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8 Facts about the Philippines’ National Flower

Most Filipinos first became acquainted with the dainty Sampaguita as children, either from reading about it in Social Science books or from watching their mothers and grandmothers come home with fresh strings of Sampaguita blooms. Yes, it’s the national flower of the Philippines, and yes, it’s small and white. But did you know that the Philippines isn’t the only country that has adopted the Sampaguita as its national flower? Or have you heard of the plant’s heartbreaking origin story? Check out the eight facts listed below.   

1. The Sampaguita first became the National Flower of the Philippines in 1934. The Philippine government elevated the little flower to its current status when then-Governor General Frank Murphy issued Proclamation No. 652. Interestingly, though, the Sampaguita has been cultivated on Philippine soil since the 17th century, being imported from the Himalayas.

2. The flower is also known as the Philippine Jasmine or Arabian Jasmine. In contrast to the common jasmine which grows in bushes, the Sampaguita grows as a woody vine or a semi-climbing shrub.

3. It’s also one of the three national flowers of our Southeast Asian neighbor Indonesia. Furthermore, several more countries in South Asia consider the Sampaguita as the flower of love.

4. The Sampaguita comes in three major varieties, all with rather elegant names. The Maid of Orleans features single flowers with five rounded petals, the long-petaled Belle of India can have single and double flowers on the same plant, and the Grand Duke of Tuscany grows its flowers in clusters and even has side flowers shaped like tiny roses. A fourth variety, the Mysore Mulli, is a variation of the Belle of India.

5. Sampaguita flowers do not produce seeds. How is the plant still so widely cultivated, then? It has to be grown from cuttings.

6. Aside from love, the Sampaguita is also associated with devotion, purity, fidelity, and divine hope, just as how roses and peonies symbolize romance. As such, the flower is used in teas, weddings, and religious offerings throughout Asia. Vendors commonly string petals and blooms into necklaces to sell. In Indonesia in particular, Sampaguita necklaces are exchanged as an expression of love with the intention of marriage.

7. The flower’s name is believed to come from the phrase “sumpa kita.” Legend has it that once upon a time, a young princess named Lakambini inherited the throne from her deceased father. She lacked ruling experience, however, and so received assistance from Lakan Galing, a kind prince from a neighboring kingdom. The two fell in love. One night, on a hill facing the sea, the prince and princess promised that their love would never end, hence “sumpa kita.” However, Lakan Galing left to pursue the princess’ enemies and never returned, and Lakambini died of a broken heart. She was buried on the hill where she and Lakan Galing made their promise, and the Sampaguita plant is said to have first grown on the princess’ grave. The flower’s name also seems to be derived from zanbaq (Arabian for “jasmine”), but isn’t this origin story more romantic?

8. As if the above legend isn’t enough, the Sampaguita blooms at night and wilts within the day.

All this behind a flower that’s usually less than an inch in diameter and purchased in wreaths for less than an extra cup of rice. This isn’t the kind of information one would easily glean from a grade-school textbook, no, but it’s refreshing and even surprising to read.

Now, when was the last time you noticed the scent of Sampaguita?

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