Puerto Rico’s national flower is the flor de maga. The Maga is closely related to hibiscus but unlike the common hibiscus, the Maga is a saucer size flower and grows on a large tree. The maga is native to Puerto Rico and is grown in tropical climates as an ornamental plant, with pink or red flowers.
The flower of the maga tree, Thespesia grandiflora or Maga grandiflora grows near San Juan in north-eastern Puerto Rico. This giant flower is endemic to the humid forests of Puerto Rico, so it can be also found in other areas of the island. It is cultivated mostly as an ornamental tree for the beauty of its very large flowers although it is also valued elsewhere for its durable timber, which is used for furniture.
The Maga flowers are cup-shaped and are 7.5 to 9 cm and 9.0 to 13 cm, broad with five overlapping petals. The Maga flowers are borne singly on long petioles from leaf bases.
Facts
Grows on a tree, not a bush. Flowers between 5-7 years of age. The leaves are heart-shaped, shiny green, usually ranging in size from 5 cm to 20 cm (2 to 8 inches) long. Depends on bats and birds for dispersa
The flower of the maga tree, Thespesia grandiflora or Maga grandiflora grows near San Juan in north-eastern Puerto Rico. This giant flower is endemic to the humid forests of Puerto Rico, so it can be also found in other areas of the island. It is cultivated mostly as an ornamental tree for the beauty of its very large flowers although it is also valued elsewhere for its durable timber, which is used for furniture.
The Maga flowers are cup-shaped and are 7.5 to 9 cm and 9.0 to 13 cm, broad with five overlapping petals. The Maga flowers are borne singly on long petioles from leaf bases.
Facts
Grows on a tree, not a bush. Flowers between 5-7 years of age. The leaves are heart-shaped, shiny green, usually ranging in size from 5 cm to 20 cm (2 to 8 inches) long. Depends on bats and birds for dispersa