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Crown Flower Wikimedia Commons
Apocynaceae

Crown Flower

Calotropis gigantea

Royalty and devotion.

Family
Apocynaceae
Genus
Calotropis
Native to
Southeast Asia, South Asia
Bloom season
Year-Round
Type
Shrub
Height
3-4 meters
Sunlight
Full sun
Soil
Well-drained, sandy
Water
Low
Hardiness
10-12
Lifespan
Perennial

Did you know

  • Crown flower is the national flower of Cambodia and is sacred in Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
  • In Hawaii, the flowers are commonly strung into leis for special occasions.
  • The milky latex sap is toxic but has been used in traditional medicine across Asia for centuries.
  • Monarch butterfly caterpillars feed on crown flower leaves, making it a host plant.
  • The silky fibers from its seed pods have been studied as a potential alternative to kapok.

Color meanings

0

Royalty

1

Devotion

2

Spiritual transcendence

Uses

  • Lei making
  • Traditional medicine
  • Ornamental
  • Religious ceremonies