What flower appears on the flag of Hong Kong?

The flower on Hong Kong’s flag is the Bauhinia, specifically the Hong Kong orchid tree, Bauhinia × blakeana.

The regional flag shows a stylized white five-petaled flower centered on a Chinese-red field. Each petal contains a small red five-pointed star, echoing the stars on China’s national flag and linking Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China.

Bauhinia × blakeana is strongly associated with Hong Kong and was discovered there. The flower’s five-petal form also helped inspire the winning flag design during the selection process. The red-and-white colour scheme is commonly interpreted through the “one country, two systems” principle.

The flower is often loosely called an orchid, but it is not a true orchid; “Hong Kong orchid tree” is its common name. Jasmine, chrysanthemum, and lotus are different flowers and are not the emblem shown on the regional flag. The flag was first officially raised at the handover on 1 July 1997.