Hibiscus is one of the worlds most amazing flowers, with vibrant colours native in East Asia -China, India, Philippines, Indonesia, Hawaii. There are over 200 different species of the flower which Latin name is “hibiscus -rosa-sinesis” which refers to the popular kind “rose of China”.
There are many legends in different countries around the world about the beauty and origins of Hibiscus flower. In India it is associated with Kali Maa – goddess of destruction, war, underworld. Red hibiscus was offered in her temples as s symbol of inner strength. The legend tells that when Kali defeated a demon, its drop of blood turned into hibiscus flower.
Red hibiscus in Indian culture is symbol of divine protection and inner transformation of goddess Kali and Ganesha.
Filipino legend
In the Philippines there the flower is called gumamela and it is associated with passion and forbidden love.
There is legend of Gang, a mortal man who fell deeply in love with a fairy, Moola, that expanded beyond their realms. They were living in different dimensions, but longing for each other`s love they wanted to be together; then one day the worlds couldn’t keep them apart, the earth opened and deep crack swallowed them together. As they disappeared tragically from the same spot on the earth started to grow new red Hibiscus flower, making their lost love eternal.
Chinese legend *
In China hibiscus is linked with the goddess of the Luo river - Luoshen. The legend tells the goddess was once in mortal form as Lady Zhen – Eastern Han dynasty empress who was caught in a love triangle between the emperor and his younger brother – poet and artist. This story was depicted brilliantly by the poet prince Cao Zhi in his “Luoshen fu” (Rapsody of the goddess of the Luoshen river).
The legend evolves in the time of chaotic Three kingdoms, when the imperial brothers Cao Zhi and Cao Pi were both deeply in love with a woman Lady Zhen. Her heart belonged to the poetic and gentle Cao Zhi, as they had connection of harmony and love. Cao Pi who became the emperor of the Wei and was cold and calculating. He took the beautiful Lady Zhen as his wife by force while conquering kingdoms, so she became the empress.
Even so her husband was quite jealous of the love she felt for another man, so one day he pushed her to take poison and end her life.
A year after the tragic passing of his lover, prince Cao Zhi was walking by the Luo river, where mist and fog was descending and he saw a vibrant face of a goddess floating above the water, looking exactly like his beloved Lady Zhen. They looked at each others eyes full of love and desire, mortal man and immortal women, their union was impossible in the world.
Since then on the river bank red and white hibiscus flowers are growing symbols of deep desire, longing and forbidden love and purity of heart.
The most prominent colours of hibiscus * Symbols
Red Hibiscus: passion, deep desire, devotion and love as commitment, sensuality
Pink hibiscus: divine feminine energy, pure heart, love, friendship, gentleness, self-love
White Hibiscus: purity, innocence, ceremonies, divine guidance, Crown chakra, goddesses
Yellow Hibiscus: joy, abundance, royal celebration, friendship, kindness, softness
Thank you for tuning in!
Nina Nour Bluebell ✩
medium, psychic, healer
September 2026
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