Flower Calendar
| Flower name |
Explanation |
Place of bloom |
Estimated time of bloom |
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Camellia (Shirowabisuke), (Theaceae) |
It is a hybrid of camellia and Chanoki (Camellia sinensis), and is a garden species. It has trumpet-shaped flowers between November and early March. |
West of Archives and Mausolea Department Building, East of Ninomaru pond |
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Tachikantsubaki (Camellia sasanqua x Camellia hiemalis), (Theaceae) |
It is usually categorized as a garden species of Sazanka (Camellia sasanqua), but some people have other opinion about it. Its branches grow vertically up to 3m approximately. |
West of Archives and Mausolea Department Building, Shiomi-zaka hill |
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Shimobashira (Keiskea japonica), (Lamiaceae) |
This perennial grows under the leafy shade of trees in the mountains. In the freezing early mornings during winter, you can see frost columns (shimobashira). That's why these are named shimobashira in Japanese. |
Ninomaru Grove |
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Senryo (Chloranthus glaber), (Chloranthaceae) |
It grows naturally in groves of warm places, and grows up to 50 to 80 cm. |
East of Ote Rest House, Yaso-no-Shima |
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Shinamansaku (Hamamelis mollis), (Hamamelidaceae) |
It is an endemic species of Japan and that grows naturally in coastal area occasionally, and grows up to 2 to 4m. It has white flowers at the tip of branches around June. |
Yaso-no-Shima |
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Yabutsubaki (Camellia japonica), (Theaceae) |
It grows in neashore area, or mountains, and grows as big as 10 to 15m. |
West of Archives and Mausolea Department Building, South of Hirakawa-mon Ticket House, East of the the Suwanochaya |
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Soshinrobai (Chimonanthus praecox f. concolor), (Calycanthaceae) |
It’s native to China. It has a little bigger flowers than Robai (Chimonanthus praecox), and its inner tepals are in yellow. |
West of Ninomaru Rest House, East of Ote Rest House |
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Kanzakura (Prunus x kanzakura), (Rosaceae) |
It is said to be a hybrid of Kanhizakura (Cerasus campanulata). |
Keyaki-no-Shibahu |
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Prunus mume (Koutouji), (Rosaceae) |
It’s native to China. It’s often cultivated in gardens or fields. There exist many garden species of Prunus mume. |
Bairin-zaka area |
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Prunus mume (Yaeyabai), (Rosaceae) |
It’s native to China. It’s often cultivated in gardens or fields. There exist many garden species of Prunus mume. |
Bairin-zaka area |
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Kanhizakura (Cerasus campanulata), (Rosaceae) |
It’s alternatively called "Hikanzakura". It grows up to 5 to 7m. Its thick leaves are in the shape of long ellipse or egg. |
Matsu-no-shibahu, Keyaki-no-Shima |
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Manryo (Ardisia crenata), (Myrsinaceae) |
It grows naturally in groves of warm places, and is often grown for ornamental purposes. |
Fujimiyagura area, South of Ote Rest House |
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Fukujusou (Adonis ramosa), (Ranunculaceae) |
This perennial can often be found in East Japan. While it's often cultivated, as its flower season is around a turn of the year, the flower is often used for decoration of the new year. |
South of Fujimitamon |
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Kobushi (Magnolia kobus), (Magnoliaceae) |
It grows in mountains and grows up to 5 to 18m. It has white flowers with the diameter of 6 to 10cm that smell good. |
Around Ishimuro, Ninomaru Grove |
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Shunran (Cymbidium goeringii), (Orchidaceae) |
This perennial usually grows in deciduous forests. Its line-shaped leaves have saw teeth at the edge, and feel gritty. |
West of Ishimuro, North of Ninomaru pond |
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Kurumetsutsuji (Rhododendron obtusum Planch), (Ericaceae) |
It’s alternatively called "Kirishima". While it has been planted since ancient times, a species that is very close to Kurumetsutsuji grown naturally in Mt. Kirishima. |
East of the Suwanochaya |
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Yamatsutsuji (Rhododendrom obtusum), (Ericaceae) |
It grows mountains and hills, and grows up to 1 to 4m. It has 2 to 3 flowers at the tip of the branches around April to June. The flowers are in vermilion, red, or red-purple. |
Ninomaru Grove |
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Shiroyamabuki (Rhodotypos scandens), (Rosaceae) |
While it grows naturally in mountains occasionally, it often times is planted in gardens or parks. |
East of Rose garden, Around Ninomaru pond |
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Ginran (Cephalanthera erecta), (Orchidaceae) |
This perennial grows under the leafy shade of trees in the hills or mountains. It grows up to 10 to 30cm. |
Ninomaru Grove |
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Kinran (Cephalanthera felcata), (Orchidaceae) |
This perennial grows in the groves in the hills or mountains. It has about 10 yellow flowers at the tip of the stem. |
Ninomaru Grove |
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Kimokkoubara (Rosa banksiae lutea), (Rosaceae) |
While it’s native to China, it’s often planted in gardens from Edo period. |
Rose garden |
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Nasuhiougiayame (Iris setosa var. nasuensis), (Iridaceae) |
It’s a variant species of Hiougiayame (Iris setosa). It’s a perennial that grows in high moors or in wet grass fields. It has purple flowers. |
Around Ninomaru pond |
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Ayame (Iris sanguinea), (Iridaceae) |
This perennial grows in hills or mountains. While it has green scapes, the stem near the root is in reddish violet. It grows vertically up to 30 to 60cm. |
Ninomaru Grove |
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Hamanasu (Rosa rugosa), (Rosaceae) |
