Blooming trees, now in Japan 2

San syuyu (in Japanese)

Japanese cornel dogwood (San-syuyu)
 blooms yellow flowers  like the mansaku.

This flower blooms a little behind the mansaku. The flower color is brighter than the mansaku, and four small petals bloom upward.

Originally it came from China as a medicinal plant to Japan, but now it is popular for watching with red fruits that can be made in autumn.

blooming trees, now in Japan 1

Man saku (in Japanese)

Mansaku(Witch hazel) is a tree found in wide areas of Kyushu from Hokkaido.

At this time, flowers like yellow strings will bloom.

Although it is a strange flower rather than beautiful, the Japanese Mansaku has meaning to bloom earlier than other flowers, and has been counted as a flower that has long been auspicious since long ago.

In Japan, you can see varieties with more darker flower colors (cinnaman saku) and pink flowers.

Zelkova (Keyaki)

Zelkova is a deciduous large tree found in East Asia. The fresh green and autumn leaves are beautiful, have many planted along the streets and in the parks in Japan.

Center of Tokyo city

Zelkova has a long life, the stem will be thick. So it is excellent as well as timber. The timber has a water-resistant, used as building materials, desks, and bowls. Once upon a time farmers had planted zelkova for descendants. So you can see a big zelkova in the outskirts of the rural.

Shining stem of zelkova

In Tokyo, you can see the large zelkova in Omotesando and the famous shrine, they are beautiful. However, unfortunately many places, zelkova is cruelly cut branches. Because Japan is too narrow for zelkova.

Leaf of zelkova

Persimmon tree (Kaki)

Although the persimmon is native to China, it has been planted from the old era in Japan. Sometimes, the species is carried by wild animals, the tree has grown up in the mountains.

Fruits of persimmon

There are many cultivars, shape and taste is different, respectively. Roughly, it is classified as sweet persimmon and bitter persimmon. Naturally sweet persimmon is preferred, however, to grow sweet persimmon is limited to West Japan. Only bitter persimmon  will grow in a cold region, but it will also be an excellent food by hanging out in the sun.

Persimmon tree has beautiful shinny leaves

Persimmon leaves are used in tea of raw materials and sushi. In addition, the juice of bitter persimmon is used to paint for preservatives. And stem of persimmon is used in furniture. Since the application is many, we planted this tree even those who are not interested in the yard, but the fruit of the orange shine in the sky of autumn, is indispensable to the Japanese landscape.

Old house with large persimmon tree

Japanese hackberry (Enoki)

One of the tree that is similar to the zelkova, there is a Japanese hackberry (Enoki). Once Enoki was planted in "Ichri-duka (milestone)," which is made every 4 kms as a mark of the road. For this reason, large enoki can be seen here and there in Japan.

Milestone tree

Nowadays, among the Japanese, "Enoki" mainly means the mushroom occurring in the dead tree. rarely be planted in the garden. But it is often grow naturally from bird droppings, often seen in the garden and park without intention.

This is favorite food of insects

Though It appears to be very sturdy tree, its leaves are very popular in the insect, often become tattered. Larvae of the Japanese country butterfly "Sasakia charonda" is also, like the leaf.

Fruits of Japanese hackberry

Colorful seeds that can be in the summer has a sweet taste, it is possible to eat. And in fall to winter, you can see the tree with yellow leaves along the river even in the major city.

Blanco and Enoki

Nandina (Nann-tenn)

Low tree you see most often, in the narrow streets of Tokyo, it's Nandina.
Nandina (domestica) is believed to have brought over from China, why do you know this tree has been planted in Japan throughout.

This is the sight, you see always in Tokyo alley

Nandina will bear red fruits, from autumn to winter, this red fruits has been considered as auspicious from the Edo period. And, this was considered to have magical power to prevent a fire. In Edo wooden houses are concentrated, fire is the worst of the disaster. So people had planted a cheap and durable this tree. This is the reason, there are many Nandina in Tokyo. It is a relic.

Lucky red fruits

In addition, the leaves of Nandina is believed to have the power to turn off the poison. So It has been planted in the vicinity of the toilet, or served with foods.

Leaves of Nandina

Nandina is also in the mountains. It increases by bird droppings that ate the red fruit. Even as many times chopped, grows again, it is very strong. It is used in the alcove post in the tea room of KINKAKUJI.

It bloom little white flowers in summer 

Japanese beech (Buna)

Beech is one of the yellow leaves are beautiful trees. By now, you can see the leaves golden.
The nature of Japanese beech is the same as the European beech, prefer the cold place.
Place where you can see the most beautiful beech in Japan is "Shirakami-sanchi  (Aomori Prefecture and Akita Prefecture)". There is known as the World Heritage Site.

Yellow leaves of Japanese beech

In the vicinity of Tokyo, the natural beech has decreased due to the influence of global warming and air pollution. But you can see the tree if you go to Nikko and Nagano,and in botanical garden near Tokyo.

White stem and fresh green

Beech is not only yellow leaves, fresh green and white stem is also beautiful. Walking through the forest of beech, made to feel like you are in the plateau.

However, since the seed is a favorite food of the ferocious bear, have to be careful.

Seeds of Japanese beech