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In a number of 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.
The national flower of Mauritius is Ruizia boutoniana . [1]
The national flower of Nigeria is Costus spectabilis which is commonly known as Yellow Trumpet. [2]
The national flower of the Seychelles is the tropicbird orchid (known locally as orkid payanke), Angraecum eburneum . [3]
The national flower of South Africa is the King Protea, Protea cynaroides. [4]
The national flower of Tunisia is jasmine. It was chosen as a symbol for the 2010 Tunisian Revolution.
The national flower of Zimbabwe is the flame lily, Gloriosa superba . [5] [6]
The national flower of Afghanistan is the Tulip. It is called Lala (لاله) in the Farsi language and Khatol in the Pashto language. [7]
The national flower of Bangladesh is the water lily Nymphaea nouchali . It is called Shapla (শাপলা) in the Bengali language.
The national flower of Bhutan is the blue poppy. [8] Previously misidentified as the non-native Meconopsis grandis , national flower of Bhutan was identified in 2017 as Meconopsis gakyidiana , a new distinct species. [9]
The national flower of Brunei is Simpoh Ayer (Dillenia suffruticosa). [10]
Cambodia formally adopted the romduol (Khmer : រំដួល) as its national flower in the year 2005 by a royal decree. [11] 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. [12] The accepted species name for romduol is Sphaerocoryne lefevrei.
The symbolic flower of Hong Kong is the Hong Kong orchid tree ("洋紫荊"), Bauhinia blakeana .[ citation needed ]
The lotus ( Nelumbo nucifera ) is the national flower of India. It is a sacred flower in the art and mythology of ancient India.[ citation needed ]
There are three types of floral emblems used to symbolize Indonesia:
All three were chosen on World Environment Day in 1990, [13] and enforced by law through Presidential Decree (Keputusan Presiden) No. 4 1993, [14] 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.
The national flower of Iran is the water lily which is also called nymphaea (Niloofare Abi, in Persian). The flower is the national flower of Iran since the Achaemenid Empire era (552 BC). [15]
The national flower of Israel is the poppy anemone ( Anemone coronaria ; calanit metzuya in Hebrew), chosen in 2013 to replace Cyclamen persicum . [16] [17]
The national flower of Japan is the chrysanthemum, which has been a symbol of the Imperial House of Japan, and featured on the Imperial Seal since at least 1183.
The national flower of Jordan is black iris (Iris nigricans). [18]
The national flower of Laos is the plumeria (champa), [10] despite it no longer being endemic.
The national flower of Malaysia is the bunga raya (Chinese hibiscus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ). [10] [19]
The national flower of the Maldives is the pink polyantha rose ( Rosa polyantha ), called fiyaathoshi finifenmaa. [20]
The national flower of Mongolia is Scabiosa comosa (Mongolian : бэр цэцэг, ber tsetseg). [21]
The national flower of Myanmar is Pterocarpus indicus (paduak). [10]
The national flower of Nepal is the tree rhododendron ( Rhododendron arboreum ). [22]
The national flower of North Korea is the Korean mountain magnolia ( Magnolia sieboldii , Korean: 목란/木蘭mongnan). [23]
The national flower of Pakistan is common jasmine also known as Jasminum officinale. [24]
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. [10] It is popularly strung into garlands presented to visitors and dignitaries and is a common adornment on religious images.
