Rhododendron, a birthday flower of May 8th

Rhododendron is one of the birthday flowers of May 8th in Japan. In Japanese it is called "shakunage". In appearance it looks very like azalea, but is distinguishable by its large, ruffled petals and dense rounded clusters that gather at the tips of glossy evergreen leaves.

In Japan, rhododendron is admired as a flower that looks both wild and regal at once. In the 'hanakotoba', language of flowers, its meanings include "dignity", "majesty" but "danger" also. Meanings that are no doubt inspired by its imposing beauty and the fact that its leaves contain toxins. In English its meanings are similar to the latter - danger, as well as "caution" and "beware". 

In Japan, the rhododendron tends to bloom sometime during April or May - exactly when depends on the region. So, in some places it is in bloom on May 8th. Apart from May 8th, Rhododendron is also the birthday flower of February 20th, at which time it is not in bloom.