In some countries, plants have been chosen as symbols to represent specific geographic areas. Some countries have a country-wide floral emblem; others in addition have symbols representing subdivisions. Different processes have been used to adopt these symbols – some are conferred by government bodies, whereas others are the result of informal public polls. The term floral emblem, which refers to flowers specifically, is primarily used in Australia and Canada. In the United States, the term state flower is more often used.
National plants Africa
Ethiopia The national flower of Ethiopia is Zantedeschia aethiopica, commonly known as calla lily.
Mauritius The national flower of Mauritius is the Ruizia boutoniana.
Nigeria The national flower of Nigeria is Costus spectabilis which is commonly known as Yellow Trumpet.
Seychelles The national flower of the Seychelles is the tropicbird orchid (known locally as orkid payanke), Angraecum eburneum.
South Africa The national flower of South Africa is the King Protea, Protea cynaroides.
Tunisia The national flower of Tunisia is jasmine. It was chosen as a symbol for the 2010 Tunisian Revolution.
Zimbabwe
The national flower of Zimbabwe is the flame lily, Gloriosa superba.
Asia Afghanistan The national flower of Afghanistan is the tulip. It is called Lala (لاله) in Persian and Khatol in the Pashto language.
Bangladesh The national flower of Bangladesh is the water lily Nymphaea nouchali. It is called (শাপলা) in the Bengali language.
Bhutan The national flower of Bhutan is the blue poppy. Previously misidentified as the non-native Meconopsis grandis, national flower of Bhutan was identified in 2017 as Meconopsis gakyidiana, a new distinct species.
Brunei The national flower of Brunei is Simpoh Ayer (Dillenia suffruticosa).
Cambodia
Cambodia formally adopted the romduol () as its national flower in the year 2005 by a royal decree. The royal decree designates the taxon as Mitrella mesnyi, however, this is a taxonomically illegitimate synonym for Sphaerocoryne affinis, which does not occur in Cambodia. The accepted species name for romduol is Sphaerocoryne lefevrei.
India The lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is the national flower of India. It is a sacred flower in the art and culture of ancient India.
Indonesia
There are three types of floral emblems used to symbolize Indonesia: The puspa bangsa ("national flower") of Indonesia is melati (Jasminum sambac). The puspa pesona ("flower of charm") is anggrek bulan or moon orchid (Phalaenopsis amabilis). The puspa langka ("rare flower") is padma raksasa rafflesia (Rafflesia arnoldii).
All three were chosen on World Environment Day in 1990, and enforced by law through Presidential Decree (Keputusan Presiden) No. 4 1993,Keputusan Presiden No. 4 Tahun 1993 On the other occasion, bunga bangkai (Titan arum) was also added as puspa langka together with rafflesia.
Melati (Jasminum sambac), a small white flower with sweet fragrance, has long been considered a sacred flower in Indonesian tradition, as it symbolizes purity, sacredness, graceful simplicity and sincerity. For example, on her wedding day, a traditional Indonesian bride's hair is often adorned with arrangements of jasmine, while the groom's kris is often adorned with a lock of jasmine. However, jasmine is also often used as a floral offering for spirits and deities, and also often present during funerals, which has caused it to be seen as having mystical and sacred properties. Moon orchid was chosen for its beauty, while the other two rare flowers, Rafflesia arnoldii and Titan arum, were chosen to demonstrate uniqueness and Indonesia's rich biodiversity.
Each of the 34 provinces of Indonesia also has a native plant as its provincial flower.
Iran
The national flower of Iran is the water lily (nymphaea sp.) referred to as Niloofare Abi in Persian. The flower is the national flower of Iran since the Achaemenid Empire era (552 BC).
Israel
The national flower of Israel is the poppy anemone (Anemone coronaria; calanit metzuya in Hebrew), chosen in 2013 to replace Cyclamen persicum.הכלנית: הזוכה בתחרות "הפרח של ישראל" , ynet, 25 November 2013.
Japan The national flower of Japan is the Cherry Blossom or Sakura (桜) Any flowers belonging to the genus Prunus may be termed Sakura.
Jordan The national flower of Jordan is the black iris (Iris nigricans).
Kuwait The national flower of Kuwait is Arfaj (Rhanterium epapposum).
Laos The national flower of Laos is the champa; flowers of the genus plumeria .
Malaysia
The national flower of Malaysia is the bunga raya (Chinese hibiscus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis).
Maldives The national flower of the Maldives is the pink polyantha rose (Rosa polyantha), called fiyaathoshi finifenmaa.
Mongolia The national flower of Mongolia is Scabiosa comosa (, ber tsetseg).
Myanmar The national flower of Myanmar is Pterocarpus indicus (paduak).
Nepal
The national flower of Nepal is the tree rhododendron (Rhododendron arboreum).
North Korea The national flower of North Korea is the Korean mountain magnolia (Magnolia sieboldii, Korean: 목란/ mongnan).
Palestine The national flower of Palestine is the Faqqua iris (Iris haynei).
Pakistan The national flower of Pakistan is common jasmine also known as Jasminum officinale.
Philippines The Philippines adopted the sampaguita (Arabian jasmine, Jasminum sambac) in 1934 as its national flower because it symbolizes purity and cleanliness due to its color and sweet smell. It is popularly strung into garlands presented to visitors and dignitaries and is a common adornment on religious images.
