The blue lotus is the flower of Egypt — an ancient water lily woven through the country’s mythology, art, and monuments for thousands of years.

• National flower: Egyptian lotus (blue water lily)
• Scientific name: Nymphaea caerulea
• Status: Ancient national symbol
• Symbolism: the sun, creation, and rebirth

About Egypt’s national flower

In ancient Egypt the blue lotus opened at dawn and closed at dusk, which linked it to the daily journey of the sun and to the idea of rebirth. It appears throughout tomb paintings, temple columns carved in its shape, and creation myths in which the sun rose from a lotus.

Symbolism and tradition

The lotus motif shaped Egyptian art and architecture for millennia and remains a recognizable emblem of the country’s ancient heritage.

National flower of Egypt FAQs

What is the national flower of Egypt?

The flower most associated with Egypt is the Egyptian lotus, or blue water lily (Nymphaea caerulea), an ancient symbol of the sun and rebirth.

What does Egypt’s national flower represent?

In ancient Egypt the lotus symbolized the sun, creation, and rebirth, because it opened with the dawn and closed beneath the water at night.

What did the lotus mean in ancient Egypt?

The blue lotus opened at sunrise and closed at dusk, so ancient Egyptians associated it with the sun, creation, and rebirth. It appears widely in their art and religion.

Explore more

Discover national flowers from around the world, the state flowers of the U.S., or find your birth flower.