Sampaguita in the Filipino language is a direct loan word from the Indian sanskrit word "campaka". [25] [26] Plants of some species of flowers like Sampaguita, fruits like mango and nangka, vegetables like ampalaya, patola, malunggay, name of Philippine's pre-Christian chief god Bathala (from sanskrit Bhattara Guru ), came from India during pre-Spanish Indianised trade and influences. [27] Among strong traces of continuity of Hindu influence in Philippines are placing of Sampaguita garland around the neck of visitors to show hospitality and friendship, throwing the rice over bride and groom for prosperity, performing paninilbihan, paying dowry, visiting a shrine to pray for fertility, etc. [28]
The national flower of Saudi Arabia is Taif’s Rose (Rosa × damascena). [29]
The national flower of Singapore is a hybrid orchid cultivar known as the Singapore orchid or Vanda Miss Joaquim (Papilionanthe teres × Papilionanthe hookeriana).[ citation needed ]
The national flower of South Korea is Hibiscus syriacus . [30] Known in South Korea as mugunghwa (Korean: 무궁화), the flower's symbolism relates to the Korean word mugung, which means "eternity" or "inexhaustible abundance". [31] 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). [32]
The national flower of Sri Lanka is Nil mānel (නිල් මානෙල්), the blue-star water-lily ( Nymphaea stellata ). [33] [34] 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. [35] [36]
The national flower of the Republic of China was officially designated as the plum blossom by the Executive Yuan on 21 July 1964. [37] The plum blossom, known as the meihua (Chinese :梅花; pinyin :méihuā), is a symbol of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity, because plum trees often bloom most vibrantly even during the harshest winters. [38] [39] 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. [37] [38]
The national flower of Thailand is the Golden Shower Tree (Cassia fistula), locally known as dok khuen or rachapruek. [10]
The national flower of Vietnam is the lotus flower (Nelumbo nucifera). [40]
The national flower of Austria is edelweiss (Leontopodium nivale).[ citation needed ]
The flower of the strawberry tree ( Arbutus unedo ) is the national flower of Italy. [50] The strawberry tree is also the national tree of Italy because of its green leaves, its white flowers and its red berries, colors that recall the Italian flag. [51]
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. [53]
The national flower of North Macedonia is the poppy. [54]
Portugal does not officially have a national flower, though the lavender is commonly cited. [56] [57] The carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) is also a symbol of the nation's triumph against the authoritarian far-right Estado Novo dictatorship, known as the Carnation Revolution.
The national flower of Serbia is Natalie's ramonda (Ramonda nathaliae). It is considered a symbol of Serbia's struggle and victory in World War I, with country suffering the largest casualty rate relative to its population. [59] To commemorate Serbian soldiers who died in war as well as the resurrection of the country after the devastating war, people wear artificial Natalie's ramonda as a symbol of remembrance, especially during week leading up to Armistice Day, which is a public holiday. [60]
The national flower of Slovenia is a carnation. It is traditionally present at all significant moments of someone's life. White carnations can be traditionally present at Slovenian christenings and at Slovenian weddings, where the bride has a white carnation flower stuck in her hair and the groom wears a white carnation pinned to his breast pocket or buttonhole. While white carnation represents happiness and celebration, red carnation has a more diverse meaning in Slovenian culture. First meaning comes from French and Russian revolutionaries and symbolises revolution and workers. Red carnations also symbolise love and courtship. In folksongs and folk traditions, when young men in the country villages were calling girls in the night under their windows and serenading them, receiving a red carnation bouquet meant, that the serenaded girl accepted their courtship. Finally, at the funeral of a loved one, their acquaintances, friends and family bid a final farewell to the deceased by each throwing a red carnation into the open grave.
Furthermore, carnations often appear embroidered on tablecloths, handkerchiefs, blouses, bed linen, lace and on parts of Slovenian national costume, such as skirts, trouser legs and traditional headwear, especially avba. Additionally, carnations are often flowers hanging from flowerbeds on balconies and windows, which is a source of pride for Slovenian homes. This can be observed throughout Slovenia, most prominently in Gorenjska and Štajerska regions. [61]
The national flower of Sweden is Campanula rotundifolia . [64] It won a public vote in 2021. [65]
The national flower of Switzerland is edelweiss (Leontopodium nivale).[ citation needed ]
The national flower of Turkey is the tulip.[ citation needed ]
Each of the United Kingdom's four constituent countries has one or more national flower:
The maple leaf is widely used as a symbol for Canada. The maple tree was officially recognized as Canada's arboreal emblem in 1996. [70]
Canada's provinces and territories also have official provincial or territorial floral emblems:
Many Canadian flags and coats-of-arms have floral emblems on them. The flag of Montreal has four floral emblems. On the right side of the flag of Saskatchewan overlapping both green and gold halves is the western red lily, the provincial floral emblem. The coat of arms of Port Coquitlam has the city's floral emblem, the azalea, displayed on a collar. The coat of arms of Prince Edward Island displays lady's slippers, the floral emblem of the island. When coat of arms of Nova Scotia were reassumed in 1929, the trailing arbutus or mayflower, the floral emblem of Nova Scotia, was added.
