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.

Contents 1 Americas 1.1 Antigua & Barbuda 1.2 Argentina 1.3 The Bahamas 1.4 Barbados 1.5 Belize 1.6 Bolivia 1.7 Brazil 1.8 Canada 1.8.1 Yukon 1.8.2 Alberta 1.8.3 Manitoba 1.8.4 Nova Scotia 1.8.5 Ontario 1.8.6 Prince Edward Island 1.8.7 Quebec 1.8.8 Newfoundland and Labrador 1.9 Chile 1.10 Colombia 1.11 Costa Rica 1.12 Dominica 1.13 Dominican Republic 1.14 Ecuador 1.15 El Salvador 1.16 Guatemala 1.17 Guyana 1.18 Honduras 1.19 Jamaica 1.20 Malta 1.21 Mexico 1.22 Nicaragua 1.23 Panama 1.24 Peru 1.25 Saint Kitts and Nevis 1.26 Trinidad and Tobago 1.27 United States 1.28 Uruguay 1.29 Venezuela 2 Africa 2.1 Egypt 2.2 Ethiopia 2.3 Nigeria 2.4 South Africa 2.5 Zimbabwe 3 Asia 3.1 Bangladesh 3.2 Kingdom of Bhutan 3.3 Brunei 3.4 Cambodia 3.5 People's Republic of China 3.5.1 Hong Kong 3.5.2 Macau 3.6 Republic of India 3.7 Indonesia 3.8 Iran 3.9 Iraq 3.10 Israel 3.11 Jordan 3.12 Japan 3.13 North Korea 3.14 South Korea 3.15 Kuwait 3.16 Laos 3.17 Malaysia 3.18 Maldives 3.19 Myanmar 3.20 Nepal 3.21 Pakistan 3.21.1 Provincial floral emblem of Pakistan 3.21.2 Palestine 3.22 The Philippines 3.23 Singapore 3.24 Sri Lanka 3.25 Republic of China (Taiwan) 3.26 Thailand 3.27 Vietnam 4 Australasia and Oceania 4.1 Australia 4.1.1 State flowers of Australia 4.1.2 Australian Capital Territory 4.1.3 New South Wales 4.1.4 Northern Territory 4.1.5 Queensland 4.1.6 South Australia 4.1.7 Tasmania 4.1.8 Victoria 4.1.9 Western Australia 4.2 New Zealand 5 Eurasia 5.1 Armenia 5.2 Russia 5.3 Soviet Union 6 Europe 6.1 Albania 6.2 Austria 6.3 Belarus 6.4 Bosnia and Herzegovina 6.5 Bulgaria 6.6 Croatia 6.7 Cyprus 6.8 Denmark 6.9 Estonia 6.10 Finland 6.11 France 6.12 Germany 6.13 Greece 6.14 Iceland 6.15 Ireland 6.15.1 County flowers in Ireland 6.16 Italy 6.17 Macedonia 6.18 Malta 6.19 The Netherlands 6.20 Norway 6.20.1 County Flowers of Norway 6.21 Poland 6.22 Portugal 6.23 Romania 6.24 Russia 6.25 Serbia 6.26 Slovakia 6.27 Slovenia 6.28 Spain 6.29 Sweden 6.29.1 Province flowers of Sweden 6.30 Switzerland 6.31 Turkey 6.32 Ukraine 6.33 United Kingdom 6.33.1 County flowers in the United Kingdom 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Americas

[edit] Antigua & Barbuda

The national flower of Antigua & Barbuda is Agave karatto, also known as Dagger Log or Batta Log.^[1]

[edit] Argentina

The national flower of Argentina is the flower of the ceibo tree, also known as seibo or bucaré (Erythrina crista-galli)^[2]

[edit] The Bahamas

The national flower of The Bahamas is the Yellow Elder (Tecoma stans).^[3]

[edit] Barbados

The national flower of Barbados is the known locally as the Pride of Barbados (Caesalpinia pulcherrima).^[4]

[edit] Belize

The national flower of Belize is the Black Orchid (Prosthechea cochleata)^[5]

[edit] Bolivia

Bolivian national flowers are Kantuta (Catua buxifolia) and patujú (Heliconia rostrata)

[edit] Brazil

The nation flower of Brazil is the Tabebuia alba flower.

