This blog post will discuss the national flowers of the Philippines and Malaysia or the Sampaguita and Hibiscus, the two flowers that inspired the design of our Flower Crown.
Did you know that when a country chooses its national flower they choose one that they feel most represents their culture and people? Such was the case when the Sampaguita was chosen as the Philippines' national flower in 1934 and the Hibiscus was selected as Malaysia's national flower in 1960.
The Sampaguita first became the Philippines' national flower in 1934
Associated with love and devotion, the Sampaguita was also selected as a representation of purity and fidelity. While it was declared the national flower in 1934, it had actually been imported into the Philippines since the 1700s. It is also referred to as the Arabian Jasmine and belongs to a family of three other Jasmine types. Unlike most flowers, the Sampaguita blooms at night and wilts during the day! One can find the Sampaguita in special and religious ceremonies throughout the Philippines. Fun fact, Indonesia also celebrates the Sampaguita as one of its 3 national flowers!
Malaysia selected the Hibiscus for its bright red color, believed to signify courage and the unity of all Malaysian people
A popular flower across Asia and the Pacific Islands, Malaysia's national flower is a red Hibiscus. The red color of the petals symbolize courage, life, and rapid growth of the Malaysian people. The Malaysian Hibiscus is generally portrayed with five petals as the five petals represent the 5 principles of Rukun Negara or the "National Principles". The National Principles were adopted after a civil riot in 1969 and provide 5 principles for all Malaysians to observe as a philosophy for national unity.
Our Flower Crown proudly and prominently displays the coupling of the Sampaguita and Hibiscus, translating to the message of friendship, connection, unity, and love.