Birth flower for December 8
Soshin wintersweet
Meaning: affection, foresight
Wintersweet comes from China and reached Japan in the early Edo period. Its petals look like they are made of wax, and it blooms in the depth of winter on bare branches. Ordinary wintersweet has a dark purple center, but Soshin is clear yellow all the way through; soshin means a pure, unmixed heart. It is one of the most fragrant flowers of the winter garden.