Native Flowers of China: A Provincial Guide
China's vast territory spans multiple climate zones and ecosystems, creating one of the world's most diverse collections of native flora. This guide explores the distinctive flowers native to each of China's 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, and 4 municipalities, organized by region for easy reference.
Northern China
Beijing Municipality
Chinese Rose (Rosa chinensis) - The city flower, blooming from May to October with fragrant pink or red petals
Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) - Symbol of autumn, traditionally cultivated in temple gardens
Beijing Lilac (Syringa oblata) - Purple spring blooms with heart-shaped leaves, extremely cold-hardy
Tianjin Municipality
Chinese Trumpet Vine (Campsis grandiflora) - Orange-red trumpet-shaped flowers climbing on walls and trees
Forsythia (Forsythia suspensa) - Bright yellow early spring blooms before leaves emerge
Chinese Peony (Paeonia lactiflora) - Large, fragrant flowers in pink, white, and red
Hebei Province
Chinese Redbud (Cercis chinensis) - Purple-pink flowers that bloom directly on branches before leaves
Wild Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) - Delicate white to pink spring blossoms
Chinese Bellflower (Platycodon grandiflorus) - Blue, purple, or white balloon-like buds opening to star-shaped flowers
Shanxi Province
Chinese Scholar Tree (Styphnolobium japonicum) - Creamy white fragrant flower clusters in summer
Wild Peach (Prunus davidiana) - Early spring pink flowers, extremely drought tolerant
Chinese Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides) - Small white flowers in dense clusters, blooming in autumn
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
Mongolian Dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum) - Yellow flowers with medicinal properties
Chinese Iris (Iris lactea) - Pale blue to white flowers adapted to grassland conditions
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) - Purple-pink tubular flowers attractive to pollinators
Liaoning Province
Manchurian Apricot (Prunus mandshurica) - Pink spring flowers followed by small yellow fruits
Chinese Magnolia (Magnolia biondii) - Large white fragrant flowers blooming before leaves
Dalian Rose (Rosa davurica) - Pink single flowers with prominent yellow stamens
Jilin Province
Korean Pine Flower (Pinus koraiensis) - Though coniferous, produces decorative male cones
Wild Azalea (Rhododendron dauricum) - Purple-pink flowers blooming in early spring
Chinese Meadowsweet (Filipendula palmata) - Creamy white flower clusters in moist meadows
Heilongjiang Province
Amur Maple Flower (Acer ginnala) - Small yellowish-white flowers in spring clusters
Wild Rose (Rosa acicularis) - Pink single flowers, extremely cold hardy
Chinese Goldthread (Coptis chinensis) - Small white flowers, valued for medicinal roots
Eastern China
Shanghai Municipality
White Magnolia (Magnolia denudata) - City flower, pure white blooms symbolizing purity
Chinese Camellia (Camellia sinensis) - White flowers with yellow centers, source of tea leaves
Winter Sweet (Chimonanthus praecox) - Yellow waxy flowers blooming in winter
Jiangsu Province
Jasmine (Jasminum sambac) - Intensely fragrant white flowers, symbol of purity
Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) - Cascading purple flower clusters in spring
Osmanthus (Osmanthus fragrans) - Tiny but intensely fragrant orange or white flowers
Zhejiang Province
West Lake Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) - Sacred pink or white flowers rising from water
Chinese Azalea (Rhododendron simsii) - Bright red flowers covering hillsides in spring
Hangzhou Camellia (Camellia japonica) - Red, pink, or white formal flowers in winter
Anhui Province
Yellow Mountain Azalea (Rhododendron huangshanense) - Endemic yellow flowers found on Huangshan
Chinese Fringe Flower (Loropetalum chinense) - Pink or white spidery petals
Wild Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum indicum) - Small yellow daisy-like flowers
Fujian Province
Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis) - Vibrant purple, pink, or red papery bracts
Chinese Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) - Large red trumpet-shaped flowers
Fujian Camellia (Camellia oleifera) - White flowers producing oil-rich seeds
Jiangxi Province
Rhododendron (Rhododendron fortunei) - Pink to white fragrant flowers in mountain forests
Chinese Redbud (Cercis chinensis) - Heart-shaped leaves follow purple-pink flowers
Wild Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) - Creamy white intensely fragrant flowers
Shandong Province
Peony (Paeonia suffruticosa) - Tree peony with large, elaborate flowers in many colors
Chinese Rose (Rosa chinensis) - Climbing roses with continuous blooming habit
Weeping Forsythia (Forsythia suspensa) - Drooping branches covered in yellow flowers
Central China
Henan Province
Luoyang Peony (Paeonia suffruticosa) - Famous ornamental with huge, ruffled flowers
Chinese Flowering Crabapple (Malus spectabilis) - Pink buds opening to white flowers
Wild Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) - White flowers turning yellow, highly fragrant
Hubei Province
Dove Tree Flower (Davidia involucrata) - Large white bracts resembling doves in flight
Chinese Tulip Tree (Liriodendron chinense) - Tulip-shaped yellow-green flowers high in canopy
Hubei Barberry (Berberis hubeiensis) - Yellow flower clusters followed by red berries
Hunan Province
Chinese Hibiscus (Hibiscus mutabilis) - Color-changing flowers from white to pink to red
Wild Azalea (Rhododendron molle) - Yellow to orange flowers, deciduous shrub