Sampaguita in Filipino is a direct loanword from the Sanskrit word "campaka".William Henry Scott, 1984, Prehispanic Source Materials for the Study of Philippine History, accessed 1 July 2021.Jean-Paul G. POTET, 2013, Arabian and Persian loanwords in Tagalog, p. 250. Plants such as flowers like sampaguita, fruits like mango and jackfruit (nangka), vegetables like ampalaya, Luffa (patola), Moringa (malunggay)as well as names such as those of the Philippine's pre-Christian chief god Bathala (from Sanskrit Bhattara Guru), came from India during pre-Spanish Indianised trade and influences.M.c. Halili, 2004, Philippine History, Rex Bookstore, p. 49. Among strong traces of Hindu influence in Philippines are placing of Sampaguita garlands around the neck of visitors to show hospitality and friendship, throwing rice over the bride and groom for prosperity, performing paninilbihan, visiting a shrine to pray for fertility, etc.Cecilio D. Duka, 2008, Struggle for Freedom, Rex Bookstore, p. 35.
Saudi Arabia
The national flower of Saudi Arabia is Royal Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum).
Singapore The national flower of Singapore is a hybrid orchid cultivar known as the Singapore orchid or Vanda Miss Joaquim (Vanda hookeriana × Vanda teres).
South Korea The national flower of South Korea is Hibiscus syriacus. Known in South Korea as mugunghwa (Korean: 무궁화), the flower's symbolism relates to the Korean word mugung, which means "eternity" or "inexhaustible abundance". Despite being made the national flower officially after Korea regained its independence from Japan, mugunghwa has been associated with Korean culture for many centuries, with the Silla kingdom having called itself the "Country of the Mugunghwa" (Korean: 근화향, Romanized: Geunhwahyang).
Sri Lanka
The national flower of Sri Lanka is Nil mānel (නිල් මානෙල්), the blue-star water-lily (Nymphaea stellata). Although nil means "blue" in Sinhala, the Sinhalese name of this plant is often rendered as "water-lily" in English. This beautiful aquatic flower appears in the Sigiriya frescoes and has been mentioned in ancient Sanskrit, Pali and Sinhala literary works. Buddhist lore in Sri Lanka claims that this flower was one of the 108 auspicious signs found on Prince Siddhartha's footprint.
Taiwan
The national flower of Taiwan was officially designated as the plum blossom by the Executive Yuan on 21 July 1964.Government Information Office, Taiwan - National Flower The plum blossom, known as the meihua (), is a symbol of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity, because plum trees often bloom most vibrantly even during the harshest winters. The triple grouping of stamens represents Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People, while the five petals symbolize the five branches of the government.National Flag, Anthem and Flower
Thailand The national flower of Thailand is the Golden Shower Tree (Cassia fistula). The tree (which is also the country's national tree) is locally known as ratchaphruek (), while the flower itself is known as dok khun ().
United Arab Emirates The national flower of the United Arab Emirates is Tribulus omanense. A creeping plant with bright yellow flowers, it thrives in the UAE's arid climate, growing well in areas such as sand dunes, road verges, oases and desert plains.
Vietnam
The national flower of Vietnam is the lotus flower (Nelumbo nucifera).
Europe
Albania Albania – Papaver rhoeas
Andorra Andorra – Narcissus poeticus
Austria Austria - Edelweiss (Leontopodium nivale).
Belgium Belgium – Flanders poppy
Bulgaria Bulgaria – rose
Croatia Croatia – Iris croatica (unofficial)James Minahan
Cyprus Cyprus – Cyclamen cyprium
Czech Republic Czech Republic – Tilia
Denmark Denmark – The daisy, specifically either marguerite daisy (Argyranthemum frutescens) or oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), the latter being native to Denmark and becoming more frequently used. Previously red clover (Trifolium pratense) had been announced as the national flower in the 1930s, but this choice was not popular with the public and it was largely forgotten.
England England – Tudor rose
Estonia Estonia – cornflower
Finland Finland – lily of the valley
France Kingdom of France (12th-19th century) – Iris pseudacorus, fleur-de-lis Brittany – Ulex and heather
Germany Germany – cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
Guernsey Guernsey – Nerine sarniensis
Hungary Hungary - The national flower is the tulip. It is a symbol deeply rooted in Hungarian history and culture, particularly associated with the Ottoman period when tulips were introduced to the country.
Iceland Iceland – White dryad (Dryas octopetala)
Italy
The flower of the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) is the national flower of Italy. The strawberry tree began to be considered one of the national symbols of Italy in the 19th century, during the Italian unification, because with its autumn colors is reminiscent of the flag of Italy (green for its leaves, white for its flowers and red for its berries). various authors - Guida pratica agli alberi e arbusti in Italia; Biblioteca per chi ama la natura - Selezione dal Reader's Digest Milano 1983, 1991. For this reason the strawberry tree is considered the national tree of Italy.
The Italian poet Giovanni Pascoli dedicated a poem to the strawberry tree. He refers to the Aeneid passage in which Pallas, killed by Turnus, was posed on branches of a strawberry tree. He saw in the colours of that plant a prefiguration of the flag of Italy and considered Pallas the first national cause martyr.Giovanni Pascoli, in the autograph note to his poem "Il corbezzolo" ("The strawberry tree"), compared the virgilian, deposed after death on branches of a strawberry tree, to the Italian martyrs wrapped up, during the burial ceremonies, in the Italian flag. Pascoli's ode says:
Lithuania Lithuania – Ruta graveolensJames Minahan. The complete guide to national symbols and emblems, Vol. 1. Greenwood Press. 2009.
Malta The national flower is the Maltese rock-centaury (Cheirolophus crassifolius).
Netherlands While most people believe it to be the tulip, the actual national flower of the Netherlands is the daisy (Bellis perennis). It was elected in a public vote in 2023.
Northern Ireland Northern Ireland – flax flower, clover leaf
North Macedonia The national flower of North Macedonia is the poppy.