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🇨🇳 The flowers of China

231 pages from China: its flowers, the things made with them and the places to see them, across 39 cities and regions.

China is home to an extraordinary range of flowering plants, with over 30,000 native species and many found nowhere else. Its vast territory covers many climates, from tropical forests to deserts, supporting unique flowers like the Chinese aster, dove-tree, and peony. Endemic and culturally significant species set China's flora apart.

  • China has over 30,000 native plant species, many found nowhere else.
  • The peony is a cultural symbol of wealth and honor.
  • Dawn redwood was rediscovered in China after being thought extinct.
  • Fritillaria delavayi camouflages to avoid being picked.
  • Bamboo and sweet wormwood are widely used in daily life and medicine.

The plant life of China

China's plant life is among the richest in the world, shaped by its huge size and varied landscapes. From humid tropical forests in the south to dry deserts in the northwest, the country supports over 39,000 vascular plant species. More than half of these are found only in China. Ancient geological changes and the survival of plants through the last ice age have helped preserve many rare and ancient species. Forests, grasslands, bamboo groves, and alpine meadows all add to the diversity, making China a global center for plant variety.

From region to region in China

Plant life changes dramatically across China. The northeast has cold coniferous forests and mixed woodlands, while the subtropical south is lush with broad-leaved forests and bamboo. The southwest, including Yunnan and Tibet, is a refuge for ancient trees and rare flowers, spared from the last ice age. Tropical rainforests in Yunnan and Hainan are especially rich in species. In contrast, the north and northwest are drier, with fewer species and more grasslands or desert plants.

Flowers to know in China

China is known for flowers like the Chinese aster and the peony, a symbol of wealth and honor. The dove-tree, golden larch, and dawn redwood are rare trees native to China, with the dawn redwood once thought extinct. The happy tree and gutta-percha tree are valued for their traditional uses. Many species, such as the Yunnan cypress and Fritillaria delavayi, are found only in China and are now threatened or endangered.

How flowers are used in China

Plants have deep roots in Chinese culture, medicine, and daily life. Over 10,000 species are used, mostly in traditional medicine. Sweet wormwood, for example, has been used since ancient times for fevers. Bamboo is woven into mats and toys. Flowers like the peony appear in art and as symbols. Many plants are also grown for food or exported worldwide.

Threats and protection in China

Habitat loss, climate change, and overharvesting threaten many native plants. Endemic and useful species are especially at risk, with a third of useful plants both unique to China and threatened. Some, like Fritillaria delavayi, have even evolved to hide from collectors. Conservation efforts include national and international programs to protect rare species and habitats.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Flora of China", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

Flower experiences in China

All 4
🇨🇳 Kunming · All yearDounan flower marketChina's largest cut-flower market, where much of the trade happens in the evening. 🇨🇳 Suzhou · Mar to OctClassical gardens of SuzhouScholar gardens of rock, water and pavilions, where each season has its chosen flower. 🇨🇳 Luoyang · Apr to MayLuoyang peony seasonThe old capital of Luoyang fills its parks with tree peonies every April. 🇨🇳 Luoping · Feb to MarLuoping canola flower seaYellow rapeseed fields stretching between small limestone hills in eastern Yunnan.

