The Story Behind One Of The Rarest Flowers On Earth

Did you know that one of earth’s rarest flower can be found in no other place on earth but Fiji’s island of Taveuni?

Hidden high in the misty mountains of Taveuni lies a treasure found nowhere else—the enchanting Tagimoucia flower. Those wishing to witness it must embark on a hike up one of Fiji’s tallest mountains. The journey takes you through dense, mist-shrouded forests and past a remarkable lake perched 2,000 meters above sea level.

The Tagimoucia (Medinilla waterhousei) is a rare liana that boasts vibrant crimson and white blooms cascading in elegant, 30 cm-long clusters. Its rarity and beauty have captivated botanists and travelers alike.

What Makes the Tagimoucia Flower So Rare?

It is believed that the plant needs a very specific composition of volcanic soil to grow as all efforts to cultivate it outside its native habitat in Fiji have been unsuccessful.

The Heartbreaking Legend Behind Fiji’s Tagimoucia Flower

Let’s take you back in time to ancient Fiji, and explore how a Fijian Princess’s tears are said to have formed this beautiful flower.

According to the villagers of Somosomo in Taveuni, the beauty of the flower lies in it’s name; Tagi(cry)-mo(to)-ucui(be like)-au(me). A name that speaks of heartbreak and sacrifice.

The story goes that long ago, in the island of Taveuni, there lived a Princess—Adi Uluiqalau, whose radiant beauty was matched only by the love she carried in her heart. But her heart was not free. Though she loved another, her father, the island’s chief, demanded she marry a prince of his choosing. When she refused, the chief’s wrath was swift, and he sent his warriors to hunt her down.

Desperate and broken, Adi Uluiqalau fled into the dense forests of the mountains. The darkness of the forest swallowed her as she ran, the trees looming tall like silent sentinels. Exhausted, she collapsed, her breath ragged. In the darkness, she whispered her final plea to the spirits of the jungle, “Let them feel my pain.”

The jungle stirred. The spirits heard her cry and hid her from her pursuers. Alone, her tears fell freely, mixing with the earth, dripping onto the branches that sheltered her. As each tear touched the ground, her pain was transformed.

The jungle bound her to itself, entwining her body with the trees. Her tears and her blood became the Tagimoucia—a flower born from sorrow, its red petals soaked in her anguish, the white a reminder of the tears that was shed for her lost love.

How To See The Tagimoucia Flower

To see the Tagimoucia for yourself, you must journey to Taveuni. You would need to catch a boat from Savusavu to Taveuni, or a plane from anywhere outside of Vanua Levu.

Savasi Island Resort also provides day trips to Taveuni Island. You will then hike into the forest and come across the Tagimoucia lake.The beautiful Tagimoucia flower only grows in the volcanic cold region high up in the mountains of Taveuni , thriving around Lake Tagimoucia. It thrives only here, in the cold, volcanic heights—silent witness to a love that echoes through time.