Yamato nadeshiko (大和撫子, literally, "ideal Japanese woman") is a Japanese term and a flower metaphor. The term describes the "flower of Japanese womanhood" or what is generally believed to be typical and best about Japanese women. It also means "traditional daughter of Japan".
The phrase combines the words Yamato, which is an ancient name for Japan, and nadeshiko, which is a wild pink carnation (dianthus superbus).