🇹🇭 The flowers of Thailand
30 pages from Thailand: its flowers, the things made with them and the places to see them, across 18 cities and regions.
Thailand is home to a rich and varied plant life, shaped by its tropical climate and diverse landscapes. Its flora includes a remarkable range of flowering plants, from orchids and water lilies to tropical trees and palms. Thailand is especially known for its orchids and the diversity of its native plant families.
- Thailand’s flora includes hundreds of plant families.
- Orchids are especially diverse and well known in Thailand.
- Both tropical and temperate plants grow in different regions.
- The Flora of Thailand project began in the 1970s.
The plant life of Thailand
Thailand’s plant life is shaped by its tropical climate and varied geography, supporting a wide range of vegetation. The country’s flora includes both ancient plant families and modern flowering plants, with representatives from nearly every major group of vascular plants. Orchids, palms, ferns, and flowering trees are all well represented. The ongoing Flora of Thailand project has catalogued hundreds of plant families, reflecting the country’s botanical richness. The diversity is further highlighted by the presence of both lowland tropical species and plants adapted to higher elevations.
From region to region in Thailand
The flora changes across Thailand’s landscapes. Coastal areas and river plains support aquatic plants and mangroves, while the mountains in the north and west are home to temperate species and unique ferns. Tropical rainforests in the south and east feature palms, orchids, and a variety of flowering trees. Dry forests and open woodlands in the central and northeastern regions host drought-tolerant species. This regional variation adds to the country’s overall plant diversity.
Flowers to know in Thailand
Thailand is especially known for its orchids, with many species native to its forests. Water lilies and lotuses are also common in wetlands and ponds. The country’s flora includes many tropical tree families, such as Dipterocarpaceae, and palms from the Arecaceae family. The Flora of Thailand project has documented rare and unique plant families, including carnivorous plants like those in the Droseraceae and aquatic species in the Nymphaeaceae (water lilies).
The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Flora of Thailand", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
Flower experiences in Thailand
🇹🇭 Bangkok · All yearPak Khlong Talat by nightBangkok's round-the-clock flower market near the river, at its fullest after dark.
🇹🇭 Bangkok · All yearThread a phuang malai garlandA short class in the Thai craft of threading jasmine and other flowers into offering garlands.
🇹🇭 Pattaya · All yearNong Nooch Tropical GardenA very large private botanical garden near Pattaya, known for palms, cycads and orchids.
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai · Jan to DecMon Cham in the cool seasonA ridge-top viewpoint in Mae Rim with terraced vegetable and flower plots and cool mountain air.
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai · Jan to DecWild Himalayan cherry on Doi InthanonPink cherry trees and royal flower gardens on Thailand's highest mountain.
🇹🇭 Chaiyaphum · Jun to AugSiam tulip fields of ChaiyaphumIn the early rains, pink wild flowers called krachiao cover forest clearings in north-east Thailand.
JasmineJasminum
A group of fragrant shrubs and vines with white or yellow star-shaped flowers
🇵🇰 Pakistan and 7 more · Wildflower
BaelAegle marmelos
A spiny tree with fragrant yellow-green flowers and hard-shelled aromatic fruit
🇮🇳 India and 6 more · Flowering tree
Ylang-ylangCananga odorata
A tropical tree with highly fragrant yellow flowers used for perfume and decoration
🇻🇳 Vietnam and 8 more · Flowering tree
Holy basilOcimum tenuiflorum
A fragrant herb central to Hindu worship and Southeast Asian cooking
🇲🇲 Myanmar and 6 more · Herb or useful flower
German irisIris × germanica
A tall, rhizome-rooted iris with showy bearded blooms in many colours
🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Garden flower
Place
Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden
Thailand’s largest botanical garden with year-round displays and orchid breeding
Chiang Mai, 🇹🇭 Thailand · Botanical garden
Place
Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Gardenสวนนงนุชพัทยา
A vast tropical garden and plant collection near Pattaya, Thailand
Pattaya, 🇹🇭 Thailand · Botanical garden
Arabian jasmineJasminum sambac
A small white jasmine with a strong, sweet scent, treasured in Asia for garlands and ceremonies
🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Flowering shrub
Rafflesia
The giant parasitic flower that smells of rotting flesh
🇲🇾 Malaysia and 5 more · Wildflower
Saraca indica
Evergreen tree with orange to red flower clusters from Southeast Asia
🇲🇲 Myanmar and 3 more · Flowering tree
Rafflesia arnoldii
The world’s largest single flower, famous for its strong scent of decay
🇮🇩 Indonesia and 3 more · Wildflower
NarraPterocarpus indicus
Tall tropical tree with yellow flowers and prized rose-scented wood
