Hispanic flowers can be found in places where Spanish culture has had some influence. These can be South or Central America, as well as Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.
Due to their colorful, elegant, and royal appearances, these flowers have become popular all over the world. Here are some of the most beloved flowers and plants from these places.
JUMP TO TOPIC
- List of Hispanic Flowers
- 1. Mexican Hat Flower
- 2. Pineapple Sage
- 3. Mexican Poppy
- 4. Laelia Orchid
- 5. Mexican Honeysuckle
- 6. Chocolate Cosmos
- 7. Mexican Frangipani
- 8. Mexican Morning Glory
- 9. Sword Lily
- 10. Mexican Marigold
- 11. Belize Sage
- 12. Mexican Sunflower
- 13. Gentian Sage
- 14. Lady Slipper Plant
- 15. Yucca Tree
- 16. Mexican Passion Flower
- 17. Poinsettia
- Conclusion
List of Hispanic Flowers
1. Mexican Hat Flower
The Mexican flower known as Ratibida Columnifera of the Asteraceae family is a wildflower that grows so incredibly fast that it is considered an aggressive plant by some states. This Ratibida genus plant is actually a relative of the Prairie coneflower, except that it has dark red cones instead of green.
This beautiful flower is a herbaceous and short lived, and this is because it is a perennial plant that is a great wildflower choice to attract butterflies and bees.
The flowers start blooming in the middle of summer and continue throughout fall. The blossoms are very showy and produce seeds that will eventually become a new generation of flowering plants.
On the other hand, the foliage of this plant has a very strong fragrance that repels deer, making it ideal for garden borders. This is the reason why you will see it in a lot of gardens, because people are secure that no deer will come and eat it searching for a source of food at night.
2. Pineapple Sage
This semi-woody, herbaceous sage cultivar has a shrub growth habit with erect stems and fuzzy bright green leaves. It is given the name pineapple sage, because the bright scarlet flowers produce a tender pineapple fragrance when crushed. However, scientifically, is it called the Salvia Elegans.
This plant is very popular in many gardens because it attracts many beneficial insects, such as hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. They produce beautiful red flowers that would attract the pollinators with its nectar.
As it is part of the sage family, this cultivar is most often used as a companion plant to deter pests from gardens. Aside from smelling like pineapples, the flowers have a sweet, fruity taste mixed with refreshing mint.
These flowers work wonderfully well in fresh summer fruit salads, sandwiches, smoothies, and even baked dishes, such as chicken, bread, and cakes.
3. Mexican Poppy
Beautifully bright yellow and cheery, this prickly poppy is a common garden plant in many households. However, due to their fast-growing nature, some states and countries have considered them to be invasive weeds, especially in the wild. In some books, it is known as the Argemone Ochroleuca.
They have a number of traditional medicinal uses due to the healing nature, although they can be quite harmful if wrongly administered.
In Mexico, these poppies are grown and harvested as folk medicine to cure different types of ailments, such as asthma and chest pains, anything respiratory related, because of their healing property.
Mexican prickly poppies can be grown as annuals or perennials, depending on the region. Hence, during the summer season, showy white or yellow flowers spring up from prickly stems and spiny leaves. When parts of the plant are damaged or broken, it can exude sticky latex in white, yellow, or orange color.
4. Laelia Orchid
This orchid variety is mostly found in many Latin countries, with Mexico and Brazil having some of the most numbers. One cultivar, Laelia purpurata, currently named Cattleya purpurata, is considered Brazil’s national flower, some even call it the Laelia Rubescens.
On the other hand, Laelia speciosa is a Mexican flower orchid with very large showy flowers coming from a compact plant.
Ideally, this orchid grows really well in intermediate to bright indirect light conditions with good airflow. This Latin orchid prefers a medium level of humidity and appreciates regular doses of balanced fertilizer throughout the growing season. Keep in mind that these orchids are often grown in rocks, bark slabs, or pots.
5. Mexican Honeysuckle
The bright orange tubular flowers of this evergreen shrub are fragrant, attracting many pollinators, such as butterflies and bees. This Mexican flower does well when grown in full sun although it can tolerate some light shade. The Justicia Spicigera grows moderately well and requires very little care in terms of soil type.
