| Begonia 'Kimjongilhwa' | |
| Genus: | Begonia |
| Group: | Tuberhybrida Group |
| Cultivar: | 'Kimjongilhwa' |
| Context: | north |
| Hangul: | 김정일화 |
| Mr: | Kimjŏngirhwa |
| Rr: | Gimjeongilhwa |
Kimjongilia is a flower named after the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. It is a hybrid cultivar of tuberous begonia, registered as Begonia × tuberhybrida 'Kimjongilhwa'.[1] When Kim Jong Il died in December 2011, the flower was used to adorn his body for public display.[2] Despite its name, the Kimjongilia is not the official national flower of North Korea,[3] which is the Magnolia sieboldii.[4] Another flower, Kimilsungia, is an orchid cultivar named after Kim Jong Il's father and predecessor, Kim Il Sung.[3]
To commemorate Kim Jong Il's 46th birthday in 1988, Japanese botanist Kamo Mototeru cultivated a new perennial begonia named "kimjongilia" (literally, "flower of Kim Jong-il"), representing the Juche revolutionary cause of the Dear Leader.[5] It was presented as a "token of friendship between Korea and Japan".[6] The flower symbolizes wisdom, love, justice and peace. It is designed to bloom every year on Kim Jong Il's birthday, February 16.[7]
The flower has been cultivated to bloom around the Day of the Shining Star, Kim Jong Il's birthday, 16 February.[8] According to the Korean Central News Agency, a preservation agent had been developed that would allow the flower to keep in bloom for longer periods of time.[9]
A song composed by several North Korean composers, also called "Kimjongilia", was written about the flower:[10]