The Flowers of Bali (Part 2)
Traditional Balinese vs Locally Grown non-Balinese Flowers
In our previous blog piece (Part 1), we clarified what are considered traditional Balinese flowers versus non-Balinese flowers which are grown locally. In Part 2, we’ll introduce you to various non-Balinese flower types that have been able to breed and harvest in the cooler regions of central Bali such as Bedugul, Petang, Plaga and Munduk. However, some of these flowers are not consistently available throughout the year in Bali due to heavy rains and the growers’ more traditional handling methods. Both flower and foliage consumption in Bali (and presumably throughout East Indonesia) are still heavily supplied by more experienced, commercial floral nurseries in West and East Java (such as in Bandung, Puncak and Malang).
LOCALLY GROWN NON-BALINESE FLOWERS
Aster - originating from North America, asters are daisy-like flowers. In Bali, they are available in white, purple and pink. Commonly known as peacock by local florists, asters are used as fillers in floral arrangements. We also notice that customers often mistake white asters for Chamomile (Matricaria) Daisies from Europe.
Order: Asterales | Family: Asteraceae | Tribe: Astereae | Genus: Aster | Purpose: cut flower
Alstroemeria - this plant has around 190 different cultivars and features different colours such as white, yellow, orange, pink, red, purple and lavender. Also known as the Peruvian Lily, alstroemerias are native to South America with two common species – one from Chile and the other from Brazil. Its commercial cultivation in Bali is considered quite recent and alstroemerias available from Bedugul nurseries are in peach, red and sometimes in light pink.
Order: Liliales | Family: Asltroemeriaceae | Genus: Alstromeria | Purpose: cut flower
Calla Lily (Easter Lily) - this plant has a smooth, curved structure and comes in colours like white, yellow, orange, pink, maroon, lavender and rose. These flowers do not usually last too long but can keep for up to a week if maintained well. They are typically used for weddings and are seen in many flower shops in Bali.
Order: Alismatales | Family: Araceae | Subfamily: Calloideae | Genus: Calla | Purpose: cut flower
Chrysanthemum (Mums) - native to East Asia (mainly China) and northeastern Europe, this plant and a number of its cultivars are mainly used for ornamental, culinary and even medicinal purposes. The flowers of this plant comes in a range of colours such as yellow, white, purple, orange and red. Across different cultures, the symbolism of chrysanthemums has signified everything from life to death: it is gifted to ‘mums’ on Mother’s Day in Australia, representative of the changing seasons in China, known as the ‘Queen of fall flowers’ in the US, and used as graveside decorations in Europe.
Order: Asterales | Subfamily: Asteroideae | Tribe: Anthemideae | Genus: Chrysanthemum | Purpose: cut flower
Dahlia – native to Mexico and Central America, dahlias are commonly grown in cooler regions as garden plants and are available in various colours from yellow, red, orange, pink, white and even gradation on these colour combinations. In Central Bali, namely Bedugul, dahlias are considered newly available for commercial breeding with quantities and colour availability are still very limited. If lucky, dahlias from Bedugul can be as lush and big as those found in Europe and Central America.
Order: Asterales | Family: Asteraceae | Supertribe: Helianthodae | Tribe: Coreopsideae | Genus: Dahlia | Purpose: cut flower
Gerbera – originating from South Africa, this flower plays a vital role in different cultures around the world. The daisy-like flower is within the same family as sunflowers and asters. The bright colours of this flower such as pink, white, orange, yellow and more are very eye-catching when assembled in a bouquet. This flower is rarely found in Bali’s ceremonial activities but can often be seen in flower shops, however, its shelf-life as cut flowers is fairly short in this tropical climate (2-3 days).
Order: Asterales | Family: Asteraceae | Tribe: Mutisieae | Genus: Gerbera | Purpose: cut flower
Hydrangea – these are ornamental plants, known for their large flowerheads. They are also among the most widely grown with around 600 known cultivars. This plant has colours that can change from blue to pink or vice versa and in Bali, hydrangeas are often used in traditional, religious ceremonies, especially as an offering for Hindu gods.
Order: Cornales | Family: Hydrangeaceae | Genus: Hydrangea | Purpose: cut flower
Phalaenopsis Orchids – also known as ‘Moth’ orchids, these are a perennial favourite among florists and plant nurseries for their beautiful and colourful blooms as well as long-shelf life. When cared for properly (see our previous blog piece) Phalaenopsis orchids can last 1-2 months. They come in white, bright purple, yellow, and occasionally in pastel colours. There are even blooms that carry a natural, striped pattern or even a blotchy, Rorschach-esque design. Moth orchids are often seen displayed in hotels and restaurants in Bali due to its elegance and reasonably long shelf-life in the tropical climate.
Order: Asparagales | Family: Orchidaceae | Subfamily: Epidendroideae | Tribe: Vandeae | Subtribe: Aeridinae | Genus: Phalaenopsis | Purpose: cut flower and garden plant
Semi-Holland Roses – these are Holland-breed roses which started to be grown commercially in Indonesia in the cooler regions of Java, mostly in Bandung and Malang (West and East Java). In the past few years, local nurseries in Bali, namely in Bedugul (Central Bali), started to breed them for local floristry consumption. Though local semi-Holland roses can be inconsistent in colour and in size, it’s this capriciousness that adds to the beauty and allure of these roses. Semi-Holland roses last about 3-4 days in Bali‘s climate, depending on the care and the type of vessel/base used.
Order: Rosales | Family: Rosaceae | Subfamily: Rosoideae | Tribe: Roseae | Genus: Rosa | Purpose: cut flower
Snapdragon – native to Europe, the USA and North Africa, Antirrhinums are commonly known as the 'Snapdragon’ because of the flower’s resemblance to the face of a dragon. They are commonly found in flower shops around Bali and are mainly grown in Bedugul. When cared for properly, snapdragons can last up to a week as cut flowers.
Order: Lamiales | Family: Plantaginaceae | Tribe: Antirrhineae | Genus: Antirrhinum | Purpose: cut flower
Sunflower – also known as Helianthus, the sunflower originates from North and South America. They are tall and bright-coloured plants (the most common colour is yellow) that resemble the brightness of the sun. Within Bali, sunflowers are often spotted in flower gardens as well as local flower shops. Bali sunflowers have a reasonable shelf-life (3-4 days), however, its harvest during rainy season often are not of optimal quality.
Order: Asterales | Family: Asteraceae | Subfamily: Asteroideae | Tribe: Heliantheae | Genus: Helianthus | Purpose: cut flower
Zinnia – known for being part of the sunflower tribe within the daisy family, zinnias come in a wide range of colours and shapes, and are able to withstanding warmer temperatures as bush plants. As cut flowers, they lasts up to 3 days in the tropical climate.
Order: Asterales | Family: Asteraceae | Subfamily: Asteroideae | Tribe: Heliantheae| Genus: Zinnia | Purpose: cut flower
The above are just 12 of many flower species that can be found in nurseries around Central Bali. In the years to come, it is the collective hope of florists in Bali that more flower types will be able to breed successfully, and handled with more professional care suited for cut flowers, so that we can lessen the need for imported flowers.
Sources: Wikipedia | The Bali Florist