Confederate Rose (Hibiscus Mutabilis cv. Versicolor) スイフヨウ（酔芙蓉）

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These are Confederate roses (Hibiscus mutabilis cv. versicolor) and the first five photos are of one flower, taken at 10:00, 12:30, 15:30 and 16:30 on 16 September 2024 and at 5:30 on the following morning. After such a color change from pure white in the morning to pink in the afternoon, this type of Confederate roses is named "sui fuyou," which translates into "drunken Confederate rose."

The sixth and the last ones are red and white marbled. Some Japanese apricot trees produce such colored flowers but (I believe that) a Confederate rose tree producing such flowers is quite unusual. White apricot trees don't exist but red ones produce white or red/white marbled flowers when they cannot produce enough anthocyanins to make flowers red. The same may apply to this hibiscus tree. 

If you want to see peach, Japanese apricot, or lespedeza having white, pink/red or marble-colored flowers on a tree, read the following posts: 

- Red & White Marble Colored Flowering Peach

- Half & Half Colored Japanese Apricot (White & Pink)!

- Lespedeza Japonica Bailey cv. Versicolor (Variegated Bush Clover)

10:00 a.m., 2024/9/16

White Magnolia (Yulan Magnolia) ハクモクレン（白木蓮）

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Yulan magnolia (Magnolia denudata) is native to central and eastern China but now can be found across Japan and in many places in Tokyo. The tree flowers from February to April, the earliest among magnolias growing in Japan. The flower's pure white creates a brilliant contrast against the blue sky.  

2026/3/2

2024/3/12

2022/3/17

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

2026/8/23

Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) ハナトラノオ（花虎の尾）

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The obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana) is native to North America, came to Japan from 1900 to 1920 for ornamental purposes, and can now be found across Japan, producing purple flowers from August to September. Its flowers from the front reminded me of small skullcaps (Scutellaria indica L. var. parvifolia (Makino) Makino)), but they're not related. 

2026/9/13

Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium Coelestinum) アオイロフジバカマ（青色藤袴）

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The blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) is native to North America and came to Japan in or after the Meiji period (1868-1912), producing blue flowers from July to October. Its Japanese name is "aoiro fujibakama," which translates into "blue fragrant eupatorium," after its color and resemblance to the fragrant eupatorium flower.

2026/9/13

False Heather (Cuphea Hyssopifolia) メキシコハナヤナギ（墨西哥花柳）

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The false heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia) is native to Mexico and said to have come to Japan from the Meiji to Taisho period (1868-1926).

2026/9/13

Orange Bracket Fungus (Pycnoporus Coccineus) ヒイロタケ（緋色茸）

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Orange bracket fungus (Pycnoporus coccineus) can be found in east Asia, Australia, North and South Americas, and Africa, so across Japan but Hokkaido. The mushroom is not inedible but too hard to eat. The bright orange bracket fungus is used to create natural textile dyes in Japan.

2026/9/13

Bitter Gourd (Momordica Charantia) ゴーヤ（苦瓜）

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Bitter gourds (Momordica charantia) are native to tropical Asia, came to Okinawa, i.e., one of the southern islands in Japan, in the early 15th century, and can now be found across Japan. The gourds are monoecious, which means they produce yellow, male and female flowers from July to August but it's easy to tell because the male has the yellow center while the female has the green center. They usually produce male flowers first to ensure the safe fertilization of the female ones. So, the ratio of male to female in early summer is about 10:1. 

Ripe orange gourds (scroll down) are edible including the red seeds and even jelly like stuff around the seeds. 

2026/8/10  A male flower

2020/8/8  Male and female flowers 雄花と雌花

Japanese Cornel Dogwood (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.    

2026/3/11

2026/3/11

Harlequin Glorybower (Clerodendrum Trichotomum) 臭木（クサギ）

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The color combination and contrast of harlequin glorybower's fruits always amazes me. Harlequin glorybower (Clerodendrum trichotomum) is native to east Asia and can be found across Japan, producing white flowers from July to September and fruits from October to November. The plant's Japanese name is "kusagi," which translates into "smelly tree," after its smelly stems and leaves. The fruits are blue, surrounded by red calyxes in autumn, which forms an incredibly beautiful stark color contrast.  

2026/9/9

Pink and White Bush Clovers (Lespedeza Buergeri) キハギ（木萩）

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Pink and white bush clovers (Lespedeza buergeri) can be found across Japan. Generally, bush clovers produce pink/purple flowers but this type produces flowers which have the large white upper petal (banner) with a base and the two side petals (wings) both of which are purple. Lespedeza buergeri blooms from July to September, making it the earliest to flower among the bush clovers.

