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

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Pink wood sorrel (Oxalis debilis) is native to South America. It was brought to Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868) for aesthetic appeal, but it has run wild and can now be found all across Japan.

There are two main types of pink wood sorrel: Oxalis debilis and Oxalis articulata. Both are pink, though Oxalis debilis (the one in this post) is a bit more bluish and paler. For a more detailed look at the differences between the two, check out my post about Oxalis articulata!

11/3/2026

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

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Fragile and lovely, the winter cherry (Cerasus x parvifolia 'Fuyu-zakura') is a crossbreed of Cerasus incisa and Cerasus speciosa. This tree differs from most other cherry trees in its blooming schedule. It blossoms twice a year—once in the winter (from October to December) and again in the spring—which is why it is called the 'winter cherry' in Japan.

It is also known as 'koba zakura,' which translates to 'small leaf cherry' due to its relatively small leaves. While these winter cherry blossoms are less vibrant, they last longer than other cherry blossoms, which generally fall within two weeks.

Some people see a winter cherry tree and say it's silly for blooming out of season. But whenever I hear that, I always think to myself, 'No, you're the silly one!😝 

2021/11/25

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

Lespedeza (Bush Clovers) 萩（ハギ）

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The bush clover is native to east Asia and can be found across Japan. It's known as an autumn plant in Japan and its Japanese name "hagi" is a kigo or a seasonal word or phrase associated with a particular season used in traditional forms of Japanese poetry for autumn, but bush clovers actually flower from July to September and I once found a tree flowering in December (scroll down).

Bush clovers are known to produce pink flowers but they also have white flowers (Lespedeza buergeri) and some (Lespedeza  japonica bailey cv. versicolor) produce pink and white flowers on the same tree. 

2026/9/20

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

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

Showy Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa) ヒルザキツキミソウ（昼咲月見草）

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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." 

2026/8/15

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

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Persian silk trees or pink silk trees (Albizia julibrissin) are native to southwestern and eastern Asia and can be found across Japan, producing "silk-like" pink flowers from June to July in Japan. They fold their leaves during the night, which makes them look asleep, so their Japanese name is "nemu no ki," which translates to "sleeping tree."  

A Persian silk tree is popular in Japan as suggested by it being 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.

Persian silk trees are in the Fabaceae family, so produce seed pods which resemble flattened bean pods (scroll down). 

2023/9/9

Butterfly Bush (Buddleja Davidii) フサフジウツギ（房藤空木）

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Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) is native to western China, came to Japan in 1890, and can now be found across Japan, producing white and pink flowers from July to October. Those in these photos grow in a vacant lot in Central Tokyo on which a house or something is to be built. This means they should be removed soon.  

2026/7/30

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

2026/6/2

Japanese Bindweed ヒルガオと虫たち

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The Japanese bindweed (Calystegia pubescens) is native to east Asia and can be found across Japan, producing pale pink flowers from June to August, which attract a variety of bugs, e.g.,  common straight swift butterflies and a marmalade and other hoverflies, as shown in these pictures.  

2026/7/9

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

Japanese Spirea (Spiraea Japonica) シモツケ（下野）

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The Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica) is native to China, Korea, and Japan and can be found across Japan, producing pink flowers with a beautiful gradient from pale to bright pink from May to August. The plant is named "shimotsuke" in Japanese after the Shimotsuke province or the current Tochigi prefecture where the plant was found for the first time in Japan. Its autumn leaves are also beautiful (scroll down)!

2026/6/28

Marvel of Peru (Mirabilis Jalapa) オシロイバナ（白粉花）

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The marvel of Peru (Mirabilis jalapa) is native to South America, came to Japan at the beginning of the Edo period (1603-1868), and is now planted for ornamental purposes across the country. It produces white, red, yellow, pink, and variegated flowers from late June to October. Its another name "four o'clock flowers" is after it usually opening at around 4 p.m.  

Its Japanese name is "Oshiroi bana," which translates into "white makeup powder flower," after the endosperm in the black seeds looking like white makeup powder.

2026/6/24

Salt Cedar (Tamarix Chinensis) ギョリュウ（御柳）

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The salt cedar (Tamarix chinensis) is native to Mongolia and northern China, came to Japan in the mid-18th century, and can now be found across the country, mainly in parks and botanical gardens. The tree produces dense plums of pale pink flowers twice a year, in May and from August to September, in Japan. 

Its Japanese name is "gyoryu," which translates into "imperial willow," after its weeping appearance like willows and it being said to be appreciated by Lady Yang, an imperial consort.

2026/6/22

Oriental Lady's Thumb (Persicaria Longiseta) イヌタデ（犬蓼）

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The Oriental lady's thumb (Persicaria longiseta) is native to China and south eastern Asia and can be found across Japan. The plant produces generally pink (and sometimes white) flowers from April to November. The flowers, however, have no petals, and what look like petals are calyxes, which are so cute.  

     

2026/6/21

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

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　A small branded swift (Pelopidas mathias) resting
チャバネセセリが休憩中

2025/6/20

2025/6/20

2024/8/5

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ミソハギ（禊萩）です。東アジア原産で日本でも湿地などで自生し、古くから親しまれています。盆花として使われますが、そっくりさんのエゾミソハギは海外では侵略的外来種に指定されているようです。

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Hollyhock (Alcea Rosea) 立葵（タチアオイ）

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Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) are native to Turkey and Eastern Europe, though they can be found across Japan. The plant produces single- and double-flowered blooms in white, pink, purple, and red from June to August in Tokyo. Their Japanese name is tachi-aoi, which translates to 'standing mallow,' a flower with a special place in Japanese tradition.

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