[edit] Canada

The maple leaf is widely used as a symbol for Canada. Many Canadian flags and coat 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. The Coat of Arms of Nova Scotia has the trailing arbutus or mayflower, the floral emblem of Nova Scotia, added when the arms were reassumed in 1929.

[edit] Yukon

• Yukon - Fireweed

[edit] Alberta

• Alberta - Wild Rose^[6]

[edit] Manitoba

• Manitoba - Prairie Crocus

[edit] Nova Scotia

• Nova Scotia - Mayflower

[edit] Ontario

• Ontario - Trillium

[edit] Prince Edward Island

• Prince Edward Island - Lady's Slipper

[edit] Quebec

• Quebec – Iris versicolor, Madonna lily (until 1999 but still on the flag), Maple Leaf

[edit] Newfoundland and Labrador

The Pitcher Plant was officially declared as the provincial flower in 1954 but appeared on the colony's coinage as early as the 1880s. It can be found in the marshlands of the province feeding on insects that fall into its leaves and drown.

[edit] Chile

• Chile – Copihue

[edit] Colombia

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.

[edit] Costa Rica

• Costa Rica - "Guaria morada", Guarianthe skinneri

[edit] Dominica

• Dominica - Caribwood or Bois Kwaib (Poitea carinalis)

[edit] Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic's national flower is the Caoba (Swietenia mahagoni) or Mahogany tree flower.

[edit] Ecuador

Ecuador's national flower is the Chuquiraga jussieui

[edit] El Salvador

The national flower of El Salvador is Flor de Izote

[edit] Guatemala

• Monja Blanca, (White Lycaste skinneri)

[edit] Guyana

• Guyana - Victoria regia lily

[edit] Honduras

• Honduras - "Orquídea Brassavola", Rhyncholaelia digbyana

[edit] Jamaica

• Jamaica – Lignum Vitae (Guiacum officinale)^[7]

[edit] Malta

• Malta - Widnet il-Baħar

[edit] Mexico

• Mexico – Dahlia

[edit] Nicaragua

Nicaragua's national flower is the Sancuanjoche (Plumeria rubra var alba), and was declared the country's national flower on August 17, 1971. Its name is derived from Nicarao, the name of the Nahuatl-speaking tribe which inhabited Nicaragua; "xacuan"(sacuan) means beautiful yellow petals and "xochilt"(joche) means flower. The flower can be found in the Masaya Volcano National Park among other places.

Nicaragua and Laos share the same national flower under different local names. In Laos it is named "Champa".

[edit] Panama

Panama's national flower is the Holy Ghost Orchid or La Flor del Espiritu Santo (Peristeria elata). It is best known for its ivory color petals.

[edit] Peru

The national flower of Peru is the Cantuta (often spelled Kantuta or Qantuta, from Quechua qantu)(cantua buxifolia). It can be found at the high valleys of the Andean territory, in Peru and Bolivia.

[edit] Saint Kitts and Nevis

• Saint Kitts and Nevis - Red Royal Poinciana

[edit] Trinidad and Tobago

• Trinidad and Tobago - Chaconia(Warszewiczia coccinea)

[edit] United States

In 1986 President Ronald Reagan signed legislation to make the rose the floral emblem of the United States.^[8] In the United States, state flowers and state trees have been adopted as symbols by state legislatures. Lewis Mumford remarked “Our national flower is the concrete cloverleaf.”