🇵🇭 Philippines and 7 more · Flowering tree
Sphaerocoryne lefevreiរំដួល
A fragrant Southeast Asian tree with cream to yellow blossoms
🇰🇭 Cambodia and 3 more · Wildflower
Rhynchostylis giganteaকপৌফুল
A fragrant orchid with dense, foxtail-like flower spikes from Southeast Asia
🇵🇭 Philippines and 7 more · Wildflower
Yellow cotton treeCochlospermum regium
A small tree with vivid yellow flowers from South America's tropical savanna
🇧🇷 Brazil and 3 more · Flowering tree
Rhododendron simsii杜鵑
A shrub from East Asia with flowers in shades from white to deep red
🇨🇳 China and 2 more · Flowering shrub
Place
Phu Hin Rong Kla National Parkอุทยานแห่งชาติภูหินร่องกล้า
A cool, mountainous national park in northern Thailand with forests and waterfalls
Loei, 🇹🇭 Thailand · Bloom site
Philippine violetBarleria cristata
A small shrub with violet, pink, or white funnel-shaped flowers
🇨🇳 China and 5 more · Flowering shrub
Decoration
Phuang malaiพวงมาลัย
Thai floral garlands made for offerings, gifts, and ceremonies
🇹🇭 Thailand · Garland or wreath
Spanish cherryMimusops elengi
A fragrant evergreen tree with cream flowers and edible fruit
🇮🇳 India and 7 more · Flowering tree
Ceylon ironwoodMesua ferrea
A slow-growing tree with drooping red leaves and large white scented blooms
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka and 6 more · Flowering tree
Decoration
Kolamகோலம்
South Indian geometric floor art made with rice flour or powder at home entrances
🇮🇳 India and 5 more · Carpet or floor pattern
Star jasmineJasminum multiflorum
A white, scentless jasmine used in Indian weddings and worship
🇮🇳 India and 6 more · Wildflower
Decoration
Loy Krathongลอยกระทง
The Thai festival of floating candle-lit baskets on water
🇹🇭 Thailand and 7 more · Custom, November
Place
Doi Inthanon National Parkอุทยานแห่งชาติดอยอินทนนท์
Thailand’s highest mountain and waterfalls in a northern national park
Chiang Mai, 🇹🇭 Thailand · Bloom site
Lycoris
Bulb flowers of Asia, known for their bright blooms and leafless stems
🇨🇳 China and 6 more · Wildflower
Decoration
Double Ninth Festival重陽節
A day for mountain walks, chrysanthemums, and honoring ancestors in East Asia
🇨🇳 China and 5 more · Custom, Sep to Oct
Decoration
Songkranสงกรานต์
The Thai New Year marked by water rituals and festive gatherings in April
🇹🇭 Thailand · Custom, April
Crown of thornsEuphorbia milii
A spiny flowering shrub with red, pink, or white bracts, native to Madagascar
🇲🇬 Madagascar and 5 more · Wildflower
Decoration
Vesak
The Buddhist festival marking the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and passing
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka and 7 more · Custom, Apr to Jun
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Bael: Asit K. Ghosh Thaumaturgist, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Jasmine: HelenOnline, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Star jasmine: Atamari, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Philippine violet: J.M.Garg, CC BY 3.0, source
- German iris: Za, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden: User:Amada44, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Rafflesia: Maizal, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Saraca indica: Linnaeus, CC0, source
- Rafflesia arnoldii: LukeTriton, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Narra: Ping an Chang, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Sphaerocoryne lefevrei: ទេព សុវិចិត្រ at Khmer Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Rhynchostylis gigantea: Lars.Kurth, Public domain, source
- Yellow cotton tree: Biodiversity Heritage Library, CC BY 2.0, source
- Rhododendron simsii: Daderot, Public domain, source
- Phuang malai: Deror Avi, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Spanish cherry: Wibowo Djatmiko ( Wie146 ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Ceylon ironwood: Anand Osuri, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Holy basil: Shashidhara halady, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Arabian jasmine: Taken by Fanghong, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Ylang-ylang: User:B.navez, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Kolam: mckaysavage, CC BY 2.0, source
- Loy Krathong: John Shedrick, CC BY 2.0, source
- Songkran: ผู้สร้างสรรค์ผลงาน/ส่งข้อมูลเก็บในคลังข้อมูลเสรีวิกิมีเดียคอมมอนส์ - เ, CC BY 3.0, source
- Crown of thorns: Ezra Katz, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Vesak: ผู้สร้างสรรค์ผลงาน/ส่งข้อมูลเก็บในคลังข้อมูลเสรีวิกิมีเดียคอมมอนส์ - เ, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Lycoris: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Doi Inthanon National Park: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, source
- Double Ninth Festival: Sgerbic, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Pak Khlong Talat Bangkok: Sry85, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Mon Cham Chiang Mai: Hdamm, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Doi Inthanon Wild Himalayan Cherry: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source