2026/9/5

Japanese Winterberry (Ilex Serrata) ウメモドキ（梅擬）

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Japanese winterberry (Ilex serrata) is native to China and Japan, so can be found across Japan. The winterberry produces cute, tiny (i.e., 3-4 mm in diameter) flowers from May to July and red fruits from September to next January, which turn red.  

Its Japanese name is "ume modoki," which translates into "fake Japanese apricot," after the resemblance of its leaves and branches to those of Japanese apricot. Do they? 

2026/9/5

Japanese Chestnut (Castanea Crenata) 日本グリ（和栗）

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Finding a still-green chestnut burr on the ground made me look up at the tree above me. The Japanese chestnut (Castanea crenata) is native to Japan and Korea and can be found across Japan. Chestnuts are used for many dishes in Japan, not only sweets but also mixed rice or kuri gohan. 

There are the following types of chestnuts according to Adachi Otoemon, a confectionery shop in Kyoto: 

• Japanese chestnut (Castanea crenata)
• Western chestnut (Castanea sativa)
• Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima)
• American chestnut (Castanea dentata)

I want to taste them all to decide which is the sweetest😋!

2026/9/4

Sweet Viburnum (Viburnum Odoratissimum) サンゴジュ（珊瑚樹）

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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. 

2026/9/4

Queen Coralbead (Cocculus Trilobus) アオツヅラフジ（青葛藤）

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Queen coralbead (Cocculus trilobus) is native to east Asia and can be found across Japan, producing tiny cream flowers from July to August and fruits in autumn. The fruits are green at first but turn deep purple, which look like smaller blueberries but are toxic. 

2026/9/4

False Parasol (Chlorophyllum Molybdites) オオシロカラカサタケ（大白唐傘茸）

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The false parasol mushroom (Chlorophyllum molybdites) is native to temperate and subtropical regions but can now be found across Japan. The mushroom is beautiful and looks delicious but has poisoned many people...😱 As nicknamed the " vomiter," the mushroom is poisonous, causing literally vomiting and diarrhea! 

2026/9/2

Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia Indica) サルスベリ（百日紅）

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Crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) is native to China, coming to Japan before the Edo period (1603 - 1867) and can now be found across Japan. The tree produces flowers in various colors, white, pink, and red. Its leaves turn orange and red beautifully in autumn and the dark brown fruits are also beautiful.   

The crepe myrtle has two names in Japan, "saru suberi," which translates to "monkeys slip" because of its slippery bark, on which even monkeys (are said to) slip, and "hyaku jitsu ko," which translates to "red for one hundred days," after that the crepe myrtle flowers bloom for a long period of time.

According to Flower Meanings, the crepe myrtle flower means;
- Prosperity;
- Good luck;
- Chastity;
- Good luck in love and marriage; and
- Marital fidelity.

But here in Japan, it means:

- Eloquence;
- Charm and;
- Carelessness.

2026/8/26 Tuscarora

Japanese Chaff Flower (Achyranthes Bidentata) イノコヅチ（猪子槌）

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Japanese chaff flower (Achyranthes) is native to east Asia and can be found across Japan. The Achyranthes is divided into two types in Japan as follows:

Scientific name	Japanese name	Translation of Japanese name
Achyranthes bidentata var. fauriei	Hinata inokoduchi	Achyranthes in the sun
Achyranthes bidentata var. japonica	Hikage inokoduchi	Achyranthes in the shade

The one in these photos is Achyranthes bidentata var. fauriei.

Achyranthes fruits stick to clothing, so they're called "hittsuki mushi," which translates into "sticking bug" in Japanese.

2026/8/29

Red Ring Skirt (Hestina Assimilis) アカボシゴマダラ（赤星胡麻斑）

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The red ring skirt (Hestina assimilis) can be found in east Asia, including Japan. The butterfly is beautiful but designated as a quarantine pest under Japan's Plant Protection Law.

I found this one at 9:30 on a Saturday morning on my way from home and found it again at 11:30 on my way home.   

2026/8/29

White-Banded Hunter Hawkmoth (Theretra Oldenlandiae) セスジスズメ（背筋雀）

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Impatiens hawkmoths or white-banded hunter hawkmoths (Theretra oldenlandia) can be found across Japan. Their caterpillars are beautifully black with a stark contrast with orange spots at first and turn brownish before burrowing into the ground and pupating. The adults are cool, looking like fighter aircrafts, and can be found from May to October in Japan.   

2026/8/25

2026/8/5