[edit] Uruguay

• Uruguay – Ceibo

[edit] Venezuela

• Venezuela – "Flor de Mayo" (Cattleya mossiae) (orchid)

[edit] Africa

[edit] Egypt

• Egypt – lady slipper

[edit] Ethiopia

• Ethiopia - Calla lily

[edit] Nigeria

• Nigeria - Costus spectabilis

[edit] South Africa

• South Africa – King protea

[edit] Zimbabwe

• Zimbabwe – Flame lily

[edit] Asia

[edit] Bangladesh

The national flower and national emblem of Bangladesh is the shapla (Nymphaea pubescens)^[9] See also: National Emblem of Bangladesh.

[edit] Kingdom of Bhutan

• Bhutan - Blue poppy (Meconopsis grandis)

[edit] Brunei

• Brunei – Simpor (Dillenia suffruticosa)^[10]

[edit] Cambodia

• Cambodia – Romduol (Mitrella mesnyi^[10]) or Melodorum fruticosum (flower), "Chicken-egg banana" (fruit)^[11]

[edit] People's Republic of China

The floral emblem of China is usually the Rock's Peony (unofficial) or peony, also Sunflower (obsolete), plum blossom, and Chrysanthemum.

[edit] Hong Kong

Bauhinia blakeana, a native species discovered in Hong Kong, is the floral emblem of Hong Kong. It was chosen as the logo of the Urban Council in 1965. It was later incorporated in the flag and emblem of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China after the 1997 handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China.

[edit] Macau

The flower presenting Macau is lotus.

[edit] Republic of India

The flower of India is the Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera). This is due to the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi as she is often seen standing inside a Lotus and Mango (National Fruit).^[12]

[edit] Indonesia

The national flowers of Indonesia are Melati (Jasminum sambac), Moon Orchid (Phalaenopsis amabilis^[10]), Rafflesia arnoldii and Titan arum

[edit] Iran

• Iran – Tulip (depicted on the Flag of Iran)

[edit] Iraq

• Iraq – Rose

[edit] Israel

• Israel - Cyclamen (Rakefet רקפת in Hebrew)

[edit] Jordan

• Jordan – Black iris (Iris chrysographes)

[edit] Japan

Japan's national government has never formally named a "national flower." (The green pheasant was named as national bird [by a non-government body] in 1947, but it wasn't until 1999 that the national flag and national anthem were officially passed into law.) Many consider the national flower of Japan to be the 'Japanese Flowering Cherry' or Cherry blossom, while a stylized picture of a chrysanthemum is used as the official seal of the Japanese Imperial Family. (See picture.)

[edit] North Korea

• Magnolia, Nonazhreea makenna Mamariaia

[edit] South Korea

• South Korea – Hibiscus syriacus (Rose of Sharon)

[edit] Kuwait

• Kuwait – Rhanterium epapposum

[edit] Laos

Laos national flower is the Plumeria (champa)^[10].

[edit] Malaysia

The national flower of Malaysia is the Chinese Hibiscus or bunga raya (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis).^[10][13] Kedah ( pokok temucut ) The state flower for the state of Sarawak in eastern Malaysia is Phalaenopsis bellina.

[edit] Maldives

• Maldives – Fiyaathoshi Finifenmaa, Pink Rose (Rose Polyantha) ^[14]

[edit] Myanmar

• Myanmar – Pterocarpus indicus (paduak)^[10]

[edit] Nepal

• Nepal – Rhododendron

[edit] Pakistan

The floral emblem are the National symbols of the country constituting the nation-state such as the Poet's Jasmine (National flower of Pakistan) and Rhododendron the (State flower) and the Chinar (State tree) in the Regional state of Jammu and Kashmir (disputed territory), Deodar (National tree of Pakistan), Mango (National fruit of Pakistan),

[edit] Provincial floral emblem of Pakistan

The Provincial floral emblems of Pakistan are the symbols of the four constituting provinces of the nation-state.

