Japanese Spiraea, a birthday flower of October 13th

Japanese spiraea (Spiraea japonica), known as Shimotsuke (シモツケ) in Japan, is a deciduous flowering shrub admired for its clusters of tiny pink, white, or reddish flowers. It took me a while to be able to distinguish it as it is similar to several other flowers in Japan. Also, the name in English is confusing because there are several different type of "spiraea" in Japan and they all look different. 

The plant's name comes from the former Shimotsuke Province, now part of Tochigi Prefecture, where it was said to have been discovered or commonly found. Its hanakotoba, Japanese language of flowers, is said to "well-ordered love" and "transience". These meanings are said to reflect both the neat, rounded shape of the flower clusters and the delicate appearance created by the fine stamens surrounding each bloom.

In Japan, Shimotsuke typically blooms from May to June, producing colourful flower clusters at the tips of its branches. It is a perennial deciduous shrub. Unlike annual plants that complete their life cycle in a single year, Shimotsuke returns each spring from the same root system and can thrive for many years, producing fresh foliage and flowers every season. It is the birthday flower of June 14th and October 13th.