🇹🇼 The flowers of Taiwan
24 pages from Taiwan: its flowers, the things made with them and the places to see them, across 9 cities and regions.
Taiwan’s flowers and flowering plants are shaped by its tropical climate, mountains, and varied rainfall. Over 4,300 vascular plant species grow here, with many unique to the island. Taiwan is known for its wild rhododendrons, lilies, camellias, and a high number of endemic species found nowhere else.
- Over 4,300 vascular plant species grow in Taiwan.
- About 600 species of ferns are found on the island.
- Lanyu and Lutao islands share plant species with the Philippines.
- Bamboo plantations are widespread and important economically.
- Wild rhododendrons and lilies are common in mountain regions.
The plant life of Taiwan
Taiwan’s plant life thrives thanks to its tropical setting, heavy rains, and dramatic changes in elevation. The island supports over 4,300 species of vascular plants, including ferns, conifers, and a wide range of flowering plants. Dense forests, bamboo groves, and fruit orchards are common. The landscape shifts from lush lowlands to cool, forested peaks, creating many habitats. This range of environments supports both tropical and temperate plants, making Taiwan’s flora unusually rich for its size.
From region to region in Taiwan
Flora changes sharply across Taiwan’s regions. The northeast, with its heavy rain and clouds, has unique species. Central Taiwan’s plains and basins are ringed by mountains, sheltering forests with many plants found only here. The subtropical Hengchun area mixes broadleaf and rain forests. Lanyu and Lutao islands share some species with the Philippines and have their own endemics. The high mountains support temperate and boreal plants, while conifers dominate the upper slopes. Warm lowlands favor broadleaf forests.
Flowers to know in Taiwan
Taiwan is home to many plants found nowhere else, such as Isoetes taiwanensis and Camellia hengchunensis. Wild rhododendrons and lilies brighten mountain slopes. Lanyu and Lutao islands have species that link Taiwan’s flora to the Philippines. Bamboo is widespread, both wild and cultivated. Fruit trees like lychee, starfruit, and mango are common in lowland orchards.
How flowers are used in Taiwan
People in Taiwan have shaped the flora through farming. Bamboo is widely grown for building and as a cash crop, especially valued for its strength during storms. Fruit trees and vegetables are cultivated across the island, with rice and vegetables often rotated in the same fields. These crops support both local diets and exports, such as rice, sugarcane, and betel nuts.
The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Flora of Taiwan", 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 Taiwan
🇹🇼 Taipei · All yearJianguo holiday flower marketA weekend plant and flower market that sets up under an elevated road in central Taipei.
🇹🇼 Taipei · Feb to MayYangmingshan flower season and the calla lilies of ZhuzihuCherry and azalea on the mountain above Taipei, then white calla lilies in a farmed valley.Cities and regions of Taiwan
Brown mustardBrassica juncea
A leafy mustard plant grown for greens, seeds, and oil across Asia and beyond
🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Wildflower
Decoration
Banmi Shofu-ryū晩美生風流
A modern school of Japanese Ikebana known for its use of driftwood
🇯🇵 Japan and 2 more · Arrangement
Pigeon orchidDendrobium crumenatum
A white, fragrant orchid that blooms all at once after rain
🇮🇳 India and 5 more · Wildflower
Lilium pumilum
A small Asian lily with nodding red flowers and a light scent
🇨🇳 China and 3 more · Wildflower
Taiwan cherryPrunus campanulata
An early-blooming cherry tree with deep pink, bell-shaped flowers
🇨🇳 China and 4 more · Flowering tree
Formosa lilyLilium formosanum
A tall, white, fragrant lily native to Taiwan with trumpet-shaped blooms
🇹🇼 Taiwan and 3 more · Wildflower
Decoration
Hanami花見
The Japanese tradition of gathering to enjoy cherry blossoms in spring
🇯🇵 Japan and 7 more · Custom, Jan to May
Cymbidium faberi
A wild orchid with pale green, yellow, or purple-tinged flowers from Asia
🇨🇳 China and 3 more · Wildflower
