Local Plants: Sharinbai (Yeddo Hawthorn; Rhaphiolepis umbellata)
This small shrub grows wild along the Japanese coast, and is also commonly planted in gardens, parks, and highway median strips. Native to both Japan and Korea, it reaches a height of around 1 meter. Its leathery leaves are egg-shaped, with a somewhat serrated edge. In May, five-petaled white or pink-tinged flowers bloom toward the tips of the branches. The spherical fruits ripen from November to December, turning black with a dusting of white powder. In Japan, the plant is traditionally boiled to produce a dyeing agent.