Luffa Flower, Beauty That Turns Into Usefulness

The flower of the luffa plant doesn’t usually get as much attention as the sponge it produces, but it has its own meaning. Bright yellow and open-faced, luffa flowers are tied to vitality and growth in many farming traditions. Because they appear in abundance and give way to the fruit that later becomes the famous natural sponge, they’re often seen as symbols of usefulness hidden within beauty.

In rural Asia, luffa blossoms are sometimes used in cooking young flowers added to stir-fries or soups for a seasonal, slightly bitter taste. In herbal medicine, teas or infusions made from the flowers have been used to ease coughs, nasal congestion, and fevers. Their golden color also made them part of small local rituals linked with prosperity and good harvests.