seven spring herbs; seven vernal flowers
Refers to the seven edible wild plants traditionally eaten in nanakusa-gayu (rice porridge) on January 7th for health and to ward off evil. The specific plants are: seri (Java water dropwort), nazuna (shepherd's purse), gogyō (Jersey cudweed), hakobera (common chickweed), hotokenoza (Japanese nipplewort), suzuna (turnip), and suzushiro (daikon).
See also: 秋の七草
There is a custom of eating rice porridge with the seven spring herbs on January 7th.
The seven spring herbs are seri, nazuna, gogyō, hakobera, hotokenoza, suzuna, and suzushiro.