It may be Malaysia’s national flower but the hibiscus is always treated as a poor cousin when it comes to selecting plants for landscaping purposes as preference is usually given to bougainvillea, roses and orchids.
Fondly regarded as the queen of tropical flowers by hibiscus fanciers, the humble yet alluring bunga raya (whose scientific name is hibiscus rosa-sinensis) was declared the national flower in 1960.
During the 1980s and 90s, the hibiscus was rather popular and featured prominently in home gardens and the landscapes of government and private buildings.
Sadly, its popularity has faded over the past two decades and these days, many people regard it as an ordinary ‘kampung flower’.