"Among flowers, I am not partial to any but the chrysanthemum. When this flower fades, no other flowers bloom," said the famous line by Tang Dynasty poet Yuan Zhen, which perfectly expresses the poet's deep affection for chrysanthemums. Autumn is the best season for appreciating chrysanthemums. At the recently concluded 45th Beijing Chrysanthemum Exhibition in Beihai Park, visitors were able to admire chrysanthemums in various colors and shapes. However, for those who appreciate chrysanthemums, this is just the beginning. The true flowering period, granted by nature, is from late October to early November, when chrysanthemums are at their most graceful and charming.
Chrysanthemums are a traditional and famous flower native to China. Beihai Park, known for its long history of chrysanthemum cultivation, is the oldest park in Beijing dedicated to growing chrysanthemums. In the 1960s, Beihai Park was designated as a key site for chrysanthemum cultivation. According to statistics, by the early 1980s, the park had preserved over 1,100 varieties of chrysanthemums. In the park's flowerbeds, Beihai engineer Liu Ning told reporters that she had been involved in chrysanthemum cultivation since she began working there in 2005. From 2010, when Beihai Park began breeding new varieties, she has participated in the process. The park has since developed nearly a hundred new varieties of chrysanthemums. Among them, the varieties "Taiye Chunxia," "Taiye Jiaorong," "Taiye Xizhuang," and "Qionghua Qiuse" are the most stunning.
The three new chrysanthemum varieties, "Taiye Chunxia," "Taiye Jiaorong," and "Taiye Xizhuang," all include the term "Taiye." "Taiye" refers to Taiye Pool, which includes the Zhonghai, Nanhai, and Beihai areas in the park. The development of the Beihai garden began in the Liao Dynasty, and during the Jin Dynasty, a grand Tai Ning Palace was built on the foundation laid during the early Liao period, in the 19th year of the Dading era (1179). The Tai Ning Palace followed the imperial garden design of "One Pool, Three Mountains" and moved Taihu stones from the imperial gardens of Bianjing (now Kaifeng) to Qionghua Island. In the fourth year of the Yuan Dynasty (1267), Emperor Kublai Khan centered his construction of the city of Dadu (now Beijing) around Qionghua Island and the surrounding lake. Qionghua Island and its lake were incorporated into the Imperial City and were renamed Wanshou Mountain and Taiye Pool. In the 18th year of the Yongle reign (1420), during the Ming Dynasty, the capital was officially moved to Beijing, and Wanshou Mountain and Taiye Pool became part of the Western Imperial Garden of the Forbidden City, known as the Xiyuan. During the Ming Dynasty, the water area to the south of the pool was expanded, forming the current Three Seas layout. Today, Beihai Park's Beihai area is part of the Taiye Pool.
The chrysanthemum cultivation base is located in the greenhouses by Taiye Pool, where the moist scent of the lake nourishes the chrysanthemums, making them bloom beautifully. 'Taiye Chunxia' has an elegant form, with long, outstretched pink petals that droop downward, giving a feeling of infinite affection. Liu Ning explained that the name 'Taiye Chunxia' was chosen because its appearance reminds people of the beautiful spring sunset glow at the Taiye Pool in Beihai Park.
Liu Ning described the variety characteristics of 'Taiye Chunxia' in professional terms: it is a wing-tube type with tubular petals, the flowers are light pink, and the petal tips open slightly. The leaves are glossy, and the plant reaches about 50 cm in height with flower stems around 19 cm. It is an early-blooming variety, typically flowering at the end of October. The parent variety is 'Xiangyun Chunyu', which is light pink and has a rolled and scattered petal type, a domestic variety. Taiye Jiaorong features a red color that is particularly favored by Chinese people. As the flower buds open and grow, the color deepens, becoming more vibrant in the late autumn, giving a warm feeling.
