Prince Florian: the caterpillar prince of Mario Wonder

CharacterSuper Mario Bros. WonderFlower Kingdom

For once, it isn't the princess who gets kidnapped — it's the castle. Caterpillar ruler of the Flower Kingdom, Prince Florian watches Bowser merge with his palace in the very first scene of Super Mario Bros. Wonder. He then sets off with the heroes and carries the badges on his crown. This profile looks at his Poplin people, his talking flowers and the Latin etymology of his name, florus: “flowering”.

A tiny ruler for a kingdom in bloom: Prince Florian, a small soft-green caterpillar with a crown, reigns over the Flower Kingdom — the land next door to the Mushroom Kingdom visited in Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

Stripped of his castle by Bowser in the very first scene, this prince who looks like a miniature Wiggler decides to fight back alongside Mario, his badges screwed onto his crown. A portrait of the cutest monarch in the whole saga.

Contents

• The ruler of the Flower Kingdom
• Bowser steals his castle — literally
• The team's badge bearer
• Poplins and talking flowers: a kingdom to save
• A new face already adopted
• Quick facts
• FAQ

---

The ruler of the Flower Kingdom

Prince Florian appears in Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Switch, 2023) as the master of the house: he is the one who welcomes Mario and his friends for an official visit to his Flower Kingdom, land of the good-natured Poplins and of the famous talking flowers that comment on every level.

His name breathes his kingdom: “Florian” comes from the Latin florus — “flowery”, “flourishing”. A royal caterpillar with a botanical name, reigning over a country that is one big garden: the whole craft of Wonder's writing lies in that flawless consistency.

---

Bowser steals his castle — literally

The diplomatic visit is cut short: Bowser gets hold of a Wonder Flower, and his first act of tyranny is outrageous like never before — he merges with the prince's castle, turning the building into a flying fortress in his own image that spreads chaos across the whole kingdom.

Florian is therefore left a ruler with no throne and no walls, his Poplin subjects scattered or imprisoned. A personal affront that gives Wonder its singular momentum: for once, it isn't the princess who gets kidnapped, it's the castle itself.

---

The team's badge bearer

Rather than waiting at the palace — he no longer has one — the prince sets off with the heroes: he travels perched on the lead player's character and speaks up as the adventure unfolds. His contribution sits at the very heart of the gameplay:

• He carries the badges on his crown: those equippable accessories that grant one power per outing — gliding jump, grappling hook, dash start…
• He acts as the official guide, introducing the worlds and cheering the group on.
• His tiny size makes him the most unobtrusive companion in the history of the series: always there, never in the way.

A prince who literally puts himself at the service of his liberators: royalty, Wonder style.

---

Poplins and talking flowers: a kingdom to save

Florian's quest follows the game's map exactly: world after world, the goal is to free the Poplins, bring peace back to the talking flowers and recover the Wonder Seeds scattered by Bowser's mayhem. The prince lives every stage as a ruler who is personally involved: these are his people, his country, his responsibility.

That through line gives Wonder a warmth all its own: you are not saving an abstract kingdom, you are giving a country back to a brave little monarch who lost everything in the opening cutscene and still refuses to lower his antennae.

---

A new face already adopted

Creating a brand-new character in a forty-year-old saga is a risky exercise; Florian pulled it off with flying colours. His royal caterpillar face caught on straight away, enough to win the honours of merchandising — right up to an official amiibo showing him alongside a Poplin.

It has to be said that the prince ticks every fan-favourite box: adorable design, useful role, tender writing. The Flower Kingdom has found its ambassador — and the Mario universe a new crowned head that counts.

---

Prince Florian at a glance

Name	Prince Florian
Species	Caterpillar (Wiggler-like appearance)
Game	Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Switch, 2023)
Kingdom	Flower Kingdom
Subjects	Poplins and talking flowers
Gameplay role	Carries the badges on his crown
Ordeal	Castle merged with Bowser
Etymology	Latin florus: “flowery, flourishing”

🍄 Want to keep the adventure going? Check out our Mario figures in the shop.

---

FAQ

• Who is Prince Florian?
  He is the ruler of the Flower Kingdom in Super Mario Bros. Wonder: a small crowned caterpillar with the look of a Wiggler, who travels with the heroes throughout the whole adventure.
• What does Bowser do to Prince Florian?
  He merges with his castle thanks to the power of a Wonder Flower, turning the building into a flying fortress and plunging the kingdom into chaos.
• What is Prince Florian for in the gameplay?
  He carries the badges on his crown: these accessories grant one power of your choice per outing, such as a gliding jump or a grappling hook.
• Who are Prince Florian's subjects?
  The Poplins, the good-natured inhabitants of the Flower Kingdom, along with the famous talking flowers that comment on the game's levels.
• Where does the name Florian come from?
  From the Latin florus, meaning “flowery” or “flourishing”: a direct nod to the Flower Kingdom he reigns over.

↑ Back to top