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

Potato Vine (Solanum Laxum) ツルハナナス（蔓花茄子）

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The potato vine (Solanum laxum) is native to South America, came to Japan during the Taisho era (1912-1926) for ornamental purposes, and can now be found across Japan. Its Japanese name is "tsuru hana nasu," which translates into "vine flower eggplant," after the resemblance of its flowers to those of eggplants. Eggplant or potato? It's so confusing. 

2026/7/14

Goji Berry (Lycium Chinense) クコ（枸杞）

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The goji berry (Lycium chinense) is native to east Asia and can be found across Japan, producing small pale purple flowers from summer to autumn. In Japan, the goji berry is known to be good for eye health, boost the immune system, reduce cellular inflammation, and help regulate blood sugar levels. I didn't know however (and was surprised) that such a plant can grow on the sidewalk in Central Tokyo. I'll definitely come back in autumn to photograph the berries. (I've never seen them before being dried.) 

2026/7/6

2026/7/6

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Small Venus' Looking-Glass (Triodanis Biflora) ヒナキキョウソウ（雛桔梗草）

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The small Venus' looking-glass (Triodanis biflora) is native to North America. Its naturalization in Japan was confirmed in the 1930s and the plant can now be found across the country. The small Venus' looking-glass produces purple flowers from May to July, which resemble Triodanis perfoliata very much but it's not so difficult to distinguish them. Triodanis biflora generally produces a single flower at the apex of a stem while Triodanis perfoliata usually produces multiple flowers. How their leaves attach to the stem is also different.  

2026/6/2

Two-Toned Mophead Hydrangeas 縁取りの紫陽花と上野（谷中）天王寺

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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.

I saw some of such blooms at Tennoji temple in Ueno Tokyo, which has an interesting history. The temple originally belonged to the Nichiren school of Buddhism but was persecuted by the Edo government and at the end of the 17th century forcefully converted to the Tendai school with two monks at the temple being sent away to a distant island. This occurred because the Nichiren school refuted other Buddhist schools, provoking the anger of not only the priests but also the country's rulers, resulting in the persecution of the Nichiren sect and temples of that sect. 

But now, nothing at the temple reminds visitors of such a history. The old temple just sits there with beautiful hydrangeas.

2021/6/9 at Tennoji temple

2026/5/29

Pink/Purple Lacecap Hydrangea ピンク・紫のガクアジサイ（額紫陽花）

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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! 

2026/5/14

2026/5/14

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, introduced to Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868) for aesthetic appeal. There are two types of pink wood sorrel, Oxalis debilis and Oxalis articulata. Both are pink but Oxalis debilis (those in this post) is a little bluish and paler. For a more detailed description of the differences between the two pink wood sorrel, read the post about Oxalis articulata.  

2026/5/17

Broomrape (Orobanche) ハマウツボ（浜靫）

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Broomrape (Orobanche) is native to Europe and Asia and can be found across Japan, producing flowers from May to July in Japan. Despite its usual-plant-like appearance, it's a parasitic herbaceous plant with no chlorophyll. Its host is wormwood (Artemisia), so there must be wormwood nearby. Before knowing it's parasitic, I looked forward to seeing its flowers, which I expected to be purple, but now with that knowledge, I found it a bit eerie.

P.S.

I went there a week later, finding it open and not that eerie but quite pretty. 

2026/5/5

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, is believed to have come to Japan in the late 19th century, and can now be found across Japan. There are a variety of speedwell (see below) 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). 

Speedwell of any type is pretty but has a terrible Japanese name each as follows:

• Grey field-speedwell (Veronica polita) => イヌノフグリ or "dog balls"
• Persian speedwell (Veronica persica) => オオイヌノフグリ or "large dog balls"
• Corn speedwell (Veronica arvensis) => タチイヌノフグリ or "standing dog balls"
• Ivy-leaved speedwell (Veronica hederifolia) ==> ツタバイヌノフグリ（フラサバソウ） or "ivy-leaved dog balls"

This is because according to Tomitaro Makino (1862 - 1957), who named them, the fruits of grey field-speedwell look like the balls of a dog (which I've never seen). Tomitaro Makino is a Japanese botanist. He dropped out of elementary school after two years, but studied botany on his own and eventually received a Doctor of Science degree from The University of Tokyo. 

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