Costa Rica’s national flower isn’t a showy jungle bloom you’ll spot from the car. It’s a purple orchid that families grow on their walls and roofs, and it flowers for only a few weeks a year.
The national flower of Costa Rica is the guaria morada (Guarianthe skinneri, long known as Cattleya skinneri), a purple orchid. It was declared the national flower on June 15, 1939, under President León Cortés. It blooms in the dry season, mainly in February and March, and the easiest place to see it is the Lankester Botanical Garden near Cartago, which holds the national orchid exhibition each March.
This article covers what the flower is, how it became a national symbol, where and when to see it, and what to know before buying an orchid in Costa Rica.
| Guaria morada | At a glance |
|---|---|
| What it is | Costa Rica’s national flower, a purple epiphytic orchid |
| Scientific name | Guarianthe skinneri (formerly Cattleya skinneri) |
| Declared | June 15, 1939, by executive agreement No. 24 |
| When it blooms | Dry season, mainly February and March |
| Best place to see it | Lankester Botanical Garden, Paraíso de Cartago, especially in March |
| Can you take one home? | Only with export permits; orchids are covered by CITES |
The flower
What Is the National Flower of Costa Rica?
The guaria morada is an orchid. Guaria is the local word for this group of orchids, and morada means purple. The flowers are large, a deep lilac to purple with a paler throat, and appear in clusters at the top of the stems.
Like most of Costa Rica’s orchids, it is an epiphyte: it grows on tree branches or rocks and takes its water and nutrients from rain, air and debris rather than from the host. It is not a parasite. Thick, bulb-like stems called pseudobulbs store water, which lets it get through the dry months, and that is exactly when it flowers.
It is one of roughly 1,700 orchid species recorded in Costa Rica, a country with one of the highest densities of orchid species anywhere.
The history
How the Guaria Morada Became a National Symbol
The guaria morada was declared Costa Rica’s national flower on June 15, 1939, during the presidency of León Cortés, through executive agreement No. 24. Long before that, it was the orchid Costa Ricans grew at home, tied to the tile roofs, adobe walls and fruit trees of houses across the Central Valley.
It also has a song. La Guaria Morada, popularized by the folk duo Los Talolingas, is sometimes called Costa Rica’s second national anthem. And by decree, the country has held a national orchid week in March for more than 50 years, timed to the flower’s peak bloom.
The guaria morada is one of several official national symbols. Others include the clay-colored thrush, the national bird, and the Guanacaste tree, the national tree. The flag and the national anthem have their own stories, and the blue morpho butterfly is another emblem visitors see everywhere.
Seeing one
Where and When to See the Guaria Morada
Timing matters more than place. Outside the bloom you will see only leaves, and an orchid without flowers is easy to walk past. Plan for February and March, which is also the heart of the dry season in most of the country.
Lankester Botanical Garden
The surest bet is the Lankester Botanical Garden, run by the University of Costa Rica in Dulce Nombre de Paraíso, about 5 km east of Cartago. It holds more than 15,000 orchid specimens, and it hosts the national orchid exhibition, organized with the Costa Rican Orchid Association, in March.
- $10Entry for non-residents, plus 2% tax
- ₡3,000Entry for residents, plus 2% tax
- 8:30–4:30Open daily
Foreign students pay $7.50 and children 5 and under enter free. Rates are set each year, so check the garden’s website before you go. Lankester pairs well with a day in Cartago or the Orosi Valley.
In the wild and in towns
Wild guarias have become scarce because people collected them for generations, so most of the plants you will see are cultivated. In February and March, look up at old houses, garden walls and fruit trees in Central Valley towns, where families still grow them. Cloud forests such as Monteverde are rich in orchids in general, though you are more likely to see other species there than this one.
Buying one
Can You Pick or Buy a Guaria Morada?
Cultivated orchids are sold at nurseries, called viveros, and at orchid shows. Buying a plant to keep in Costa Rica is simple. Taking one home is not: orchids are covered by CITES, the international treaty on trade in wild species, so exporting a live plant requires permits, and your home country will have its own import rules for plants. Ask the nursery if it can supply export paperwork before you buy, and check your country’s agriculture authority.
If you just want a souvenir, an orchid print, a painted ox cart panel or a carved mask travels far more easily. See our guide to Costa Rica souvenirs.
Good to know
Costa Rica National Flower FAQ
What is the national flower of Costa Rica?
The guaria morada (Guarianthe skinneri), a purple orchid, declared the national flower on June 15, 1939.
What does guaria morada mean in English?
Roughly “purple orchid.” Guaria is the local name for this kind of orchid and morada means purple.
When does the guaria morada bloom?
In the dry season, mainly February and March. Costa Rica’s national orchid week and the national orchid exhibition are held in March to match.
Where is the best place to see the guaria morada?
The Lankester Botanical Garden near Cartago, especially during the March orchid exhibition. In bloom season you will also see it grown on homes in Central Valley towns.
How many orchid species does Costa Rica have?
About 1,700, which gives Costa Rica one of the highest densities of orchid species anywhere.
Can I bring a guaria morada home from Costa Rica?
Only with the right permits. Orchids are covered by CITES, so exporting a live plant needs paperwork, and your home country’s plant import rules also apply.
The short version
Costa Rica’s national flower is the guaria morada, a purple orchid declared a national symbol in 1939. It blooms mainly in February and March.
To see it, go to the Lankester Botanical Garden near Cartago in March, or look up at old houses in Central Valley towns during the dry season. Admire wild ones where they grow, and leave them there.