Rikyubai 利休梅

Tea masters favor its unassuming, elegant white flowers, which are often used in tea gardens. For this reason, it was named “Rikyūbai” in honor of Sen no Rikyū, the founder of the tea ceremony. There is even a legend that it blooms on the anniversary of Sen no Rikyū’s death. Another reason for its popularity is that it blooms from late spring to early summer, a season when few other flowers are in bloom. 主張し過ぎない清楚な白い花が茶人に好まれ、茶庭に使われることが多い。このため茶道の祖である千利休にちなんで、リキュウバイと名付けられた。「千利休の命日に咲く」という逸話もある。晩春から初夏の、やや花が少ない時季に咲くことも人気の秘訣。