The national flower of Mexico is the dahlia ( Dahlia pinnata ).[ citation needed ]
In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation to make the rose the national floral emblem of the United States. [85] [86] In each of the U.S. states, state flowers and trees have also been adopted as symbols by state legislatures.
The national flower of Antigua and Barbuda is Agave karatto, also known as "dagger log" or "batta log". [87]
The national flower of the Bahamas is the Yellow Elder ( Tecoma stans ). [88]
The national flower of Barbados is known locally as the Pride of Barbados (Caesalpinia pulcherrima). [89]
The national flower of Belize is the black orchid ( Prosthechea cochleata ). [90]
The national flower of Costa Rica is the guaria morada ( Guarianthe skinneri ). [91]
The national flower of Cuba since October 13, 1936, is the white ginger lily. [92]
The national flower of Dominica is Sabinea carinalis , commonly known as Carib wood or Bois Caraibe. [93]
The Dominican Republic's national flower was originally the flower of the caoba (mahogany tree, Swietenia mahagoni ). In 2011, the mahogany was dubbed the national tree, vacating the national flower spot for the Bayahibe rose ( Pereskia quisqueyana ) in order to bring attention to its conservation. [94]
The national flower of Guatemala is the monja blanca ( Lycaste skinneri var. alba). [95]
The national flower of Haiti is the Choeblack or rose kayenn ( Hibiscus ). [96] [97]
The national flower of Honduras is the orchid Rhyncholaelia digbyana . [98]
The national flower of Jamaica is the lignum vitae ( Guaiacum officinale ). [99]
The national flower of Nicaragua is known as the sacuanjoche ( plumeria rubra ). The sacuanjoche flower (Plumeria) grows on a conical tree that flowers around May. Sacuanjoche flowers are most fragrant at night in order to lure sphinx moths to pollinate them. The flowers have no nectar, and simply dupe their pollinators.
The Golden Wattle ( Acacia pycnantha ) was officially proclaimed the floral emblem of Australia on 1 September 1988. [100]
The national flower of Fiji is tagimaucia ( Medinilla waterhousei ), a vine with red and white flowers endemic to the highlands of the island of Taveuni.[ citation needed ]
The Tahitian gardenia (tiare flower) is the national flower of Tahiti, French Polynesia, and the Cook Islands.[ citation needed ]
New Zealand does not have an official national flower, but the silver fern (foliage) is acknowledged as its national emblem. [101] The Kōwhai (Sophora spp., native trees with yellow cascading flowers) is usually regarded as the national flower. Other plant emblems are Koru (a curled fern symbol) and the crimson-flowered Pohutukawa ( Metrosideros excelsa ), also called New Zealand's Christmas tree.[ citation needed ]
The heilala ( Garcinia sessilis ) is Tonga's national flower. The name of Tonga's beauty pageant, the Heilala Festival, is taken from this flower. Resorts as well as consumer products are also often named after this flower, such as the Heilala Lodge and Heilala Vanilla. The flower is also used in Tonga for medicinal and ornamental purposes.[ citation needed ]
The national flower of Argentina is the flower of the ceibo tree (Erythrina crista-galli), also known as seibo or bucaré. [102]
Bolivia has two national flowers: the kantuta ( Cantua buxifolia ) and patujú ( Heliconia rostrata ). [103]
Brazil has no official national flower. It is popularly considered to be the flower of the golden trumpet tree ( Handroanthus chrysotrichus ; Portuguese : Ipê-amarelo) – so much so that multiple proposals have been put forth over the last 70 years to recognize it officially. However, for various reasons, none have ever been voted on by Congress to be ratified.