People in Mexico use this plant for many traditional folk medicines to counteract fever and cough. The way they use is for example its leaves are used to fight dysentery while tea is brewed to cure dengue and heart concerns.
On the other hand, the orange flowers are processed to produce dye, which is then used in various clothing and products.
Mexicans consider this as one of the plants that symbolize happiness. Plant some to encourage more joy in your life just by watching their colorful blooms.
6. Chocolate Cosmos
These beautiful floral wonders are extremely easy to grow and will provide you with endless blooms when grown in optimal conditions. The rich, dark-colored flowers produce a scintillating chocolate scent with hints of warm vanilla. With its reddish-brown petals, it’s no wonder the plant is named after the delicious cocoa flavor.
All cosmos plants love the heat and sun, so placing them in areas will work wonders for your plants. Note that if you grow them in temperate regions, you may want to bring them indoors during the winter to protect them from the cold.
Butterflies and bees find these daisy-like flowers irresistible, making these plants very popular in gardens that encourage the presence of pollinators, and this is due to the nectar that they love.
Note that they can be planted in beds or pots, these plants will grow anywhere you want them to. Keep the Cosmos Astrosanguines close to you during summer and invite their wonderful aroma into your life.
7. Mexican Frangipani
Glorious and majestic, the Plumeria Rubra plant enjoys growing in subtropical and tropical regions all over the world. There’s no doubt about it, plumeria or frangipani flowers conjure hot summers and sandy beaches. Despite their preference, many gardeners try to grow plumeria trees in temperate conditions by taking them indoors during the winter.
These trees produce lovely flowers of varying shapes, colors, and fragrances. Grown singly or in groups, plumeria trees evoke a grandeur that makes the smallest hut feel like a castle.
Plumeria trees can be ground right in the ground or in containers. They require very little maintenance as well since they prefer to grow in well-draining soil rather than in water-soaked conditions. And in spring time, you must prepare yourself for the lovely fragrance and the graceful colors that it would bloom.
8. Mexican Morning Glory
The morning glory is found all throughout Mexico and other Latin countries. Aside from these areas, this plant can also be grown successfully in areas where it gets plenty of sunlight and moderate warmth.
It is a fast-growing annual vine that is closely related to the sweet potato. Nevertheless, this flowering climber, which are called Ipomoea Purpurea, does not develop edible tubers.
One of the biggest attractions of this plant is its colorful flowers that are shaped like trumpets. The blossoms, which range from pastel blue ttheseo vivid purple, emit a slight fragrance that is highly attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies.
However, note that plants are often grown against trellises, pergolas, and other supporting structures found in the garden. While they can be considered aggressive plant species, seedlings can be easily contained by removing them from the ground.
9. Sword Lily
Gladiolus flowers are common in Mexico as they are frequently found in many ceremonial rituals that honor the dead, especially in the holidays that are bigger traditions in Latin America. These often start out as corms before their lance-like leaves and inflorescence shoot up like swords from the ground.
The flowers are very colorful, delicate, and highly impressive. They come in various colors, such as white, yellow, orange, red, and purple. Unfortunately, the gladiolus does not produce flowers that are considered true blue.
Caring for the gladiolus plant is very easy as they only require basic watering with plenty of sunlight. In Mexico, they are planted year-round due to the wonderfully warm weather. If you grow them in temperate conditions, store the corm inside once the gladiolus plants die back.
10. Mexican Marigold
The vibrant marigold flower is a great plant for any garden, whether in Mexico or elsewhere. These flowers not only attract the eyes but are also great companion plants for many garden edibles.
Additionally, the targetes Erecta plants have been known to repel many garden pests successfully, hence gardeners love it for this addition, to protect the rest of the plants.
The flowers of the marigold plant come in yellow, orange, red, or combinations of these fiery shades, adding various colors to your garden.
One of the key advantages that it has is that in traditional fold medicine, different parts like the stems and flowers of this plant have been used to treat multiple health concerns, such as fever, burns, and wounds.
Marigold plants grow well in warm, sunny spots. You must place them in your garden with these conditions and get ready to enjoy these vibrant beauties in the summer.
11. Belize Sage
Belize Sage tends to grow well in warm countries, and this one is no different. It is a semi-hardy cultivar of the sage family, with deep green foliage and bright orange flowers. This plant tends to bloom in the summer until fall.
