' is really magical from two perspectives. Firstly, its spectacular, color-shifting transformation. The hydrangea changes from pale pink, blue, and green in early summer to red toward autumn. (Scroll down!) Secondly, its long life! The hydrangea's sepals (not petals!) are so sturdy that they can bloom for two to three months while changing color.  

It changes color to red in autumn due to increasing anthocyanin resulting from a change in the temperature and/or the amount of ultraviolet radiation. For whatever the reason, the hydrangea is just magically amazing. 

2026/5/29

Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera Sempervirens) 突抜忍冬（ツキヌキニンドウ）

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The coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is native to North America, came to Japan during the Meiji period (1868-1912), and can now be found across Japan. One of its features is its bright red and orange blooms during May to September in Japan, which is shown in its English name while another is in its Japanese name "tsukinuki nindou," which translates into "penetrating honeysuckle," after the stem looking like penetrating a leaf.   

2025/4/29

Oriental Arborvitae (Platycladus Orientalis) コノテガシワ（児の手柏）

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I've always wondered what they are when passing by them for the last couple years and today, I did research, finding they're cones of the Oriental arborvitae. The tree is native to China and can be found across Japan.  

The Oriental arborvitae is hermaphroditic, producing orangish beige male and female flowers on the same tree from March to April, which I completely missed this year. 

2026/6/11

Various Lacecap Hydrangeas 額紫陽花（ガクアジサイ）いろいろ

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It's almost impossible to classify lacecap hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla f. normalis) based on color. Each one has cream, yellow, blue, purple, green, pink, and red fertile flowers surrounded by green, pink, blue, purple, red, and even white sterile decorative sepals, changing their gradients as time passes. It's reasonable that one of its Japanese names is "shichi henge," which translates into "seven changes." To see lacecap hydrangeas in pink or purple, read this post! 

2026/6/10

2026/6/10

Chinese Spiranthes (Spiranthes Sinensis) ネジバナ（捩花）

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The Chinese spiranthes (Spiranthes sinensis) is native to Eurasia and Australia and can be found across Japan, producing pink flowers from May to August. As a plant found across Japan, the Chinese spiranthes is used as kigo, i.e., a word or phrase associated with a particular season in haiku or Japanese poetry, for mid-summer, the period from June 6 to July 6. Interestingly, some spiral clockwise while others counter clockwise. There is no established theory to explain what determines the direction of the spiral.

2026/6/10

Trumpet Vine (Campsis Radicans) アメリカノウゼンカズラ

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The trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) is native to eastern North America, imported to Japan during the Taisho period (1912-1926) for ornamental purposes. Its Japanese name is "amerika nozen kazura," which translates into "American trumpet vine," because Japan has two trumpet vines, the American trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) and the Chinese trumpet vine (Campsis grandiflora). Both resemble each other but the American one (Campsis radicans) has longer and thinner flower tubes than the Chinese counterpart. 

The phrase "nouzen kazura," which is contained in the Japanese name of both trumpet vines, means "vine blooming towards the sky." The bright orange flowers literally bloom towards the sky. 

2026/6/5

Persian Silk Tree (Albizia Julibrissin) ネムノキ（合歓木）

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These are flowers of a Persian silk tree or pink silk tree (Albizia julibrissin). Persian silk trees fold their leaves during the night, which makes them look asleep, so they're called in Japanese "nemu no ki," which translates to "sleeping tree."  

A Persian silk tree is popular in Japan as suggested that it's a kigo* for summer. It's also often used as a theme for paintings, such as the one in the last photo "Sparrow in a silk tree" by Keibun Matsumura at Tokyo National Museum.

* Kigo are words or phrases that are associated with a particular season in haiku or Japanese poetry.

2023/9/9

African Iris (Dietes Bicolor) ディエテス・ビコロル/オキナワシャガ

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It looks like smiling to you, doesn't it? This is an African iris (Dietes bicolor). When seeing it for the first time, I didn't use Google Lens yet, so I did research using several keywords in Japanese, such as "flower," "white," and "look like a smiling face," which generated only one hit, "African iris." African irises are native to, and very common in, South Africa while in Japan, not the flowers but the sword like leaves are used for Japanese flower arrangement. 

2026/6/4

Annabelle Hydrangea (Hydrangea Arborescens 'Annabelle') アナベル

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Annabelle hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle') is a cultivar of Hydrangea arborescens. The hydrangea is a late bloomer, producing flowers from May to July, which are lime green at first, turning white. Below are the shots of various hydrangeas. Hope you enjoy them!

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ayesha' (Popcorn hydrangea)

Hydrangea changing from pale green to white then to pale blue
Hydrangea blooming all year round (Hydrangea serrata var. yesoensis f. cuspidata cv.)

Purple and pink lacecap hydrangeas

Various lacecap hydrangeas

Pink mophead hydrangea

Kurenai lacecap hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata var. 'Kurenai')

Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)

Tea of heaven 'Mikata-yae' (blue Hydrangea serrata)

Nettle-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea hirta)

White and whitish hydrangea

2026/6/2

Pomegranate (Punica Granatum) ザクロ（柘榴）

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The pomegranate (Punica granatum) originated in the region spanning from the west to south Asia to the Middle East. It produces bright orange flowers in June and fruits that contain ruby-like edible seeds and pulp from September to October in Japan. 