Chinese Fringe Tree (Chionanthus retusus) - Drooping clusters of white fringe-like flowers
Southern China
Guangdong Province
Kapok (Bombax ceiba) - Large red flowers on bare branches, symbol of Guangzhou
Bauhinia (Bauhinia blakeana) - Purple-pink orchid-like flowers, Hong Kong's symbol
Chinese Banyan Flower (Ficus microcarpa) - Tiny flowers hidden inside fig-like structures
Guangxi Autonomous Region
Osmanthus (Osmanthus fragrans) - Regional flower, tiny orange flowers with intense fragrance
Chinese Azalea (Rhododendron simsii) - Evergreen shrub with bright red spring flowers
Wild Ginger Flower (Alpinia zerumbet) - White flowers with yellow and pink markings
Hainan Province
Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis) - Provincial flower, colorful papery bracts
Frangipani (Plumeria rubra) - Waxy yellow, white, or pink fragrant flowers
Chinese Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) - Large red or pink trumpet flowers
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Bauhinia (Bauhinia blakeana) - Regional flower, sterile hybrid with purple-pink blooms
Chinese New Year Flower (Enkianthus quinqueflorus) - Drooping clusters of pink bell-shaped flowers
Wild Azalea (Rhododendron championae) - Small pink flowers endemic to Hong Kong hills
Macau Special Administrative Region
Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) - Regional flower, sacred pink or white water flowers
Chinese Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) - Red tropical flowers blooming year-round
Ixora (Ixora chinensis) - Clusters of small red, orange, or yellow flowers
Western China
Sichuan Province
Chinese Dove Tree (Davidia involucrata) - Endangered species with white "dove" bracts
Sichuan Rhododendron (Rhododendron calophytum) - Large white to pink flowers with crimson markings
Chinese Primrose (Primula sinensis) - Delicate flowers in shades of pink, purple, and white
Chongqing Municipality
Camellia (Camellia japonica) - City flower, red formal flowers blooming in winter
Chinese Azalea (Rhododendron simsii) - Bright red flowers covering mountain slopes
Chinese Rose (Rosa chinensis) - Climbing roses with repeat flowering
Guizhou Province
Azalea (Rhododendron delavayi) - Deep red flowers in high-altitude forests
Chinese Primrose (Primula poissonii) - Purple flowers with yellow centers in wet areas
Wild Camellia (Camellia reticulata) - Large pink or red flowers, source of ornamental varieties
Yunnan Province
Rhododendron (Rhododendron yunnanense) - Pink to white flowers with spotted petals
Chinese Magnolia (Magnolia delavayi) - Enormous white flowers up to 8 inches across
Primula (Primula malacoides) - Clusters of small pink, purple, or white flowers
Tibet Autonomous Region
Blue Poppy (Meconopsis betonicifolia) - Rare sky-blue flowers, Tibetan symbol
Tibetan Primrose (Primula tibetica) - Purple flowers adapted to high altitude
Alpine Rhododendron (Rhododendron nivale) - Small purple flowers, world's highest flowering shrub
Shaanxi Province
Chinese Scholar Tree (Styphnolobium japonicum) - Creamy white fragrant summer flowers
Wild Peony (Paeonia rockii) - White flowers with dark purple centers
Chinese Redbud (Cercis chinensis) - Purple-pink flowers blooming before leaves
Gansu Province
Chinese Rhubarb Flower (Rheum palmatum) - Tall spikes of tiny white or red flowers
Wild Rose (Rosa sericea) - Single white flowers with four petals instead of five
Alpine Primrose (Primula secundiflora) - Purple tubular flowers in high mountain meadows
Qinghai Province
Tibetan Primrose (Primula tibetica) - Purple flowers thriving in harsh plateau conditions
Alpine Forget-me-not (Myosotis alpestris) - Tiny blue flowers with yellow centers
Qinghai Poppy (Meconopsis integrifolia) - Yellow poppy flowers adapted to high altitude
Ningxia Autonomous Region
Chinese Rose (Rosa xanthina) - Yellow wild roses tolerant of arid conditions
Desert Cistanche (Cistanche deserticola) - Yellow flower spikes emerging from sand
Wild Licorice Flower (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) - Purple pea-like flowers in desert areas
Xinjiang Autonomous Region
Tianshan Snow Lotus (Saussurea involucrata) - Rare white flowers surrounded by woolly bracts
Wild Tulip (Tulipa iliensis) - Red or yellow tulips in mountain meadows
Desert Rose (Rosa beggeriana) - Small white flowers extremely drought tolerant
Conservation Notes
Many of China's native flowers face threats from habitat loss, climate change, and over-collection. Notable conservation concerns include:
Blue Poppy - Severely endangered due to over-harvesting and climate change
Chinese Dove Tree - Protected species with limited wild populations
Tianshan Snow Lotus - Over-collected for traditional medicine
Wild Orchids - Many species endangered due to illegal collection
Cultural Significance
Chinese flowers carry deep cultural meaning:
Peony - Symbol of honor, wealth, and nobility
Lotus - Represents purity and spiritual enlightenment
Chrysanthemum - Associated with autumn and longevity
Plum Blossom - Symbol of perseverance and hope
Osmanthus - Represents true love and faithfulness
Best Viewing Times
Spring (March-May): Cherry blossoms, azaleas, peonies, magnolias
Summer (June-August): Lotus, osmanthus, hibiscus
Autumn (September-November): Chrysanthemums, osmanthus
Winter (December-February): Camellias, winter sweet, plum blossoms
China's native flowers represent an incredible diversity of forms, colors, and adaptations. From the hardy alpine species of Tibet to the tropical blooms of Hainan, each province contributes unique species to the world's botanical heritage. Understanding and protecting this floral diversity is crucial for maintaining China's natural ecosystems and cultural traditions for future generations.
