Fragrant Evening-Primrose (Oenothera Stricta) マツヨイグサ（待宵草）

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Fragrant evening-primrose (Oenothera stricta) is native to South America, was imported to Japan in the late 19th century, and can now be found across Japan. This evening-primrose resembles common evening-primrose (Oenothera biennis) very much with one easy-to-tell difference, i.e., fragrant evening primroses turn orange as they wither. The other flower in the pictures, which has turned orange, told me these were not common but fragrant evening primroses. 

2026/7/9

East Asian Mallotus (Mallotus Japonicus) アカメガシワ（赤芽柏）

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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. The three to four branched red parts of the female flowers are stigmas.

2026/6/29

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

Trailing Abutilon (Abutilon Megapotamicum) ウキツリボク（浮釣木、チロリアンランプ）

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The trailing abutilon (Abutilon megapotamicum) is indigenous to Brazil, was imported to Japan during the Meiji period (1868-1912), and can now be found across the country. It produces lantern shaped flowers from May to October in Japan. The red part that looks like a lantern is sepals, the yellow part is petals, and the protruding brown thing is the style.  

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

Lesser Trefoil (Trifolium Dubium) コメツブツメクサ（米粒詰草）

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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." 

The plant means "Let's eat rice" and "little love flower" in Japanese floriography. Let's eat rice... Can it be a flower meaning?  

2026/5/27

Goldencup St. John's wort (Hypericum Patulum) キンシバイ（金糸梅）

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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

Chinese St. John's Wort (Hypericum Monogynum) ビヨウヤナギ（未央柳）

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Chinese St. John's wort (Hypericum monogynum) is native to China, coming to Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868). It produces five petalled bright yellow flowers from June to July with incredibly long (also) bright yellow stamens where bees often bathe and dance.    

2026/5/19

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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These are St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum). The plant is native to Europe, west Asia, and northern Africa. It produces bright yellow flowers from June to August with long stamens as Chinese St. John's wort (Hypericum monogynum). They resemble each other but the flower size is different. The Chinese ones are bigger.  

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) came to Japan after the late 1940s and before that Japan had another St. John's wort (Hypericum erectum) native to Asia. Therefore, Hypericum perforatum is called "western Hypericum erectum," which translates into "western plant killing younger brother" after a Japanese legend that a man got so angry at his younger brother, who'd leaked an important secret of a medicine made from St. John's wort, that he killed the brother😱. Because of this legend, in Japan, St. John's wort means "grudge" and "superstition." As the legend suggests, in Japan, the stems and leaves of Hypericum erectum were used as folk medicine to stop bleeding and for other medical purposes.   

Someone who can't keep their mouths shut ended up being killed in not only Japan but also in Italy. In an Italian short story "Mateo Falcone," a father kills his 10-year-old son because the son can't keep his mouth shut.

2022/6/30

2022/6/30

Creeping Woodsorrel (Oxalis Corniculata) 酢漿草（カタバミ）

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Creeping woodsorrel (Oxalis corniculata) can be found across the globe, including Japan. The plant produces yellow flowers from April to October and fruits almost at the same time. The bright yellow flower is just 1 cm in diameter, so tiny that it may have been unnoticed. The leaves and stems are edible although they taste sour as suggested by the name Oxalis (and sour grass) and as well as its Japanese name "katabami," which translates into "sour grass."

Despite its unnoticeable presence, the plant is used as a family crest in Japan due to its strong vitality and hardiness to represent life force.  

2026/5/10

Golden Chain (Laburnum Anagyroides) キングサリ（金鎖）

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Golden chain (Laburnum anagyroides) is native to Central and Southern Europe and is not so commonly found in Japan because of its less heat resistance. In Japan, golden chain is mainly grown in Nagano and Hokkaido prefectures, which are relatively cool and dry, and parks and botanical gardens.  

The golden chain has two Japanese names, "kin gusari," which translates into "golden chain," and "kibana fuji," which translates into "yellow Japanese wisteria," because of their resemblance except for color. The golden chain and the wisteria, however, are in different genera, i.e., golden chain in the Laburnum genus while Japanese wisteria in the Wisteria genus.   

