National flowers and floral emblems

What it is

A floral emblem is a plant used as a badge. India's is the lotus, sacred in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain tradition. South Africa's is the king protea, the largest flower head in its genus. Mexico chose the dahlia, which is native there. Australia's is the golden wattle, Malaysia's the red hibiscus called bunga raya, South Korea's the rose of Sharon, known as mugunghwa. Singapore chose a hybrid orchid first found in a local garden. Japan has no official flower, though cherry blossom and chrysanthemum both serve.

Where it comes from

The oldest emblems are heraldic. The Tudor rose of England joined the red and white roses of two rival houses after the wars of the fifteenth century. The thistle of Scotland and the fleur-de-lis of the French crown are older still. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries new nations and their provinces and states picked flowers as part of building an identity, often after public votes or campaigns by schoolchildren and garden clubs. Native plants were usually preferred over imported garden favourites.

How it is used

Emblems appear on money, stamps and uniforms, and they shape what is planted in public parks. They also guide official giving. A visiting head of state may receive the host's flower, or have a new orchid hybrid named after them, as Singapore does. Sports teams take their names from them: the Proteas in South African cricket, the wattle's green and gold for Australia. Many countries add a national tree and regional flowers, so one place can have several emblems.

How to take part

1. Look up the flower of the country or state you are visiting, then find it in a botanic garden or in the wild.
2. Check whether the emblem is official or customary. Sources often disagree.
3. If you plan to grow one at home, check that it is not an invasive plant where you live.

Good manners

• Do not pick wild emblem plants. Many are protected by law.
• Treat national symbols with respect. Some countries have rules on how their emblems may be shown.

The flowers

Sacred lotusThe pink aquatic flower sacred in Asia and grown for food, worship and beautyDahliaA bushy perennial with tuberous roots and bright, star-shaped bloomsCherry blossomThe spring-blooming flower of ornamental cherry trees, central to Japan’s hanami custom

Also part of it, and being written: Protea cynaroides, Acacia pycnantha, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Hibiscus syriacus, Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim.

Sources and further reading

• Floral emblem on Wikipedia