The national flower of Laos is the dok champa, which is the plumeria. Nicaragua also honors a plumeria as its national flower, under the local name sacuanjoche.
Two countries on opposite sides of the world chose the same plant for very different reasons. This page covers what each country says about its flower, what is documented, and what is not.
For the plant’s wider travels from Mexico and Central America to Asia, see our guide to where plumeria comes from.
The national flower of Laos: dok champa
In Lao, dok means flower, and champa is the word for plumeria. So dok champa simply means plumeria flower. It is widely described as the national flower of Laos and an unofficial emblem of the country.
The plant behind the name is Plumeria rubra, the common species covered in our Plumeria rubra profile. The flowers have five petals and a yellow center. White is the most popular color in Laos, though red, yellow and pink trees are grown too.
We could not find a documented date or law that made the dok champa the national flower of Laos. Travel and culture sources simply state that it holds the status. Treat any exact year you see online with caution unless it names a primary source.
What the dok champa means in Lao culture
Lao people associate the flower with sincerity and joy in life. It is also seen as a symbol of good luck. That belief explains why many Lao hotels, shops and other businesses are named Dok Champa.
Ceremonies and welcomes
The flowers are used in decoration and garlands to welcome guests. They also appear in religious and family observances such as the Baci ceremony, a traditional blessing.
Temples and the new year
Plumeria trees are a common sight at temples, pagodas and monasteries across Laos, including the ancient site of Wat Phu in Champassak. Some travel writers also report that champa blossoms are used to scent the water for bathing Buddha images at the Lao New Year. During that festival, flowers in general are picked and washed to decorate Buddha images and to perfume the water.
We could not verify claims that champa appears in a particular national song or on the Lao Airlines logo, so we leave them out. For the wider religious picture, read our article on plumeria symbolism in Hinduism and Buddhism.
Sacuanjoche: the national flower of Nicaragua
Nicaragua’s national flower is the sacuanjoche. It is a plumeria, and the law names the plant exactly.
The decree is Legislative Decree number 1890. It was approved on August 16, 1971 and published in the official gazette on August 26, 1971. Article 1 declares the sacuanjoche, Plumeria rubra form acutifolia, the national flower of Nicaragua.
Sources often cite 1971 loosely, so it helps to know that the approval date and the publication date differ by ten days. The text has been updated since, and the version we read includes changes through 2021.
A flower written into public planting
The decree does more than name a symbol. Article 2 tells the government to plant the tree in parks, plazas, sidewalks and highways across the country. It also calls for planting at every school on Arbor Day.
That makes the sacuanjoche unusual among national flowers. The law treats it as a street and school tree as well as an emblem.
The tree and its flowers
The tree grows with a conical shape and flowers around May, according to one general reference. The blooms are most fragrant at night, which draws sphinx moths. Like other plumeria, the flowers produce no nectar, so they attract pollinators without paying them.
Nicaragua’s other national symbols include the madrono tree and the guardabarranco bird. Together with the sacuanjoche, they form the country’s natural emblems.
The name
Sacuanjoche is generally treated as a name from the Nahuatl language family. The origin of the word is not well documented in the sources we could check, so we will not guess at a translation. One ethnobotany source lists cacaloxochitl as a Nahuatl name for the flower, which is a different word.
Laos and Nicaragua compared
| Detail | Laos | Nicaragua |
|---|---|---|
| Local name | Dok champa | Sacuanjoche |
| Plant | Plumeria rubra | Plumeria rubra form acutifolia |
| Legal basis | No decree date documented | Legislative Decree 1890, 1971 |
| Common meaning | Sincerity, joy, luck | National emblem, public tree planting |
| Typical setting | Temples, ceremonies, welcomes | Parks, plazas, schools |
| Flower color emphasis | White is the most popular | Not specified in the decree |
The Lao status rests on tradition. The Nicaraguan status rests on a statute. That difference is the clearest way to explain why one has an exact date and the other does not.
Why two countries picked the same flower
Plumeria is native to the tropical Americas, so Nicaragua’s choice sits inside the plant’s home range. Laos got the plant later, after plumeria spread across Asia. Our origin guide covers that journey in depth.
In both countries the tree grows easily, flowers heavily in warm weather and smells good. Those traits fit a flower meant for public life.
Hawaii, by contrast, is better known for its lei tradition, which we cover in the meaning of plumeria in Hawaiian culture. We have not verified any official state or city plumeria symbols elsewhere, so we do not list them.
Growing the national flowers at home
If these stories make you want your own tree, the plant is the same one growers around the world keep. A white form with a yellow center looks much like the common Lao champa, and you can read about it in our white plumeria guide. For basic needs such as sun, water and winter protection, start with the complete plumeria care guide.
Keep in mind that the sap is irritating and the plant is not for self treatment. Wash your hands after handling cuttings.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the national flower of Laos?
It is the dok champa, which is plumeria. Lao people link it to sincerity, joy and luck. It is common at temples and in ceremonies.
What is the national flower of Nicaragua?
It is the sacuanjoche, a form of Plumeria rubra. A 1971 legislative decree made it official. The same law orders the tree to be planted in public places and schools.
Is champa the same as frangipani?
Yes, in Laos champa is the local name for the flower known as frangipani or plumeria in English. The two names refer to the same group of plants. See our page on plumeria vs frangipani for how the names differ.
Which country made plumeria its national flower first?
Nicaragua has a documented date, August 1971. We found no documented date for Laos, so we cannot say which came first. Lao use of the flower is likely much older than any statute.
What color is the Lao champa flower?
White is the most popular color in Laos. Red, yellow and pink trees also grow there. Most have the yellow center typical of Plumeria rubra.