Mt Takao is located at the borderline of warm-temperature zone and cool-temperature zone and various plants from both zones grow. There are a lot of naturally grown plants and their visitors can enjoy seasonal flowers. Over 1,500 kinds of plants are confirmed which is relevant to the number of kinds naturally grow in England. Also, over 60 kinds of plants are first found in Mt. Takao such as Takao Sumire (V. yezoensis f. discolor) and Takao Higodai (Saussurea sinuatoides).
They are a deciduous shrub that grows wild in the forests and on the rocks around the hilly areas to the mountain district. 3 leaves verticillate on the limb, which gives them the name. Cortex is tinged with grayish black and smooth feeling to touch. Young branches are reddish violet and bear trichome at first, but later trichome disappears. The leaves are roundish lozenge-shaped, about 4 to 7 cm long, about 2.5 to 5 cm wide with the sharp top and the edge a little bit dulating. Young leaves are rolled inward bearing tentacle on both sides and viscous, but adult leaves bear no tentacle. The leaves turn into red in autumn. The blossom seasons are about March to April, when their vivid red-purple flowers blossom before the other plants sprout. This makes them stand out very much. The flowers are about 3 to 4 cm in diameter with the flower split into 5 to be open. The seeds are terete about 0.7 to 1.2 cm long and when they get matured in July to September, they are split into 5 to spread the seedlings out.
●Height about 2 to 3m
●Place Oku-Takao
●Height about 2 to 3m
●Place Oku-Takao