• Islamabad Capital Territory - Common fig (Territorial tree) and the Rose (Territorial flower)
• Balochistan (Pakistan) - Date palm (Provincial tree) and Ephedra (genus) (Provincial flower)
• North-West Frontier Province - Juniperus squamata (Provincial tree) and Morina (Provincial flower)
• Punjab (Pakistan) - Pomegranate (Provincial tree) and Justicia adhatoda (Provincial flower)
• Sindh - Capparis decidua (Provincial tree) and Water hyacinth (Provincial flower)

Also See: National Emblem of Pakistan.^[15]

[edit] Palestine

The flower representing Palestine is yet to be finalised.

[edit] The Philippines

• Philippines – sampaguita (Arabian jasmine, Jasminum sambac)^[10]

[edit] Singapore

The national flower for Singapore is the orchid Vanda Miss Joaquim

[edit] Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka - Nil Mānel, Star lotus (Nymphaea nouchali).^[16][17] Since "Nil" means ‘blue’ in Sinhala, the Sinhalese name of this plant is often rendered as "blue lotus" in English.

This beautiful aquatic flower appears in the Sigiriya frescoes and has been mentioned in Sanskrit, Pali and Sinhala literary works since ancient times under the names "Kuvalaya", "Indhīwara", "Niluppala", "Nilothpala" and "Nilupul" as a symbol of virtue, discipline and purity. Buddhist lore in Sri Lanka claims that this flower was one of the 108 auspicious signs found on Prince Siddhartha's footprint.^[18]

[edit] Republic of China (Taiwan)

The national flower for the Republic of China is the Plum Blossom.

[edit] Thailand

The national flower for Thailand is Golden Shower Tree, locally called dok khuen or Rachapruek^[10]

[edit] Vietnam

• Vietnam – Red lotus ^[10]

[edit] Australasia and Oceania

[edit] Australia

The floral emblem of Australia is the Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha).

[edit] State flowers of Australia

[edit] Australian Capital Territory

• Australian Capital Territory - Royal Bluebell Wahlenbergia gloriosa

[edit] New South Wales

• New South Wales - New South Wales Waratah Telopea speciosissima

[edit] Northern Territory

• Northern Territory - Sturt's Desert Rose Gossypium sturtianum

[edit] Queensland

• Queensland - Cooktown Orchid Dendrobium phalaenopsis

[edit] South Australia

• South Australia - Sturt's Desert Pea Swainsona formosa

[edit] Tasmania

• Tasmania - Tasmanian Blue Gum Eucalyptus globulus

[edit] Victoria

• Victoria – Pink (Common) Heath Epacris impressa

[edit] Western Australia

• Western Australia – Red and Green Kangaroo Paw Anigozanthos manglesii

[edit] New Zealand

The "Silver Fern" (foliage) is acknowledged as a national emblem in New Zealand. Other plant emblems are: Koru (a curled fern symbol) and Kowhai (a native tree with yellow cascading flowers).

[edit] Eurasia

[edit] Armenia

• Armenia – Apricot (Prunus Armeniaca) and Pomegranate, which symbolizes fertility in Armenian belief.

[edit] Russia

• Russia – Camomile.

[edit] Soviet Union

• Soviet Union – Carnation

[edit] Europe

[edit] Albania

The floral emblem of Albania is the red and black poppy. The poppy can be found everywhere in this Mediterranean country, and are recognized for their beauty, medicinal value, and seeds.

[edit] Austria

• Austria - Alpine gentian (German: Enzian), edelweiss

[edit] Belarus

• Belarus - Centaurea (unofficial)

[edit] Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Bosnia and Herzegovina - Lilium bosniacum

[edit] Bulgaria

• Bulgaria – rose

[edit] Croatia

• Croatia – Iris croatica

[edit] Cyprus

• Cyprus – Cyprus cyclamen

[edit] Denmark

• Denmark – Red clover

[edit] Estonia

• Estonia - cornflower

[edit] Finland

• Finland – Lily of the valley, white rose

[edit] France

• France – Fleur de lis (iris)

[edit] Germany

• Germany – Cornflower, oak

[edit] Greece

• Greece - Laurel branch, violet

[edit] Iceland

• Iceland – White Dryas (Dryas octopetala) ^[19]

[edit] Ireland

• The shamrock (or trefoil) is widely used as an unofficial symbol for Ireland.