The national flower of Chile is the copihue (Lapageria rosea).[ citation needed ]
Cattleya trianae is the national flower of Colombia and is the orchid which flowers in May. The May flower was chosen because the colors are the same as those of the Colombian flag.[ citation needed ]
The national flower of Guyana is the Victoria regia lily (Victoria amazonica).[ citation needed ]
The national flower of Paraguay is Mburucuyá.[ citation needed ]
The national flower of Peru is the cantuta (also spelled kantuta or qantuta, from Quechua qantu). It can be found in the high valleys of the Andes in Peru and Bolivia.[ citation needed ]
Called faya lobi ("fiery love") in Sranantongo, the jungle geranium ( Ixora coccinea ) is commonly considered a symbol of Suriname.[ citation needed ]
The national flower of Uruguay is the flower of the ceibo tree (Erythrina crista-galli).[ citation needed ]
The national flower of Venezuela is the Flor de Mayo ( Cattleya mossiae ), an orchid.[ citation needed ]
Each of the four countries of the United Kingdom has a traditional floral emblem:
A county flower is a flowering plant chosen to symbolise a county. They exist primarily in the United Kingdom, but some counties in other countries also have them.
One or two county flowers have a long history in England – the red rose of Lancashire dates from the Middle Ages, for instance. However, the county flower concept was only extended to cover the whole United Kingdom in 2002, as a promotional tool by a charity. In that year, the plant conservation charity Plantlife ran a competition to choose county flowers for all counties, to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
Plantlife's scheme is loosely based on Britain's historic counties, and so some current local government areas are not represented by a flower, and some of the counties included no longer exist as administrative areas. Flowers were also chosen for thirteen major cities: Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Nottingham and Sheffield. The Isles of Scilly was also treated as a county (distinct from Cornwall) for the purpose of the scheme. The Isle of Man was included, even though it is not a county, but a self-governing territory outside of the United Kingdom with an existing national flower: the ragwort or cushag. [112] The Channel Islands were not included.
A total of 94 flowers were chosen in the competition. 85 of the 109 counties have a unique county flower, but several species were chosen by more than one county. Foxglove or Digitalis purpurea was chosen for four counties – Argyll, Birmingham, Leicestershire and Monmouthshire – more than any other species. The following species were chosen for three counties each:
And the following species were chosen for two counties:
In addition, Sticky Catchfly Lychnis viscaria was chosen for both Edinburgh and Midlothian, the county containing Edinburgh.
For most counties, native species were chosen, but for a small number of counties, non-natives were chosen, mainly archaeophytes.
No plant or flower seems to be among the current official symbols. [113] Some flowering plants from the area include Althaea armeniaca , Armenian Basket, Muscari armeniacum , Papaver lateritium , Armenian vartig (vargit), and Tulipa armena .
Azerbaijan currently has no official national flower. Traditionally, various regions have different designations where national symbols are concerned. The city of Shusha named the Khari Bulbul (Ophrys caucasica) the floral emblem of the Nagorno-Karabakh. [114]
The unofficial national flower of Belarus is wild blue flax, [52] Centaurea .
China currently has no official national flower. Traditionally, various regions have different designations where national symbols are concerned.
In 1903, the Qing dynasty named the peony (牡丹) the floral emblem of the nation. The peony has long been considered a flower of wealth and honor in China.[ citation needed ]
The puppet state Manchukuo followed Japan's model of dual floral emblems: the "spring orchid" (Cymbidium goeringii) for the Emperor and the imperial household, and the sorghum blossom (Sorghum bicolor) for the state and the nation.[ citation needed ]
The plum blossom, meihua (Chinese :梅花; pinyin :méihuā), has also been one of the most beloved flowers in Chinese culture. The Republic of China government named the plum blossom as the national flower in 1964. [37] The plum blossom is symbol for resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity, because plum blossoms often bloom most vibrantly even amidst the harsh winter snow. [37] [38] [39]
The People's Republic of China, which has controlled mainland China since 1949, has no official floral emblem. There have been several petitions in recent years to officially adopt one. However, the government has not taken any action yet. A poll in 2005 showed that 41% of the public supports peony as the national flower while 36% supported the plum blossom. [115] Some scholars have suggested that the peony and plum blossoms may be designated as dual national flowers. In addition, the orchid, jasmine, daffodil and chrysanthemum have also been held as possible floral symbols of China.
