Mussaenda Queen Sirikit (Mussaenda philippica var. Queen Sirikit), commonly called Bangkok Rose or Pink Flag Bush is a tropical shrub hybrid devoloped in the Philippines and named in honour to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand. Mussaenda philippica var. Queen Sirikit is a breed from Mussaenda philippica, endemic to the Philippines and the Ashanti Blood Plant (Mussaenda erythrophylla) native to Africa. The evergreen, woody shrub grows up to a height of about 4 meters and is blooming all year round. The Bangkok Rose Mussaenda Queen Sirikit requires a hot and humid climate and full sun, but grows not well in arid areas. The peach colored Mussaenda Queen Sirikit and the white Mussaenda Dona Aurora are widely spread throughout South-East Asia and are well-liked tropical garden plants. To boost flowering, faded flowers should be pinched of and the shrub should be trimmed occasionally. The genus Mussaenda belongs to the coffee family (Rubiaceae), the fourth biggest family (by species) in the plant kingdom, with more than 600 genera and 13.000 species.

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Image: Bangkok Rose (Mussaenda philippica var. Queen Sirikit)