It often grows gregariously in sandy soil near the seashore. It's about 1 to 1.5m high, and its branches are covered by minute thorns. |
Rose garden |
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Hamanasu (Rosa rugosa) fruit, (Rosaceae) |
It often grows gregariously in sandy soil near the seashore. It's about 1 to 1.5m high, and its branches are covered by minute thorns. |
Rose garden |
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Hanashoubu (Iris ensata), (Iridaceae) |
It’s a garden species of Nohanashoubu (Iris ensata var. spontanea). The perennial grows gregariously in wet places near water, and grows up to 60 to 80cm. |
Ninomaru Shobu field |
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Hotaru-bukuro (Cam;anula punctata), (Campanulaceae) |
This perennial can usually be seen in hills and mountains here and there. It has pink or white flowers. |
Around Ishimuro, Ninomaru Grove |
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Hitsujigusa (Nymphaea tetragona), (Nymphaeaceae) |
The waterweed is a perennial that grows near ponds or swamps. it bears a white and neat flower. |
Ninomaru pond |
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Ajisai (Hydrangea macrophylla), (Saxifragaceae) |
The hermaphrodite flowers of Gakuajisai (Lacecap hydrangea) have changed into decorative flowers. It's been loved and planted since early days. |
East of Ote Rest House, North of Tenshukakuato (Foundation of the Main Donjon) |
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Taisanboku (Magnolia grandiflora), (Magnoliaceae) |
It is native to South-Central area of North America, and was brought over to Japan in 1873. It’s 10 to 20cm high. Its leaves are in the shape of long ellipse, and feel like leather. |
East of Ote Rest House, North of Tenshukakuato (Foundation of the Main Donjon) |
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Obakiboushi (Hosta montana), (Liliaceae) |
This perennial grows in grass fields in the mountains or hills. |
Ninomaru Grove |
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Sunflower (Haruka no Himawari) |
This annual plant is native to North America. It’s named after an elementary school student who died in the Great Hanshin Awaji earthquake. |
East of Honmaru Rest House |
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Asaza (Nymphoides peltata), (Gentianaceae) |
This perennial is a waterweed that grows all over Japan except Hokkaido. Its rhizomes grow horizontally in the mud at the bottom of the water horizontally. |
Ninomaru pond |
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Mizukinbai (Ludwigia stipulacea), (Onagraceae) |
The perennial grows in the water of ponds or swamps. Its Japanese name "Mizukinbai" is named as is because it grows in water (mizu), and because its flowers resemble those of "Kinbaiso" (Trollius hondoensis). |
Ninomaru Grove |
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Susuki (Miscanthus sinensis), (Poaceae) |
It’s alternatively called "Kaya". This big perennial can often be seen in sunny places in plains or mountains. |
Ninomaru Hakucho-bori area |
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Higanbana (Lycoris radiata), (Amaryllidaceae) |
It’s alternatively called "Manjushage". This perennial grows gregariously in and around human settlements. |
Bairin-zaka area, Hakucho-bori area |
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Kinmokusei (Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus), (Oleaceae) |
It’s native to China, and is a variant species of Ginmokusei (Osmanthus fragrans Lour. var. fragrans). It’s often planted gardens all over Japan. |
South of Tenshukakuato (Foundation of the Main Donjon), North of Honmaru Rest House |
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Koushinbara (Rosa chinensis Jacquin), (Rosaceae) |
It’s an original species of early modern roses and modern roses, and has been loved and planted in gardens since early days. |
Honmaru Rose garden |
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Hototogisu (Tricyrtis hirta), (Liliaceae) |
This perennial grows in half-shaded places in mountains or damp cliffs. |
Yaso-no-Shima |
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Otokoyouzome (Viburnum phlebotrichum), (Caprifoliaceae) |
It’s alternatively called "Koneso". It grows in sunny places in hills and mountains, and grows up to 2m approximately. |
Ninomaru Grove |
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Jugatsuzakura (Prunus x subhirtella cv. Autumnalis), (Rosaceae) |
It blooms twice a year on early April and on sometime between October and December. Its flowers are mostly in white, but there are species whose flowers are light pink or dark pink. |
Keyaki-no-Shima |
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Sazanka (Camellia sasanqua), (Theaceae) |
It’s native to Japan. Having may garden species, and Sazanka often are planted in gardens and parks. |
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Nanten (Nandina domestica), (Berberidaceae) |
While it sometimes grows naturally in mountains in warm area, it is often planted in gardens. |
South of Tenshukakuato (Foundation of the Main Donjon) |
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Tachikantsubaki (Camellia sasanqua x Camellia hiemalis) (Theaceae) |
It is usually categorized as a garden species of Sazanka (Camellia sasanqua), but some people have other opinion about it. |
West of Archives and Mausolea Department Building |
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Suisen (Narcissus), (Amaryllidaceae) |
While it grows in coastal places in warm region, they are said to have been planted before instead of a volunteer plant. |
South of the Suwanochaya, South of Ninomaru pond |
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Fuyuzakura (Prunus×parvifolia 'Parvifolia'), (Rosaceae) |
It's a species that belong to the lineage of Mamezakura (Prunus incisa Thunb. ex Murray), and blooms twice a year on early April and on sometime between October to December. |
Keyaki-no-Shima |
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| Flower name |
Explanation |
Place of bloom |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
| Estimated time of bloom |
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