A vibrant flowering plant, Mussaenda, is spreading its charm at the courtyard of a restaurant in Cox’s Bazar town, capturing the attention of both locals and tourists.
With its colourful calyx lobes and elegant structure, the plant has quickly become a visual attraction, making the restaurant’s surroundings more inviting.
Many visitors are stopping to take photographs with the plant—often admiring it as a flower without realising it is actually an ornamental shrub.
Belonging to the Rubiaceae family, Mussaenda philippica is native to the Philippines.
Owing to its striking appearance and relatively easy maintenance, it is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant across different parts of the world.
Its growing presence in Bangladesh reflects a gradual rise in popularity, and the specimen seen at the Cox’s Bazar restaurant stands as a fine example of its decorative appeal.
According to Wikipedia, well-known varieties of Mussaenda include Dona Luz (pink), Dona Alicia (deep pink), Queen Sirikit (light pink), Dona Aurora (white), and Dona Eva (deep red).
Among them, the Dona Aurora variety is particularly renowned for its white to creamy petal-like calyx lobes.
After blooming, these lobes often turn slightly greenish, becoming soft and gently curved—features that further enhance the plant’s aesthetic value.
Plant experts note that Dona Aurora, derived from Mussaenda philippica, is a significant variety that originally emerged through a spontaneous genetic mutation and later played an important role in the development of numerous hybrid varieties.
Stakeholders believe that the use of such ornamental plants in tourism-oriented establishments in Cox’s Bazar enhances environmental aesthetics and helps attract more visitors.
Restaurant authorities said that since placing the Mussaenda in the courtyard, visitor interest has noticeably increased, with the plant becoming a distinctive feature of the venue.
By Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Abdu Rashid Manik