Salvia Miniata plants can be resistant to harsh wind and sun exposure, which is their key resilient aspect. Hence, planting them in well-draining soil with average nutrient content is sufficient.
Encourage sturdy growth by pruning back your sage plants. In addition, regular trimmings encourage more flowers to appear.
12. Mexican Sunflower
This bushy annual is part of the daisy family, producing large, brightly colored flowers during the summer. This Mexican flower, which is known as the Tithonia Diversifolia, is quite tolerant of droughts and can be easily found in gardens that experience warm and sunny weather, you would quickly spot it by its gorgeous yellow petals.
Growing up to over six feet tall, this brilliant sunflower has dark green leaves that can feel coarse due to its downy fuzz.
Flowers tend to last until the fall or frost when seeds are also produced and harvested.
When in bloom, the flowers attract various pollinators, such as hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. If you’re looking to add fiery colors to your garden that remind you of the Mexican sunset, then this plant may just be for you.
13. Gentian Sage
Producing bright blue flowers, this member of the sage family is so pretty that pollinators flock to them. On the other hand, the salvia patens flowers come out starting from spring until fall. While it is native to Mexico, it is equally beloved in gardens all over the world.
It grows best in well-draining soils that are kept moist but not wet. This herbaceous tuberous perennial plant can reach up to three feet tall, making it ideal for borders, as it also repels deer, hence they are loved by gardeners because no sudden harm will come to them.
Since it is incredibly easy to grow, this sage cultivar can be successfully cultivated by most novice gardeners. Keep some for your garden, especially if you have edible plants you plan to harvest.
14. Lady Slipper Plant
This succulent plant, known as pedilanthus Macrocarpus, has tiny leaves that are barely visible, and the whole plant appears entirely leafless. The slow-growing plant produces attractive but unusually shaped flowers that are bright red and shaped like a slipper.
Some may even refer to this plant as the Mexican Lady’s Slipper since it is found growing in Mexican deserts.
Pollinators are attracted to the flowers, especially hummingbirds, who sip on the rich nectar for nourishment, and you would see the pollinators come to your garden and fly around them.
The flowers come out during late spring and last until fall. Like most succulents, the Lady Slipper Plant is tolerant of droughts and enjoys occasional watering on its well-draining soil.
15. Yucca Tree
There are over 40 cultivars of yucca plants, and most of them are found in hot sunny areas, such as the Caribbean, Mexico, and the American Southwest. The yucca baccata growth is varied, depending on the cultivar.
Either way, they can grow into large plants or trees. However, they can be toxic to pets, so keep them away from curious cats and mischievous dogs.
All varieties of the yucca plant are tolerant of droughts and produce flowers even under this condition. However, the flowers are said to be highly nutritious in vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates, and this one of the key benefits that this flower shows. As a result, they are cooked in various ways to eliminate any toxins while enjoying their health benefits.
16. Mexican Passion Flower
This plant is a member of the Passiflora family, but this is specifically the Passiflora Mexicana, as it has showy flowers and round fruits. Unlike most passionflowers, this cultivar produces a strong pungent scent from its Mexican flower that many describe as being similar to naphthalene or mothballs.
Despite this strange fragrance, butterflies are drawn to this plant, with caterpillars happily eating away at the leaves. Note that, significantly, it is considered rare in most parts of the United States as it is usually found in very few states.
17. Poinsettia
Often used as decor during the festive holiday season in December, the poinsettia is a deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub. Typically, it has green foliage, but when the nights become longer in the later part of the year, its leaves change color, and sometimes this is considered amazing because not every flower would have this property.
As these colors are usually white, pink, or red, Christmas has always been linked to this plant, it is even considered a traditional gift. On the other hand, note that the actual flowers appear at the very tips and are hardly noticeable because they are white and quite tiny.
Conclusion
Hispanic flowers are some of the most beautiful in the world. There are different flowers, as they have different properties and remarkable beauty. Some would attract pollinators to come around, whereas others would attract people because of their vibrant colors and foliage.
Now that you know which ones that appeal to you most, you can now start growing them right in your garden. Which one of these gorgeous flowers will you be choosing?