early stachyurus; early spiketail
A deciduous shrub native to Japan, producing pale yellow flowers in early spring before the leaves appear. The scientific name is Stachyurus praecox.
When the early stachyurus blooms, I feel that spring has come.
Katakana spelling is common for this plant name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling; rarely used in modern writing.
Alternate kanji spelling; rarely used.
The name キブシ (木五倍子) is said to come from the use of its fruits as a substitute for 五倍子 (fushi, gallnut) in making black dye or ink. The exact derivation is uncertain.