The flowers always cheer me up with their bright orange while making me chuckle with their unique shape after petals fall off, which looks like an octopus sausage, i.e., a sausage cut to look like an octopus, often seen in children’s Bento lunches in Japan. BTW, octopuses have no legs but only arms.

If you've never seen a sculpture of a pomegranate fruit made of agate and ruby, read this post! You should be surprised by how real it looks!  

2025/6/8

Double "Sepaled" Lacecap Hydrangeas 八重額紫陽花（ヤエガクアジサイ）

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Double-sepaled lacecap hydrangeas are different from usual (single-petaled) ones. They're more gorgeous. If you love hydrangeas, read the posts below! 

Red mophead hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' (Annabelle hydrangea)

Hydrangea macrophylla Ayesha (Popcorn Hydrangea)

Hydrangea changing from pale green to white then to pale blue
Hydrangea blooming all year round (Hydrangea serrata var. yesoensis f. cuspidata cv.)

Purple and pink lacecap hydrangeas

Pink mophead hydrangea

Colorful tea of heaven (Hydrangea serrata)

Kurenai lacecap hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata var. 'Kurenai')

Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)

Tea of heaven 'Mikata-yae' (blue Hydrangea serrata)

Nettle-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea hirta)

White and whitish hydrangea

Annabelle hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle')

2026/5/26

White/Whitish Hydrangea 白い紫陽花

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These are white hydrangeas in my neighborhood. Many of them are pale/lime green before turning white. 

2026/6/5

2026/6/5  A fertile flower

Double Flowered Fish Mint 八重咲きのドクダミ

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Fish mints (Houttuynia cordata) are native to Asia and can be found across Japan. Those in the post are specifically double-flowered fish mints (Houttuynia cordata var. Plenus), one of my favorite plants! Fish mints produce beautiful white flowers from May to August in Japan although what look like petals are actually bracts as those of Cornus kousa are. 

Fish mints are used in Chinese medicine and in Japan, fish mint tea is said to be effective for skin problems. I suffered from severe acne in my teenage years so my late maternal granny sometimes sent me fish mint tea bags. I don't know if they were effective but I believe that thanks to the tea, I have no acne or any serious skin problems now. 

2026/5/29 Triplets

Popcorn Hydrangea (Hydrangea Macrophylla Ayesha) ウズアジサイ（渦紫陽花）

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They're one of my favorite hydrangeas, popcorn hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla Ayesha). Needless to say, the hydrangea is named after the shape of its sepals, which resembles that of popcorns.

2022/6/16  

2022/6/16

Purple Hydrangea 紫の紫陽花

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A hydrangea changing from pink to purple and other purple hyerangeas. Below are the shots of hydrangeas I've seen so far.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ayesha' (Popcorn hydrangea)

Hydrangea changing from pale green to white then to pale blue
Hydrangea blooming all year round (Hydrangea serrata var. yesoensis f. cuspidata cv.)

Purple and pink lacecap hydrangeas

Various lacecap hydrangeas

Pink mophead hydrangea

Kurenai lacecap hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata var. 'Kurenai')

Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)

Tea of heaven 'Mikata-yae' (blue Hydrangea serrata)

Nettle-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea hirta)

White and whitish hydrangea

Annabelle hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle')

2026/6/4

2026/6/4  Fertile flower

Japanese Wax (Toxicodendron Succedaneum) ハゼノキ（櫨の木）

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The red color in early June caught my eye. They're leaves of the Japanese wax tree (Toxicodendron succedaneum). According to the internet, they can turn red in June due to sun protection, which makes sense to me. Despite being still June, the weather was like real summer, which must have resulted in them suddenly exposed to intense, direct summer sun, producing high levels of anthocyanin. 

2026/6/2

Chinese Fringetree (Chionanthus Retusus) ヒトツバタゴ（一つ葉タゴ）/ナンジャモンジャ

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These are flowers of a Chinese fringetree (Chionanthus retusus). The Chinese fringetree is native to China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan and can be found across Japan. The tree produces beautiful white flowers from April to May (which, before fully open, look to me like aliens floating in the air) and black fruits (scroll down) from September to October, which are inedible and avoided even by birds.

The Chinese fringetree has male and hermaphrodite trees, the same as the Japanese ternstroemia (Ternstroemia gymnanthera). I did research to find out the sex of the tree but in vain.  

2026/4/26

Chinese Tallow (Triadica Sebifera) 南京櫨（ナンキンハゼ）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

The Chinese tallow is one of my favorite plants for its beauty throughout the year, i.e., spike-like green flowers and three-lobed also beautiful green fruits from spring to summer, gorgeous gradients of red, orange, and yellow leaves in autumn (scroll down!), and chubby white seeds covered in capsules, which are green at first but turn black, in winter. The tree is native to China but can be found across Japan. Its leaves offer comfortable habitats to insects, like nettle caterpillars (scroll down) and yellow spotted stink bugs. 

2026/6/2