Gerbera Day

What Is Gerbera Day?

Every April 18th is "Gerbera Day" (ガーベラ記念日, Gābera Kinenbi) in Japan. It was established in 2005 at the Fukuoka meeting of the National Gerbera Growers' Exchange (全国ガーベラ生産者交流会). The date comes from the wordplay "yo (4) - i (1) - ha (8) - na," which sounds like "yoi hana," meaning "good flower," and from the fact that gerbera shipments peak in April. It is a day to enjoy these colorful, daisy-like flowers at the height of their season.

Gerbera Basics

• Classification: A perennial in the genus Gerbera of the daisy family (Asteraceae)
• Distribution: About 40 wild species grow in Africa, Asia, and elsewhere, especially in South Africa
• Features: Large, open flower heads in vivid colors, and a long vase life

Gerbera is widely used as a cut flower in bouquets and floral arrangements.

Gerbera in Japan

Most gerbera varieties in circulation today were bred in Europe. More than 2,000 varieties are sold as cut flowers in Japan, and over 90% of them are said to have been developed abroad, such as in the Netherlands. However, most of the cut flowers themselves are grown by Japanese farmers from imported seedlings.

Colors and Types

• Colors: Red, pink, yellow, orange, white, green, and more
• Flower forms: Single, semi-double, and double, as well as "spider" types with thin, thread-like petals
• Size: Classified as large- or small-flowered by the diameter of the bloom

Fun Facts

• The name: "Gerbera" is named after the German naturalist Traugott Gerber.
• Flower language: In Japan, gerbera's flower-language meanings include "hope," "mystery," and "sublime beauty."
• Caring for cut gerberas: The stems are hollow and easily damaged, so it's said they last longer with a small amount of water that is changed often.
• A major cut flower: Gerbera is regarded as one of the world's representative cut flowers, alongside roses, chrysanthemums, and carnations.

Ideas for Gerbera Day

• Buy a single gerbera in your favorite color and put it on your desk or dining table
• Compare different varieties and flower forms at a florist
• Give a "good flower" to family or coworkers to say thank you
• Try tips for making cut flowers last longer

A Day to Brighten Spring with a "Good Flower"

Gerbera Day is a day to enjoy gerberas at the peak of their shipping season. Even a single stem can brighten a room — why not add the small pleasure of flowers to a busy start of the fiscal year?