Flower Power! 5 Malaysian Alternatives To Cherry Blossoms

We recently wrote about cherry blossoms that can be found around the world, but did you realise that Malaysia has many places with blossoming flowers to appreciate too? Many of them are available all year round and you don't have to travel very far to enjoy them. Since we’ll be unable to travel during this time of MCO, let’s celebrate these Malaysian beauties as an alternative to cherry blossoms!

 

Perdana Botanical Gardens, Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur’s first large-scale heritage park boasts 101 hectares of botanical wonder. It has up to 13 features consisting of various gardens and plant collections. One of these is visiting the Hibiscus Garden. It’s an old colonial bungalow that was converted into a tea room. The building is surrounded by leafy tresses adorned with Malaysia’s delicate red national flower, the Hibiscus. Get an up-close photo with one of these beauties, or take a stroll around the building’s shaded premises and pretend you’re back in the colonial era of Malaya.

Perdana Botanical Gardens is also a great place for families with children! Let your kids take their pick from a few playgrounds - Fantasy Planet, Dinosaur Park and Bamboo Playhouse are all great places to start! Continue their playtime with hide and seek at the Sunken Garden, and pay a visit to the Deer Park before you leave. There’s no entry fee to the Botanical Gardens, but a small fee may apply for certain attractions. Opening hours are Mondays to Sundays, 7am to 8pm. More info at the official website here.

World of Phalaenopsis, Ulu Yam

Image by worldofphalaenopsis via Instagram

This privately-owned orchid farm is what it sounds like, a haven of beautiful phalaenopsis orchids! It is nestled along the drive from Kuala Lumpur city to Genting Highlands, Pahang. The owners pride themselves for being one of the largest producers of this flower species in Malaysia, offering the widest range of colors available. The farm is sheltered by an airy awning that allows enough sunlight to brighten the space without it being too hot. Other green hanging plants contribute to its lush yet tidy atmosphere. This makes the place perfect for photo opportunities at every corner!

Image by selene_8208 via Instagram

The true highlight of the farm is Fluorescence, a charming little cafe that immediately puts you into a zen-like ease upon walking in. The cafe’s handmade bamboo furniture, tatami mats, and floor cushions combined with natural light flooding in through the windows, sets a picture-perfect scene for your photos! Fluorescence serves up delectable desserts as well as local dishes at reasonable prices - perfect for a relaxing day trip away from the city. Opening hours are 8.30am - 5pm daily. Visit their Facebook page for more information.

Lavender Garden, Cameron Highlands

Travelling further up north to a higher altitude can prove rewarding for those who love flowers! Due to its cooler climate, it’s no surprise that Cameron Highlands is home to businesses that farm fresh produce, plants, and flowers. Flower farms here supply most of Malaysia’s flower wholesalers with locally-grown flowers that need specific temperatures to thrive. The Lavender Garden is one such place. Here you can find various species of the lavender flower in gorgeous shades of purple, lilac, and blue, clustered together in one place.

Image by nurdecamellia via Instagram

The place is also furnished with cute fittings and props for photos such as an old Volkswagen car, white picket fences, and all kinds of colourful sculptures. Take a slow walk to explore the garden and treat yourself to a yummy lavender soft serve ice-cream afterwards! 

Entry fee starts at RM8 for children and Rm10 for adults. Opening hours are Mondays to Thursdays: 9am to 5pm and Fridays to Sundays: 9am to 7pm. More info here.

Rose Valley Farm, Cameron Highlands

Photo credit: cameronhighland.net

 

Also located in Cameron Highlands is Rose Valley Farm, about 20 minutes drive from the famed BOH Tea Plantation. No points for guessing what flowers you’ll find here! There are over 400 species of roses available here including the Honeysuckle, Camellia, Gipsy Flower, Lily, and Gerberas.

 European-inspired sculptures and monuments can be found around the garden, giving the place a whimsical old charm. Bring your camera or go old school with a sketchbook and spend the afternoon appreciating the dedication of the flower fairies and nature’s little wonders here. There’s a small entry fee of RM5 for adults and RM2 for kids. Opening hours are 8am - 6pm daily. More info here.

The Habitat Penang Hill, Penang

Penang is arguably Malaysia’s best travel destination among locals and visitors alike. Every time you visit, there always seems to be a new heritage place to discover and treasure. The Habitat Penang Hill is a fairly new addition to the landscape of this island-state, giving you more than flowers to appreciate. It’s a protected area at the top of Penang hill which opened in 2016, featuring a very comfortable wheelchair/ stroller-friendly nature trail. The whole experience is designed to give you a sense of wonder as you begin the exploration on your own with helpful directional and educational signage along the way. You’ll meet your guide at the halfway point of the cemented footpath. Guides are friendly and approachable, and can teach you about this fascinating forest and its friendly creatures by heart. Many of them usually volunteer with the research team there as well.

The highlight of The Habitat is getting a 360 degree view of Penang from the tree top walk at Curtis Crest. It looks incredible in daytime and spectacular at sunset! Hold on to your mobile cameras tight while you’re taking photos up there though, because the winds are strong! The entry fee to The Habitat Penang Hill ranges from RM35 to RM145 depending on your package. Opening hours are 9:00am to 5:30pm daily. More info here.

 

With that, we hope you’ve formed a better appreciation for the beautiful flowers available right here in Malaysia! We hope this list served as inspiration for a few local bucket list destinations that you can tick off once it’s safe to travel again. Meanwhile, stay home and stay safe everyone! 

 

In light of the current circumstances, Mayflower Holidays recognise that our customers may have difficulty in reaching us through our customer support helpline. We strongly urge customers with non-immediate concerns to contact us via email at cs@mayflower-group.com or through our contact form if you have any concerns or issues. Meanwhile, we would like to remind everyone to stay safe during this period of restricted movement. See you again soon!