No flower has been officially declared as a national symbol. Unofficially the rose and the orchid are claimed to hold that title. [116]
Both Blue Egyptian Lotus and White Egyptian Lotus are regarded as Egypt's national flowers, and they appear in many Ancient Egyptian paintings and monuments.[ citation needed ]
While France does not have an official national flower, the fleur-de-lis, which was a symbol of the royal family, as well as the cornflower (blue), marguerite (white), and red poppy, which together represent the tri-colored national flag, are also generally treated as French national flowers.[ citation needed ]
In a 2018 public vote Vernonia djalonensis was voted as the national flower of Guinea, a decision which is currently awaiting government approval [117]
Italy doesn't have an official floral emblem, though the Lily lilium is commonly cited. Other less common options are the Rose and the White poppy. [118] [119]
Japan's national government has never formally named a national flower, as with other symbols such as the green pheasant, which was named as national bird by a non-government body in 1947. In 1999, the national flag and anthem were standardised by law.
A de facto national flower for Japan for many is the sakura (cherry blossom), while a stylised depiction of a Chrysanthemum morifolium is used as the official emblem of the imperial family (Imperial Seal of Japan). The Paulownia blossom was also used by the imperial family in the past, but has since been appropriated by the Prime Minister and the government in general (Government Seal of Japan).[ citation needed ]
While Vietnam does not have an official flower, four plants are traditional regarded as the four graceful plants, namely: the lotus, the pine, bamboo, and the chrysanthemum. [10] [120] The lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is generally regarded as the unofficial national flower of Vietnam, [121] as portrayed, for example, on their postage stamps. [122] In Vietnamese tradition, the lotus is regarded as the symbol of purity, commitment and optimism for the future. [10]
Nymphaeaceae is a family of flowering plants, commonly called water lilies. They live as rhizomatous aquatic herbs in temperate and tropical climates around the world. The family contains five genera with about 70 known species. Water lilies are rooted in soil in bodies of water, with leaves and flowers floating on or rising from the surface. Leaves are oval and heart-shaped in Barclaya. Leaves are round, with a radial notch in Nymphaea and Nuphar, but fully circular in Victoria and Euryale.
Dianthus caryophyllus, commonly known as carnation or clove pink, is a species of Dianthus native to the Mediterranean region. Its exact natural range is uncertain due to extensive cultivation over the last 2,000 years. Carnations are prized for their vibrant colors, delicate fringed petals, and enchanting fragrance.
The coat of arms of Prince Edward Island, officially the King's Arms in Right of Prince Edward Island, are the coat of arms of Prince Edward Island, being the arms of King Charles III in right of the province. They were created when the shield and motto in the achievement were granted in 1905 by royal warrant from King Edward VII. The latest iteration was given by the Canadian Heraldic Authority in 2002.
Prunus mume is a Chinese tree species classified in the Armeniaca section of the genus Prunus subgenus Prunus. Its common names include Chinese plum,Japanese plum, and Japanese apricot. The flower, long a beloved subject in the traditional painting and poetry of Sinospheric countries, is usually called plum blossom. This distinct tree species is related to both the plum and apricot trees. Although generally referred to as a plum in English, it is more closely related to the apricot. In East Asian cuisine, the fruit of the tree is used in juices, as a flavouring for alcohol, as a pickle, and in sauces. It is also used in traditional medicine.
Floristry is the production, commerce, and trade in flowers. It encompasses flower care and handling, floral design and arrangement, merchandising, production, display and flower delivery. Wholesale florists sell bulk flowers and related supplies to professionals in the trade. Retail florists offer fresh flowers and related products and services to consumers. The first flower shop in the United States opened prior to 1851.
Floriography is a means of cryptological communication through the use or arrangement of flowers. Meaning has been attributed to flowers for thousands of years, and some form of floriography has been practiced in traditional cultures throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Floral design or flower arrangement is the art of using plant material and flowers to create an eye-catching and balanced composition or display. Evidence of refined floral design is found as far back as the culture of ancient Egypt. Floral designs, called arrangements, incorporate the five elements and seven principles of floral design.
Nymphaea lotus, the white Egyptian lotus, tiger lotus, white lotus, or Egyptian water-lily, is a flowering plant of the family Nymphaeaceae.