[edit] County flowers in Ireland

• Bog-rosemary is the county flower of County Offaly [3]

[edit] Italy

• Italy - Cyclamen

[edit] Macedonia

• Republic of Macedonia - Poppy

[edit] Malta

• Malta – Maltese Rock Centaury

[edit] The Netherlands

• Netherlands – Tulip (unofficial)

[edit] Norway

• Norway – Heather–^{[disambiguation needed]} Saxifraga cotyledon

[edit] County Flowers of Norway

• Lily-of-the-valley was chosen as the county flower of Østfold [4]
• Globe flower is the county flower of Troms [5]

[edit] Poland

• Poland – Corn poppy

[edit] Portugal

• Portugal - Lavender, Olive leaves, Cork Oak, Red Carnation, Sunflower and Blue-White Hydrangea

[edit] Romania

• Romania - Dog Rose, Edelweiss, Romanian Peony

[edit] Russia

• Russia - Chamomile

[edit] Serbia

• Serbia – Plum, Syringa

[edit] Slovakia

• Slovakia - Tilia cordata

[edit] Slovenia

• Slovenia – Carnation^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Spain

• Spain – Carnation

The national flower of Spain is considered to be the carnation, in Spanish clavel. Essentially it's associated with Spanish folklore, especially from southern Spain, or Andalusia.

In any case, it's not only related to the more seedy side of Spain, like gipsy's lapels or thrown into the bullringruedos, but it's also associated with Renacentist a symbol of affection between lovers^[20] and especially as a religious symbol related to the Jesus passion that represents the Crown of Thorns (Clavos de Cristo).

It comes from the catalan language word for clove: "clavell" because the carnation also has a nice fragrant aroma, as does this spice.

In Spain and America it symbolizes passion, and it's a very expressive gesture to bite its stem and hold the clavel between one's teeth. In the Spanish language of flowers represents caprice, passion, wish and desire.

[edit] Sweden

Sweden has no national floral emblem, however, each of the traditional provinces has a province flower.

[edit] Province flowers of Sweden

[edit] Switzerland

• Switzerland – Edelweiss, alpenrose (Rhododendron ferrugineum), alpine gentian (Gentiana alpina)

[edit] Turkey

• Turkey – Tulip

[edit] Ukraine

• Ukraine – Sunflower

[edit] United Kingdom

Each of the constituent countries of the United Kingdom has a traditional national floral symbol. In England this is officially the Tudor rose^[21] or unofficially the red rose; in Northern Ireland the flax, orange lily, or shamrock; in Scotland the thistle, Scottish bluebell (harebell) or heather; and in Wales the daffodil, leek or sessile oak.

[edit] County flowers in the United Kingdom

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, but not the Channel Islands.

A total of 94 flowers was 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:

• Bog Rosemary Andromeda polifolia (Cardiganshire, Kirkcudbright and Tyrone)
• Cowslip Primula veris (Northamptonshire, Surrey and Worcestershire)
• Harebell Campanula rotundifolia (Antrim, Dumfriesshire and Yorkshire)
• Thrift Armeria maritima (Buteshire, Pembrokeshire and the Isles of Scilly)

And the following species were chosen for two counties:

• Grass-of-parnassus Parnassia palustris (Cumberland and Sutherland)
• Pasqueflower Pulsatilla vulgaris (Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire)
• Common Poppy Papaver rhoeas (Essex and Norfolk)

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.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Plantlife County flowers page
• BBC coverage of the county flowers competition
• Provincial Floral Emblems of Canada
• National Flowers
• List Of National Flowers by Country