Cherokee roseRosa laevigata
A white, fragrant climbing rose from southern China with bristly red hips
🇨🇳 China and 5 more · Wildflower
Hubei AnemoneEriocapitella hupehensis
A late-summer flowering perennial with purple, pink or white blooms
🇨🇳 China and 5 more · Wildflower
Lilium speciosum
A late-summer lily with fragrant white to pink flowers from East Asia
🇯🇵 Japan and 2 more · Wildflower
Porcelain flowerHoya carnosa
A climbing houseplant with star-shaped, sweet-scented waxy flowers
🇨🇳 China and 3 more · Garden flower
Place
Taipei Botanical Garden臺北植物園
A historic garden in Taipei with over 2,000 plant species and heritage buildings
Taipei, 🇹🇼 Taiwan · Botanical garden
Tricyrtis
A shade-loving Asian perennial with spotted, trumpet-shaped flowers
🇨🇳 China and 3 more · Wildflower
Poison bulbCrinum asiaticum
A large white-flowered lily grown in warm gardens, toxic if eaten
🇲🇲 Myanmar and 5 more · Wildflower
Spanish cherryMimusops elengi
A fragrant evergreen tree with cream flowers and edible fruit
🇮🇳 India and 7 more · Flowering tree
Hairy Water LilyNymphaea pubescens
A night-blooming water lily with softly hairy leaves and large pink or white flowers
🇧🇩 Bangladesh and 7 more · Water flower
Pieris
Evergreen shrubs with bell-shaped white or pink flowers in spring
🇨🇳 China and 5 more · Flowering shrub
Ixora
Tropical evergreen shrubs with clusters of small, bright flowers
🇮🇳 India and 4 more · Garden flower
Decoration
White Dayホワイトデー
March 14 gift-giving day in Japan and East Asia, one month after Valentine's Day
🇯🇵 Japan and 4 more · Custom, March
Decoration
Qingming Festival清明节
The Chinese spring festival for honoring ancestors with tomb sweeping and offerings
🇨🇳 China and 7 more · Custom, April
Decoration
Double Ninth Festival重陽節
A day for mountain walks, chrysanthemums, and honoring ancestors in East Asia
🇨🇳 China and 5 more · Custom, Sep to Oct
Decoration
Buddha's Birthday佛诞
A festival marking the birth of Gautama Buddha, celebrated across Asia in spring
🇮🇳 India and 3 more · Custom, Apr to May
Place
Yangmingshan National Park陽明山國家公園
Taipei’s volcanic park with cherry blossoms, hot springs, and hiking trails
Taipei, 🇹🇼 Taiwan · Flower garden
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Hanami: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Taipei Botanical Garden: Meiguoren, CC0, source
- Yangmingshan National Park: H8010110, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Lilium speciosum: ‘Uncle Carl’ (カールおじさん)., CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Hubei Anemone: William Brockelsby, CC BY 4.0, source
- Banmi Shofu-ryū: GustavoReinoso7777, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Brown mustard: Unoldy, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Pigeon orchid: Marshman at English Wikipedia / Eric Guinther, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Lilium pumilum: Ixitixel, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Taiwan cherry: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Formosa lily: Sphl, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Tricyrtis: André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Cymbidium faberi: 阿橋 HQ, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Poison bulb: Franz Xaver, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Spanish cherry: Wibowo Djatmiko ( Wie146 ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Hairy Water Lily: Bernard Loison, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Pieris: Meneerke bloem, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Porcelain flower: Yvan leduc, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Buddha's Birthday: User: (WT-shared) Manoj nav at wts wikivoyage, Public domain, source
- Ixora: Wilfredor, CC0, source
- White Day: Flickr user mersy ( Masashi Yanagiya), CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Qingming Festival: Jacklee ., CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Double Ninth Festival: Sgerbic, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Jianguo Holiday Flower Market Taipei: This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote . Feel free to use any of, CC BY 4.0, source