Botanical Name – Hibiscus syriacus Common Name – rose of Sharon

Hibiscus syriacus is a large, hardy, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with showy hibiscus-shaped flowers. Native to China and India, despite its botanical name, this shrub has been cultivated for hundreds of years. It flowers in late summer and fall, a time when most other shrubs are no longer in bloom.

Chie IidaAugust 1, 2024iris

Stewartia pseudocamellia Common name - Japanese stewartia

With its beautiful mottled bark, white summer flowers, and stunning fall leaf colors, Stewartia pseudocamellia is an elegant tree to enjoy all year long. Both its Latin species name pseudocamellia (imitation camellia) and its Japanese name natsu tsukaki (summer camellia) refer to the flowering time of its delicate flowers.

Chie IidaJuly 1, 2024iris

June: Botanical Name – Iris ensata, Common Name – Japanese Water Iris

The iris is a flower that represents spring in Japan. The iris is iconic in Japanese culture for its beauty and is revered in paintings, textiles, and woodblocks. One of the renowned iris paintings in Japan is Kakitsubata-zu. Irises symbolize resilience. Irises are depicted in literature and Haiku poetry and used in floral arrangements—ikebana and chabana.