Thistle is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterized by leaves with sharp prickles on the margins, mostly in the family Asteraceae. Prickles can also occur all over the plant – on the stem and on the flat parts of the leaves. These prickles protect the plant from herbivores. Typically, an involucre with a clasping shape similar to a cup or urn subtends each of a thistle's flower heads. The typically feathery pappus of a ripe thistle flower is known as thistle-down.
A flower bouquet is a collection of flowers in a creative arrangement. Flower bouquets can be arranged for the decor of homes or public buildings or may be handheld. Several popular shapes and styles classify handheld bouquets, including nosegay, crescent, and cascading bouquets. Flower bouquets are often given for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries or funerals. They are also used extensively in weddings and at the Olympic Medal Ceremonies. Bouquets arranged in vases or planters for home decor can be placed in traditional or modern styles. According to the culture, symbolism may be attached to the types of flowers used.
The National Emblem of the Republic of Korea, also officially referred as Naramunjang, consists of the taegeuk symbol present on the South Korean national flag surrounded by five stylized petals and a ribbon bearing the inscription of the official Korean name of the country, in Korean characters. The Taegeuk represents peace and harmony. The five petals all have meaning and are related to South Korea's national flower, the Hibiscus syriacus, or Rose of Sharon.
Various folk cultures and traditions assign symbolic meaning to the rose, though these are seldom understood in-depth. Examples of deeper meanings lie within the language of flowers, and how a rose may have a different meaning in arrangements. Examples of common meanings of different coloured roses are: true love (red), mystery (blue), innocence or purity (white), death (black), friendship (yellow), and passion (orange).
In Chinese art, the Four Gentlemen or Four Noble Ones, is a collective term referring to four plants: the plum blossom, the orchid, the bamboo, and the chrysanthemum. The term compares the four plants to Confucian junzi, or "gentlemen". They are commonly depicted in bird-and-flower paintings, a broad category of classical Chinese art, and they are particularly popular subjects for ink wash painting.
The national flower of the Republic of China was officially designated as the plum blossom by the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China on 21 July 1964. The plum blossom, known as the meihua, is a symbol for resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity, because plum blossoms often bloom most vibrantly even amidst the harsh winter snow. As the plum tree can usually grow for a long time, ancient trees are found throughout China. Huangmei county in Hubei features a 1,600-year-old plum tree from the Jin Dynasty which is still flowering. The three stamens represents Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People, while the five petals symbolize the five branches of the government: Executive Yuan, Legislative Yuan, Judicial Yuan, Examination Yuan and Control Yuan. The flower has also been proposed to be one of the national flowers for the People's Republic of China.
This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of Korea. Before a strict isolationist country, Korea began to open up in the second half of the 19th century.
The history of flower arrangement dates back to ancient Egyptian times.
The rainbow rose is a rose that has had its petals artificially colored. The method exploits the rose natural processes by which water is drawn up the stem. By splitting the stem and dipping each part in water with added dye in different colours, the colors are drawn into the petals resulting in a multicolored rose. With these changes to the rose, it causes them to not live as long as an uncolored rose. The colors are artificial. Besides roses, other cut flowers like the chrysanthemum, carnation, hydrangea, and some species of orchids can also be colored using the same method.
The Imperial Seal of Korea or Ihwamun was one of the symbols of the Korean Empire. It was originally the emblem of the royal family and was subsequently used for the coat of arms of the short-lived empire. The symbol features a plum blossom, also known as Maehwa, which signals the beginning of spring in Korea. Plum blossom was taken to symbolize courage in the face of hardship, especially in something so physically delicate, and has been long admired by the Korean and Chinese literature. As the Plum tree blossoms between two seasons, it is also seen as a symbol of spring - bringing warmth, transition and the promise of fruitfulness.
The Flowers of the Four Seasons are a traditional grouping of flowers found in Chinese culture that spread to and influenced other East Asian arts.
...Rose of Sharon is no longer the national flower, as in South Korea, but "mongnan" (magnolia). It is because [the rose of Sharon] cannot be grown for next generations with seeds, while [magnolia] can be.
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link), and again the flag and lotus are on the bicentennial issue Scot #3233, Scott Standard Stamp Catalogue 2008 page 1032