Asia's Nations In Bloom

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 Thailand’s Ratchaphruek On October 26, 2001, a declaration on three national symbols was issued by the Office of the Prime Minister of Thailand. Among the three symbols was the national flower – a title that was bestowed upon the blooms of the golden shower tree or ratchaphruek. Beautiful and bright, these gold yellow flowers blossom in clusters and are easily recognized s they can be found growing across the country. The flower is sometimes used as an ingredient in traditional herbal medicines.

  Myanmar’s Padauk

The padauk flower is a tiny, fragrant, golden yellow flower that blooms in April each year — just in time for Myanmar’s New Year celebrations. Also known as the flower of the Burmese rosewood tree, the padauk flower symbolises romance, youth and love while the tree represents strength and durability to the people of Myanmar. When in bloom, padauk trees are covered in these gold flowers and present quite a visual feast.

Indonesia and Philippines’ Jasmine

Indonesia has three categories of floral emblems, each symbolising different characteristics. The moon orchid is the flower of charm, while the rafflesia is the rare flower. Taking the highest honour – the title of national flower or puspa bangsa – is the melati putih or Jasminum sambac. A delicate, fragrant, white flower that is often used in religious and cultural ceremonies particularly in Java and Bali, the melati putihwas officially adopted as Indonesia’s national flower on World Environment Day in 1990. This sweet bloom is said to represent beauty, sacredness and grace. In the Philippines, the Arabian jasmine known as sampaguita, has been the country’s national flower since 1934. Filipinos think of the sampaguita as a symbol of purity, simplicity, strength and humility, and the flower has beenhonoured in various songs and legends. It is believed that the sampaguita first arrived in the Philippines from the Himalayan region close to 500 years ago.

Brunei Darussalam’s Simpor

The cheery, bright yellow simpor flower is Brunei Darussalam’s national flower, and is commonly found growing along riverbanks especially that of the Temburong River. It also grows in abundance in swampy and sandy areas. Simpor flowers belong to the large, evergreen simpor tree that can grow up to six metres high. The people of Brunei often use parts of the simpor tree in traditional medicine. The simporflower is depicted on the Brunei one dollar note as well as in traditional handicrafts and art.

Singapore’s Orchid

Singapore’s national flower is a hybrid orchid with the catchy name of Vanda Miss Joaquim. The flower, which blooms throughout the year, was named after Agnes Joaquim — then horticulturist who created the hybrid. The decision to choose an official national flower to represent Singapore was made in 1981 as part of an effort to inspire national pride and identity amongst Singaporeans. The Vanda Miss Joaquim beat 40 other blooms to win the prestigious title. To date, Singapore is the only country to adopt a hybrid flower as a national emblem.

 Laos’ Dok Champa

Laos’ national flower is scientifically known as dok champa. However, it is more likely to be recognised by its common name: frangipani. The dok champagives off a sweet, heady scent and its waxy petals grow in many colours including white, yellow, red, pink and pretty pastel shades. To the people of Laos, this simple yet elegant bloom represents sincerity and joy, and it is a favourite choice for important ceremonies and festivals. The dok champa is also used in garlands and, is a common sight at religious events and sacred areas.

Taiwan’s Meihua

Taiwan designated the meihua or plum blossom as the country’s national flower in 1964. The blossom symbolises resilience and fortitude in the face of hardship or adversity. This comes as no surprise as the delicate plum blossom is able to bloom even in the harshest of winters. The five petals of the meihua represent the five branches of the government while the three stamens represent Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s philosophy, Three Principles of the People that talks about nationalism, democracy and a government for the people.

India, Vietnam and Macau’s Lotus

As national floral emblems go, the lotus appears to be a popular choice. The national flower of India, Vietnam and Macau, the lotus can be found growing in the lakes and ponds of these countries. In Vietnam, this graceful aquatic flower symbolises purity, commitment and optimism. Its exquisite elegance has inspired numerous Vietnamese poems and songs. In India, the lotus symbolises divinity, fertility and enlightenment. It also represents purity as it grows out of muddy waters but blooms as a perfectly formed flower. In Macau, a stylized version of the flower is depicted on the country’s flag.

Malaysia and South Korea’s Hibiscus

Locally known as the bunga raya, Malaysia’s national flower is the red hibiscus. The country’s former Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj chose the bunga rayaas a national floral emblem back in 1960. Its five petals represent the five tenets of Rukun Negara or National Principles, which aim to encourage and strengthen unity among the people. The hibiscus is also the national flower of South Korea where it is known as the mugunghwa. South Koreans adore their national flower and a reference to it is made in their country’s national anthem. The word mugunghwa is derived from the word mugung, which means immortality in the Korean language and is believed to represent their everlasting culture and the perseverance of the Korean people. Interestingly, Malaysia and South Korea are not the only countries to adopt the hibiscus as a national flower. Haiti also calls the hibiscus its national flower while Puerto Rico’s maga is a close relation to the hibiscus.

Cambodia’s Rumdul

Rumdul, the national flower of Cambodia, is a fragrant tri-petal beauty of pale yellow. It emanates a lovely, distinct scent in the late afternoons and evenings. Due to its beauty and delicate fragrance, Cambodian women have been compared to rumdul for centuries. The rumdul’s graceful elegance has also inspired Cambodian songwriters, and the flower has been featured in a number of local songs. The rumdul tree can grow to a height of eight to 12 meters and can be seen in parks all over Cambodia.

Australia’s Golden Wattle

The golden wattle can be found growing naturally all over Australia. These bright, yellow spherical buds were proclaimed Australia’s floral emblem back in 1988, but wattles have held special meaning for Australians for more than a hundred years – ever since former Prime Minister Andrew Fischer included a spray of wattles in the country’s coat of arms in 1913. In 1992, September 1 was declared National Wattle Day throughout the country.

Nepal’s Lali Guran

Nepal’s national flower is the lali guran or red rhododendron. This robust flower blooms from March through May in remarkably high altitudes, typically between 1,600 meters and 3,600 meters above sea level. There are over 1,000 known species of this stunning flower, many of which can be found in the Himalayan region around Nepal. To the Nepalese, the lali guran symbolizes unity. More than just a pretty bloom, the lali guran is used in various Nepalese recipes and is also a prized ingredient in traditional medicine.

Japan’s Chrysanthemum

Although a formal choice has never been made, the chrysanthemum is sometimes referred to as Japan’s unofficial national flower mainly due to its connection to Japanese royalty. The throne of the Emperor of Japan is known as the Chrysanthemum Throne and the official seal of the Japanese Imperial Family bears a stylised version of this cheerful blossom. The people of Japan also tend to regards their belovedsakura or cherry blossom as an unofficial floral emblem. This delicate flower can be found in dozens of varieties across the country, and they are well represented in Japanese culture.