Top 5 most-searched plants and fungi in 2022
By RALPH LAUREN ABAINZA
As the world emerges from the pandemic, people turn to different hobbies, ideas, and places to cope. Google, one of the world's most-used search engines, captured these emerging trends. In its annual "Year in Search" report, Google outlines the worldwide top searches of 2022, including the trending plants and fungi of the year.
Here are Google’s top 5 most-searched plants and fungi this year:
#1 Garden Roses
Garden roses are hybrid roses also referred to as "vintage roses" or "cabbage roses" because of their frothy petals that are larger than standard roses. They are often cultivated as ornamental plants in gardens and as bouquet flowers.
Roses are often cultivated in temperate regions, but some Filipino gardeners found a way to locally grow roses, such as Julie Ann Lacsina from Angeles City, Pampanga.
Read: Single mother proves that she can grow roses and earn from her hobby
Mushrooms are the fleshy spore-bearing structures produced by some fungi. Humans have used both wild and cultivated mushrooms as sources of food and raw materials in different industries. This 2022, different new products from mushrooms, such as sparkling teas and chocolate bars, dominated Instagram and TikTok feeds.
Even before this year's social media hype, several Filipino farmers were already cultivating mushrooms and helping their local communities. One of them is Emma Tolentino who changed career paths and is now producing mushrooms in the town of Victoria in Tarlac.
Read: How Tarlac’s Mushroom Queen went from a corporate career to advocating organic farming
#3 Damask Rose
Damask rose or damascene rose, derived from the name of the city Damascus in Syria, is a prized hybrid rose cultivated mainly for its essential oil and fine fragrance. Though originally native to Iran, damask roses are now grown in different Asian and European countries, such as Turkey, Bulgaria, France, and India.
In the Philippines, some farmers also turn to essential oil production as an additional source of income, promoting the growth of the aromatherapy industry in the country.
#4 Passiflora
Passiflora, commonly known as passion flowers, are perennial vines that have trident-like lobed leaves and colorful flowers. Though they are native to North and South America, they are now cultivated in different regions and climates. Passion flowers were traditionally used as a calming herb for anxiety and insomnia.
Some farmers and agricultural experts in the Philippines, such as Philip S. Cruz, the president and chief executive officer of Herbnext Laboratories, Incorporated (HLI), also ventured into planting and processing around 20 different medicinal herbs.
Read: Meet a pioneer herbal extract manufacturer in the Philippines
#5 Philodendron
The philodendron is a flowering plant characterized by its large, green, and glossy leaves. It is known as one of the easiest houseplants to grow, especially since it can adapt well to different types of indoor setups. Native to tropical rainforests, the low-maintenance philodendrons are now grown in different parts of the world and are often used to add life in the home and office settings.
Different Filipino plant enthusiasts are also growing different varieties of philodendrons and are successful in making a business out of their green hobbies. One of them is Monstera Cafe in Silang, Cavite, a garden-themed coffee shop featuring Philodendron and Monstera varieties.
Read: Monstera-themed cafe in Cavite showcases and sells rare monstera and philodendron varieties
It is no surprise that ornamental plants dominated this year's list of most-searched plants and fungi. A report from the University of California Davis showed rapid growth in the number of people growing ornamental plants to relieve stress and earn additional income as the world emerges from the pandemic.