Cities and regions of China

Yunnan 4Guangzhou 3Hangzhou 3Beijing 2Gansu 2Guangdong 2Heilongjiang 2Hubei 2Jiangsu 2Kaifeng 2Shanghai 2Tibet 2Xishuangbanna 2Anhui 1Fujian 1Haidian 1Hebei 1Henan 1Jingtai County 1Jiujiang 1Kanas Lake 1Khorgas 1Kunming 1Luohu District 1Matsu Islands 1Mengla County 1Mount Lu 1Nanjing 1Narati Grassland 1Qiu County 1Shaanxi 1Shanxi 1Shenzhen 1Sichuan 1Suzhou 1Tianhe District 1Xinjiang 1Yining 1Zhejiang 1
ShowFlowersDecorationsPlaces
ColourRedPinkOrangeYellowWhiteCreamBluePurpleGreenMaroonMany-coloured
In flowerSpringSummerMonsoonAutumnWinter
PeachPrunus persica A flowering fruit tree from China, grown for its pink blossoms and sweet fruit 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Flowering tree Common sunflowerHelianthus annuus A tall annual plant grown for its large yellow flower heads and edible seeds 🇨🇦 Canada and 4 more · Wildflower PomegranatePunica granatum A shrub with bright red flowers and a fruit full of edible seeds 🇮🇷 Iran and 9 more · Flowering shrub BirchBetula Slender trees with papery bark found across the northern world 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower ApricotPrunus armeniaca A small fruit tree with early white to pink blossoms and golden-orange fruit 🇨🇳 China and 6 more · Flowering tree FennelFoeniculum vulgare A tall, aromatic herb with feathery leaves and yellow umbels, used for food and spice 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Herb or useful flower RosemarySalvia rosmarinus A fragrant evergreen shrub with needle-like leaves and purple, blue, or white flowers 🇪🇸 Spain and 5 more · Flowering shrub Common flaxLinum usitatissimum The slender blue-flowered plant grown for linen and linseed 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower Chrysanthemum菊花 Autumn-blooming flower with thousands of varieties, cherished in East Asia and beyond 🇨🇳 China and 6 more · Wildflower Sacred lotusNelumbo nucifera The pink aquatic flower sacred in Asia and grown for food, worship and beauty 🇮🇳 India and 7 more · Water flower LindenTilia Tall, broad-leaved trees with fragrant yellow flowers and heart-shaped leaves 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Flowering tree AmaranthAmaranthus A tall, colourful plant grown for its flowers, leaves and edible seeds 🇲🇽 Mexico and 7 more · Wildflower OleanderNerium oleander A showy, evergreen shrub with clusters of pink, white or red flowers 🇲🇦 Morocco and 8 more · Flowering shrub Lily-of-the-valleyConvallaria majalis A woodland plant with sweet-scented white bell flowers in late spring 🇫🇮 Finland and 4 more · Wildflower Common dandelionTaraxacum officinale A familiar yellow wildflower with fluffy seed heads found across temperate regions 🇨🇳 China · Wildflower YarrowAchillea millefolium A wild, fern-leaved plant with flat clusters of white or pink flowers and a spicy scent 🇨🇳 China and 6 more · Wildflower Opium poppyPapaver somniferum A tall annual poppy grown for seeds, opium, and striking garden flowers 🇨🇳 China and 2 more · Wildflower RapeseedBrassica napus A yellow-flowered crop grown for its oil-rich seeds and protein meal 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower Hibiscus A tropical genus with large, colourful trumpet-shaped flowers 🇮🇳 India and 7 more · Wildflower Common poppyPapaver rhoeas The vivid red wildflower of fields and remembrance 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower Sensitive PlantMimosa pudica A touch-sensitive plant whose leaves fold up when disturbed 🇧🇷 Brazil and 8 more · Wildflower Thorn-appleDatura stramonium A poisonous, night-blooming plant with trumpet-shaped white or violet flowers 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower Rhododendron A vast group of shrubs and trees with showy blooms in many colours 🇳🇵 Nepal and 4 more · Wildflower Bay laurelLaurus nobilis Evergreen tree with aromatic leaves used as bay leaf in cooking 🇬🇷 Greece and 9 more · Flowering tree Pedunculate oakQuercus robur A towering oak tree with stalked acorns, native to Europe and western Asia 🇷🇸 Serbia and 8 more · Flowering tree Bitter orangeCitrus × aurantium The citrus tree behind Seville orange marmalade and Neroli oil 🇨🇳 China and 6 more · Flowering tree ColtsfootTussilago farfara A yellow spring-flowering herb once used in traditional remedies 🇨🇳 China and 4 more · Wildflower Hydrangea Flowering shrubs with large heads that change color with soil pH 🇯🇵 Japan and 2 more · Flowering shrub ElderSambucus nigra A tall shrub or small tree with clusters of white flowers and dark berries 🇩🇪 Germany and 6 more · Wildflower PoinsettiaEuphorbia pulcherrima The red-bracted shrub of Christmas displays, native to Mexico and Central America 🇲🇽 Mexico and 8 more · Wildflower SafflowerCarthamus tinctorius A thistle-like annual grown for oil, dye, and as a saffron substitute 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower CornflowerCentaurea cyanus A bright blue wildflower once common in European grain fields 🇩🇪 Germany and 7 more · Wildflower CarnationDianthus caryophyllus A fragrant flower with ruffled petals, grown worldwide for decoration and meaning 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Garden flower Common sageSalvia officinalis A Mediterranean herb with grey-green leaves and blue to purple flowers 🇨🇳 China and 1 more · Herb or useful flower Common ValerianValeriana officinalis Tall, sweet-scented wildflower with pale pink blooms and a long history in herbal lore 🇮🇸 Iceland and 8 more · Wildflower ChamomileMatricaria chamomilla A fragrant white and yellow annual flower used for tea and herbal remedies 🇨🇳 China · Wildflower Crocus Small corm-grown flowers in white, yellow, orange or purple 🇹🇷 Turkey and 7 more · Wildflower Black locustRobinia pseudoacacia A tall, fragrant-flowered tree native to eastern North America 🇺🇸 United States and 7 more · Flowering tree Common IvyHedera helix An evergreen climbing vine with lobed leaves and nectar-rich autumn flowers 🇮🇪 Ireland and 7 more · Wildflower Horse-chestnutAesculus hippocastanum A large flowering tree known for its white spring blooms and shiny brown conkers 🇦🇱 Albania and 7 more · Flowering tree PeonyPaeonia Large spring flowers in pink, red, white, yellow and purple, grown in gardens worldwide 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower Datura A group of trumpet-shaped, highly toxic flowering plants in the nightshade family 🇲🇽 Mexico and 7 more · Wildflower Primula A large genus of spring-blooming wild and garden flowers from cool and mountain regions 🇨🇳 China and 5 more · Wildflower Viburnum Shrubs and small trees with showy flower clusters and colourful berries 🇺🇦 Ukraine and 3 more · Wildflower LotusNelumbo Aquatic plants with large, round leaves and striking flowers called lotus 🇮🇳 India and 7 more · Water flower Camellia Evergreen shrubs and trees with showy blooms, best known for tea and garden flowers 🇨🇳 China and 6 more · Garden flower Sweet VioletViola odorata A scented violet with edible leaves and flowers, native to Eurasia 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower MallowMalva Edible and ornamental flowering plants with pink, purple or white blooms 🇮🇳 India and 6 more · Wildflower
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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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