2026/5/2

Daylily with Pointed Petals (Hemerocallis) ヘメロカリス

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Daylilies (Hemerocallis) are native to East Asia and can be found across Japan. Daylilies are diverse in terms of color and petal shape. The daylilies in these photos have pointed petals while those in this post have round petals.   

Daylilies are "wasure gusa" in Japanese, which translates into "plant to forget things," meaning that you can forget bad things if you carry them. On the other hand, forget-me-nots are "wasurena gusa" in Japanese." The only difference (i.e., the "na" part), however, creates a huge difference in flower meanings in Japan. Forget-me-nots represents true love whereas daylilies flirtation and forgotten love.  

2026/4/29

Yellow-Cress (Rorippa) イヌガラシ属（犬芥子）

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Yellow-cress (Rorippa) is native to Asia and should be found across Japan but not so often in Central Tokyo. The plant grows in wet habitat, producing yellow flowers from April to June in Japan. Its Japanese name is "inu garashi," which translates to "dog mustard greens," because the plant tastes like mustard greens but is of lower quality as food. (To be continued below the 1st photo.)

2026/4/28

Yellow Cherry Blossoms (Ukon Cherry) 黄色の桜「ウコン（鬱金）」

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These are Ukon cherry blossoms (Cerasus Sato-zakura Group ‘Grandiflora’ A. Wagner). Yes, cherry blossoms are not necessary pink. Ukon blossoms are YELLOW while those of Gioiko cherry trees are GREEN. Ukon and Gioiko cherry trees are both late bloomers.

 

2025/4/20

2024/4/13

Winter Hazel (Corylopsis) ヒュウガミズキ（日向水木）、トサミズキ（土佐水木）

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Winter hazel (Corylopsis) is native to eastern Asia and can be found across Japan. The plant produces a cluster of 1 to 8 yellow flowers from March to April. So pretty! 

In Japan, you would see mainly two types of Corylopsis, Corylopsis pauciflora and Corylopsis spicata, and there are several differences according to the internet. A Corylopsis pauciflora tree produces a cluster of 1 to 3 flowers with yellow anthers while a Corylopsis spicata tree is larger, producing a cluster of 7 to 8 flowers with red anthers. So, it should be easy to tell one from the other but it's not for me. The post therefore contains photos of both types. When I become able to tell which is which, I'll create a post for Corylopsis pauciflora and Corylopsis spicata each. 

2026/3/8

2026/3/8

Japanese Cornel (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

Japanese Witch-Hazel (Hamamelis Japonica) マンサク（満作）

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Japanese witch-hazel (Hamamelis japonica) is native to Japan and can be found across the country. The plant produces string shaped flowers with yellow petals and red sepals from February to March. The Japanese witch-hazel signifies the return of happiness in Japan. 

2026/3/1

2026/3/1

2026/2/23

Golden Mimosa (Acacia Baileyana) ギンヨウアカシア（銀葉金合歓）

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Golden mimosa (Acacia baileyana) is native to Australia but can be found across Japan. The trees produce beautiful golden flowers from January to March and show beautiful red leaves in autumn. 

2026/2/24

2026/2/24

Wintersweet (Chimonanthus Praecox F. Concolor) ソシンロウバイ（蘇秦蝋梅）

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These are wintersweet blossoms. The plant is native to China and came to Japan at the beginning of the Edo period (1603 to 1868). Wintersweet blooms in January and February and of several types, you would mostly see Chimonanthus praecox ‘Luteus’/Chimonanthus praecox f. concolor in Tokyo. The blossoms of this type are yellow in their entirety while another type, Chimonanthus praecox 'Luteus,' has a purple red inner part. Despite their (i.e., both types) beauty, all parts of the wintersweet are toxic. 

2025/1/12

2025/1/12

2025/1/12

2025/1/12

2025/1/12

Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis Pes-Caprae) オオキバナカタバミ（大黄花酢漿草）

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The bright yellow caught my eye. Bermuda buttercups (Oxalis pes-caprae) are native to South Africa but can be found across Japan. The oxalis usually blooms from March to May but I think it flowers almost throughout the year or am I mistaken? The Bermuda buttercup's leaves have purple spots, which is a key to distinguishing them from other oxalises. They're hardy and flower nearly throughout the year, which makes me think of growing them myself.  

2021/4/10

2025/1/4