NATIONAL NATIVE POPULAR FLOWERS OF MALTA

National Flower of Malta

Found only in Malta, the Maltese Centaury (Paleocyanus crasifoleus) was adopted as the national flower of Malta in the early 1970s. The flower is a capitulate head composed of 5-6 rows of involucral bracts and a top of numerous tubular florets having a characteristic purple colour. Having about 30-40mm long heads and about 35-50mm across, the slightly fragrant smell of the flower somehow resembles that of tea.

Other Native and popular flowers of Malta

The position of the Maltese Islands in the centre of the Mediterranean gives a special significance to their flora and the Maltese flora partakes of the floras of all the other parts of the Mediterranean, thus one finds species with eastern, western and North African affinities. The Maltese vascular flora comprises about 1,000 species of which some 800 are indigenous, the rest being naturalised aliens. Some of the Popular flowers native to Malta, grown here are, Zaghfran tal Blat Sand Crocus, Succulent, Buzbiez Fennel, Saghtar, Cynara cardunculus, Fidloqqom, L-ingliza Sewda, Blue Stonecrop, Crimson pea, Lellux (Crown Daisy), Barbary nut iris, Erika, Red Campion and Asiatic lily.

Roses, Cut flowers Tulips, Gerberas, Orchids, Carnations and Sunflowers are very popular among the people of this country and most commonly, these flowers are used on festivals and occasions like Birthdays, Anniversaries and Friendship day etc.

Facts about Malta

• Situated in the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and North Africa, the Maltese archipelago consists of three inhabited islands, Malta, Gozo and Comino.
• Malta is predominantly Roman Catholic, but the Maltese Constitution guarantees freedom of worship. There are also churches belonging to various other religious denominations.
• Since about the mid 1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination. Malta became an EU member in May 2004.
• Modern economy is based on tourism, shipbuilding and light industry, and almost 80% of the food items are imported from other countries, which leads to inflation in Malta.
• The University of Malta is one of the oldest universities in the world and was founded in 1592.