Japan is culturally one of the more interesting countries in the world. Cultural heritage and uniqueness attract people from all corners of the globe.
If you were to consider Japan, I’m sure most people will picture a beautiful and manicured Japanese Garden filled pretty much with water features and interesting statues and of course flowers.
No wonder, when you think about all that can be incorporated into a garden. Gardens of lots of interesting statues, interesting water features, then of course, the flowers.
But, when someone wants to create their very own Japanese paradise, doesn’t matter where you are in the world, you want to pick flowers to achieve the authenticity of it.
In This Guide: We will focus on some of the common Japanese flowers along with their significance.
The Importance Of Flowers In Japanese Culture
One thing we must keep in mind is that whatever flowers may typically mean in our culture, Japanese flowers may have a completely different meaning altogether.
Flowers in Japan have their own language, “hanakotoba,” which is part of Japanese culture.
Flowers have significant symbolic meanings, and many Japanese people are thought to communicate their feelings with flowers.
Various arrangements of flowers and colors can mean different things. When someone sends a flowers bouquet in Japan, they need to think very hard about what a flowers mean.
Even the height of the flowers, whether the flowers have thorns or not which also signifies emotion and feeling.
10 Beautiful Japanese Flowers And Their Meanings
Although there’s far more than ten flowers that would be considered popular in Japan, the following flowers are among the most well-loved.
1. Himawari Sunflowers
Blooming at the peak of summer, these stunning sunflowers belong to among the most popular flowers across Japan.
Himawari sunflowers look very similar to many varieties of sunflower and in Japan, you can generally see the huge fields of sunflowers going as far as the eye can see.
Though the sunflower is a favorite plant among many countries, it holds a special place in heart and mind of the Japanese people.
So much so, that Japanese people have created a entire festival that celebrates the amazing sunflower!
The Himawari sunflower symbolizes loyalty, adoration, and longevity. It is often found to offer blooms to a loved one symbolic of the person’s loyalties to long and enduring relationship.
2. Ume – Japanese Apricot
One of the most fragrant/beautiful smelling flower included in this list is the Ume, also known as the Japanese apricot.
The Ume flowers bloom on apricot trees and they have a sweet smell because they smell smooth aroma lacking anger or hate.
What is the most special about the Ume flowers is that they are edible for eating; however, if you want a challenge, on your own, the trees are also suitable for bonsai trees too!
Symbolically, The Ume flower would represent faithfulness and pure heart; they are possibly among the most innocent flowers of Japan.
3. Kaneshon – Carnation
One of the Japanese flower names that sounds most similar to its English counterpart is kaneshon.
These flowers are internationally known as symbols of love and affection, and the same goes for Japan.
Often, Japanese people give these flowers as gifts to their romantic partner or a family member to show that they care about them.
What’s great about kaneshon flowers is that they come in many colors and can be dyed in colors to suit the occasion.
4. Tsubaki – The Camellia
The Tsubaki is a shrub or small tree, with deep green leaves that are typical of all evergreen trees.
The Camellia tree is significant not only as an ornamental plant, but for its masses of large flowers with a height of twelve centimeters.
The flowers can also vary in color from pink to red, and are frequently associated with stunning yellow stamens.
Tsubaki flowers bloom in spring and are often found in coastal environments on the southern islands of Japan.
Among its many meanings, Tsubaki symbolizes perfect love, discretion, and humility.
5. Asagao – Morning Glory
As you might expect, the morning glory plant, or Asagao as it is known in Japan, is a plant that grows in the early morning.
They love cool temperatures and light breezes so right away, you’ve got that romantic feeling from these flowers.
In fact, the meaning behind the asagao flower makes sense as it symbolizes the bond of love between two people, and can usually be seen making ornamental gardens look beautiful, especially in Osaka.
The leaves are heart shaped which is very fitting to their meaning, and the flowers have beautiful white and blue streaks in a way that makes them look like they are tie-dyed.
6. Akaibara – The Red Rose
The red rose is known globally as a symbol of love and romance, and that’s no different in Japan.
Most people will give their partner a bunch of red roses, or even one rose, to show romantic sentiment.
The akaibara grows the best in the early autumn and is primarily used in ornamental flower gardens, which are prevalent throughout Japan.
The most notable place to see these flowers is at Gora Park.
7. Sumire – Violet
The sumire, or violet, (as it’s known by in English) is a delicate and pretty flower from one of the small shrubs that usually grow along a fence or wall in a garden.
The violets are a brilliant purple and the stems and leaves of the plant turn ivory.
Many house owners in Japan will plant violets in the front of their property to beautify it.
The flower has strong meanings of happiness and honesty and you’ll find it in bulk in most domestic and commercial gardens in Japan.
If you want to catch violets when they bloom, you’ll need to be around in the spring.
8. Rabenda – Lavender
Lavender is a highly fragrant flower with deep, earthy notes that has relaxing qualities.
The purple bloom in white-edged, but what distinguishes lavender is the peculiar shape of the petals which are also circular.
You will generally see lavender on the border or along a fence and in Japan the flower is a sign of loyalty.
The flower is found all over flower parks which include tambara, lavender, and also they grow wild in fields.
9. Sakura – The Japanese Cherry Blossom
You didn’t think we would make a list of the most popular flowers to find in Japan without including the Sakura?
This must be the flower that many people on earth would associate with this country, and its pink petals are great for sore eyes.
In the spring, the beautiful petals bloom from the cherry blossom tree and the sakura is Japan’s national flower (no surprises!)
The flower can be found anywhere from white to pink and symbolizes achievements as well as beauty of the heart.
You’ll find them across the country in numerous wild and commercial locations, with the Tokyo gardens and Hokkaido island being famous for their cherry blossoms.
10. Shobu – Iris
In Japan, the iris, or shobu, is a good news flower.
Many consider the shobu to be one of the most unique flowers in the world with long purple petals with yellow stripes.
The iris is a spring flower and can be found in flower parks all over Japan, including nabana no sato park.
Also, as a good news flower the shobu symbolizes loyalty, making it an admirable gift for close friends and partners.
Conclusion
From the amazing national flower of Japan; the sakura, to lavender and roses, this is a garden and flower country.
There are tons of flowers that are popular here in Japan and our list gives ten of the most special.
If you want to create a Japanese garden at home, these flowers are certainly the start!