Mugunghwa (scientific name: Hibiscus syriacus) is the South Korean national flower, meaning “eternal blossom that never fades.” It is also known as the Rose of Sharon, Korean rose, etc. It is native to south-central and southeast China but has been widely introduced to much of Asia and beyond.
Since ancient times, mugunghwa has been grown as a garden shrub in Korea for its edible flowers and leaves which were brewed into herbal teas. It was later introduced and grown in European gardens as early as the 16th century. By the 18th century, mugunghwas were commonly found in English gardens and in North American colonies, known as Althea frutex and Syrian ketmia there. This explains why I’ve seen mugunghwa trees in the US and even in Rome! (My family was so shocked and didn’t believe me until they came over and saw for themselves!)
The mugunghwa is an extremely important symbol of Korean culture and has been so for centuries. Records show that mugunghwa was treasured as a “blossom from heaven” from even before the ancient Gojoseon kingdom era (2333 BCE-108 BCE). This flower was so historically and culturally significant throughout time that the Silla Kingdom (57 BCE-935 CE) called itself Geunhwahyang, meaning “Country of the Mugunghwa,” and the ancient Chinese also referred to Korea as the “land of wise men where the mugunghwa blooms.”
Korean public affection for the flower grew over time, especially during the dark and difficult days of Japanese colonial rule, as the mugunghwa honors Korea’s noble spirit and symbolizes the many successes as well as hardships that they had experienced. The flower’s symbolic significance also stems from the Korean word mugung, which means “eternity” or “inexhaustible abundance”. After Korea regained its independence from Japan, the government naturally adopted it as their national flower and included it in the national anthem in the late 19th century. The flower even appears in national emblems, like the Presidential Standard, a pair of phoenixes flanking a mugunghwa.
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koreaNerd MK 