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.
National plants
Africa
Mauritius
The national flower of Mauritius is Ruizia boutoniana.
Nigeria
The national flower of Nigeria is Costus spectabilis which is commonly known as Yellow Trumpet.
Seychelles
The national flower of the Seychelles is the tropicbird orchid (known locally as orkid payanke), Angraecum eburneum.
South Africa
The national flower of South Africa is the King Protea, Protea cynaroides.
Tunisia
The national flower of Tunisia is jasmine. It was chosen as a symbol for the 2010 Tunisian Revolution.
Asia
Bangladesh
The national flower of Bangladesh is the water lily Nymphaea nouchali. It is called Shapla (শাপলা) in the Bengali language.
Bhutan
The national flower of Bhutan is the blue poppy. Previously misidentified as the non-native Meconopsis grandis, national flower of Bhutan was identified in 2017 as Meconopsis gakyidiana, a new distinct species.
Brunei
The national flower of Brunei is Simpoh Ayer (Dillenia suffruticosa).
Cambodia
Cambodia formally adopted the romduol () as its national flower in the year 2005 by a royal decree. The royal decree designates the taxon as Mitrella mesnyi, however, this is a taxonomically illegitimate synonym for Sphaerocoryne affinis.
Hong Kong
The symbolic flower of Hong Kong is the Hong Kong orchid tree ("洋紫荊"), Bauhinia blakeana.
India
The national flower of India is the lotus flower (Nelumbo nucifera). It is a sacred flower and occupies a unique position in the art and mythology of ancient India and has been an auspicious symbol of Indian culture since time immemorial.
Indonesia
There are three types of floral emblems used to symbolize Indonesia: The puspa bangsa ("national flower") of Indonesia is melati (Jasminum sambac). The puspa pesona ("flower of charm") is anggrek bulan or moon orchid (Phalaenopsis amabilis). The puspa langka ("rare flower") is padma raksasa rafflesia (Rafflesia arnoldii).
All three were chosen on World Environment Day in 1990, and enforced by law through Presidential Decree (Keputusan Presiden) No. 4 1993, 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.
Iran
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).
Israel
The national flower of Israel is the poppy anemone (Anemone coronaria; calanit metzuya in Hebrew), chosen in 2013 to replace Cyclamen persicum.
Jordan
The national flower of Jordan is Black iris (Iris nigricans).
Laos
The national flower of Laos is the plumeria (champa), despite it no longer being endemic.
Malaysia
The national flower of Malaysia is the bunga raya (Chinese hibiscus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis).
Maldives
The national flower of the Maldives is the pink polyantha rose (Rosa polyantha), called fiyaathoshi finifenmaa.
Mongolia
The national flower of Mongolia is Scabiosa comosa (, ber tsetseg).
Myanmar
The national flower of Myanmar is Pterocarpus indicus (paduak).
Nepal
The national flower of Nepal is the rhododendron.