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🇨🇳 The flowers of China

400 pages from China: its flowers, the things made with them and the places to see them, across 60 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

Beijing 7Yunnan 6Guangzhou 5Fujian 4Hangzhou 4Shanghai 4Guangdong 3Jiangsu 3Suzhou 3Gansu 2Heilongjiang 2Hubei 2Kaifeng 2Kunming 2Tibet 2Xinjiang 2Xishuangbanna 2Zhejiang 2Anhui 1Baoshan District 1Bayi 1Bita Lake 1Bome 1Bozhou 1Chengde 1Chuzhou 1Diqing 1Fuzhou 1Guizhou 1Haidian 1Hebei 1Henan 1Heze 1Jingdezhen 1Jingtai County 1Jiujiang 1Kanas Lake 1Khorgas 1Longmen Grottoes 1Luohu District 1Luoping 1Matsu Islands 1Mengla County 1Mount Lu 1Nanjing 1Narati Grassland 1Qiu County 1Qujing 1Shaanxi 1Shandong 1Shangri-La 1Shanxi 1Shennongjia 1Shenzhen 1Shudu Lake 1Sichuan 1Tianhe District 1Tongxiang 1Wenzhou 1Yangtze region 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 ApricotPrunus armeniaca A small fruit tree with early white to pink blossoms and golden-orange fruit 🇨🇳 China and 6 more · Flowering tree RosemarySalvia rosmarinus A fragrant evergreen shrub with needle-like leaves and purple, blue, or white flowers 🇪🇸 Spain and 5 more · Flowering shrub Common dandelionTaraxacum officinale A familiar yellow wildflower with fluffy seed heads found across temperate regions 🇨🇳 China · Wildflower Lily-of-the-valleyConvallaria majalis A woodland plant with sweet-scented white bell flowers in late spring 🇫🇮 Finland and 4 more · 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 RapeseedBrassica napus A yellow-flowered crop grown for its oil-rich seeds and protein meal 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower Common poppyPapaver rhoeas The vivid red wildflower of fields and remembrance 🇨🇳 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 ColtsfootTussilago farfara A yellow spring-flowering herb once used in traditional remedies 🇨🇳 China and 4 more · Wildflower ElderSambucus nigra A tall shrub or small tree with clusters of white flowers and dark berries 🇩🇪 Germany and 6 more · Wildflower Hydrangea Flowering shrubs with large heads that change color with soil pH 🇯🇵 Japan and 2 more · Flowering shrub Common sageSalvia officinalis A Mediterranean herb with grey-green leaves and blue to purple flowers 🇨🇳 China and 1 more · Herb or useful flower 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 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 Primula A large genus of spring-blooming wild and garden flowers from cool and mountain regions 🇨🇳 China and 5 more · Wildflower Camellia Evergreen shrubs and trees with showy blooms, best known for tea and garden flowers 🇨🇳 China and 6 more · Garden flower Wild PansyViola tricolor A small wildflower with purple, yellow, and white blooms found across Eurasia 🇨🇳 China and 3 more · Wildflower Indian fig opuntiaOpuntia ficus-indica A large, spiny cactus grown for its sweet fruit and edible pads 🇲🇽 Mexico and 7 more · Wildflower LantanaLantana camara A colourful shrub with clusters of small, changing flowers 🇧🇷 Brazil and 9 more · Flowering shrub Marsh-marigoldCaltha palustris A bright yellow wildflower of marshes and wet woodlands in cool climates 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower Wild daffodilNarcissus pseudonarcissus A pale yellow spring flower and the national emblem of Wales 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 9 more · Wildflower Camellia reticulata Tall pink-flowered camellia from Yunnan, grown for gardens and tea oil 🇨🇳 China · Flowering tree Woodland peonyPaeonia obovata A woodland peony with white, pink or purple-red flowers from East Asia 🇨🇳 China and 2 more · Wildflower YellowhornXanthoceras sorbifolium A hardy flowering tree from northern China with edible seeds and fragrant white blooms 🇨🇳 China and 2 more · Flowering tree Red campionSilene dioica A wild pink-red flower of woods and roadsides in northern and central Europe 🇮🇪 Ireland and 4 more · Wildflower Place Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens香港動植物公園 A historic garden and zoo in Central, Hong Kong with themed plant collections 🇨🇳 China · Botanical garden Meconopsis grandis A blue-flowered poppy from the Himalayas grown for its striking blooms 🇧🇹 Bhutan and 3 more · Wildflower Pinwheel flowerTabernaemontana divaricata A fragrant white-flowered shrub native to South and Southeast Asia 🇲🇲 Myanmar and 2 more · Flowering shrub Moutan peonyPaeonia × suffruticosa The woody peony of China with large, showy spring flowers 🇨🇳 China and 4 more · Flowering shrub Black-eyed Susan vineThunbergia alata A fast-growing climbing plant with bright flowers and a dark centre 🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Garden flower PasqueflowerPulsatilla vulgaris A spring-flowering perennial with silky purple blooms and feathery seed heads 🇨🇳 China · Wildflower Royal poincianaDelonix regia A tropical tree with bright red-orange flowers and fern-like leaves 🇲🇬 Madagascar and 8 more · Flowering tree Place Luoping County罗平县 A county in Yunnan, China, famous for its golden canola fields in spring Luoping, 🇨🇳 China · Bloom site, Mar to Jun Prunus mume The fragrant plum blossom tree that blooms in winter across East Asia 🇨🇳 China and 3 more · Flowering tree Common LilacSyringa vulgaris A spring-flowering shrub with fragrant purple or white blooms 🇷🇸 Serbia and 4 more · Garden flower Trillium Woodland wildflowers with three-petalled blooms and whorled bracts 🇺🇸 United States and 4 more · Wildflower Water-lily tulipTulipa kaufmanniana A dwarf tulip from Central Asia with star-shaped flowers 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan and 6 more · Wildflower Oxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgare A white-petalled wildflower of meadows, now found across much of the world 🇱🇻 Latvia and 6 more · Wildflower Place China National Botanical Garden国家植物园 A vast botanical garden in Beijing with research, rare plants, and public displays Beijing, 🇨🇳 China · Botanical garden Japanese mountain cherryPrunus jamasakura Tall wild cherry tree of Japan with spring blossoms and edible fruit 🇯🇵 Japan and 2 more · Wildflower Place South China National Botanical Garden华南国家植物园 A major botanical garden in Guangzhou with diverse plant collections and research focus Guangzhou, 🇨🇳 China · Botanical garden Campbell's MagnoliaMagnolia campbellii A Himalayan tree with large pink or white flowers blooming before the leaves 🇨🇳 China and 3 more · Flowering tree Forsythia连翘 A yellow-flowered shrub that signals early spring in gardens and parks 🇨🇳 China and 3 more · Flowering shrub
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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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