Liu Ning explained its variety characteristics: it is a rolled and scattered type with spoon-shaped petals, red flowers, and glossy leaves. The plant height is around 70 cm, with flower stems around 19 cm. It is an early-blooming variety, typically blooming at the beginning of November. The parent variety is 'Qionghua Fengwu', red in color with a reverse scattered petal type, a variety bred in Beihai Park.
Taiye Xizhuang has a very pale pink color, like a woman's natural look after washing off her makeup. Although it is more subdued, it carries a different kind of beauty. Liu Ning described its variety characteristics: it is a rolled and scattered type with spoon-shaped petals, light pink flowers with yellow tips, and glossy leaves. The plant height is about 50 cm, with flower stems around 19 cm. It is an early-blooming variety, typically flowering at the end of October. The parent variety is 'Xiangyun Chunyu', light pink and with a rolled and scattered petal type, a domestic variety. Liu Ning said the name 'Taiye Xizhuang' was chosen by her mentor, Ye Jialiang. In the chrysanthemum community, there is a tradition of apprenticeship, and Ye Jialiang, from Tianjin, was born in 1954. He began learning chrysanthemum cultivation in 1966 and formally engaged in artistic chrysanthemum work in 1978. He has over 40 years of experience in chrysanthemum cultivation and research and is a well-known expert in the field. He is currently the floral master of Tianjin Water Park and the vice chairman of the China Chrysanthemum Research Society.
One of the Eight Views of Beijing is "Qiongdiao Chun Yin" (Spring Shade of Qiong Island). The inspiration for the name Qionghua Qiuse comes from this view. As the autumn wind blows and the forests turn golden, 'Qionghua Qiuse' resembles the golden yellow of the ginkgo leaves on Qiong Island in autumn.
Qiong Island is located in the southern part of Taiye Pool. During the Jin Dynasty, it was called Qionghua Island. During the Yuan Dynasty, it was part of Wanshou Mountain (also known as Wansui Mountain). In the eighth year of the Shunzhi reign (1651), the White Pagoda was built at the top of the mountain, and the island was renamed Bai Ta Mountain. The island is 32.3 meters high, with a circumference of 913 meters. Qionghua means "gorgeous jade," and the name indicates that the island is a fairyland built from beautiful jade. On Qionghua Island, the Yong'an Temple is the central structure, surrounded by exquisite pavilions nestled among ancient trees, making it especially beautiful in spring, standing out from other landscapes. The stele with the inscription "Qiongdiao Chun Yin" by Emperor Qianlong is located in the shaded areas of the island.
Not only is Qiong Island beautiful in spring, but it is even more enchanting in autumn, with its rich green turning into a golden hue. 'Qionghua Qiuse' is pure yellow, with large flowers that exude the scent of harvest. Liu Ning described its variety characteristics: it is a hook-ring type with tubular petals, yellow flowers, and glossy leaves. The plant height is around 70 cm, with flower stems around 20 cm. It is an early-blooming variety, typically blooming at the beginning of November. The parent variety is 'Fengzi Ruhuahua', pink in color and a rolled and scattered type, a domestic variety.
Butterflies are Beautiful, But Harm the Flowers
Liu Ning said that during her involvement in chrysanthemum breeding, she has experienced the journey from uncertainty to clarity in her goals.
At the beginning of her breeding efforts, Liu Ning did not have a clear goal for what kind of flowers she wanted to cultivate. She was simply excited when the plants produced seeds and flowers. Over time, she began to experiment with more varieties and found better parent plants, considering factors such as floral beauty, genetic stability, and seed production. Currently, the main goal for chrysanthemum breeding at Beihai Park is to cultivate warm-colored early-blooming varieties.
Traditional chrysanthemums are mostly yellow or white (with other occasional colors resulting from years of genetic variation and hybridization) and typically bloom in late autumn. These types no longer fully satisfy the visitors' demand for chrysanthemum appreciation.
According to an article titled Beihai Park Chrysanthemum Specimen Breeding and Germplasm Resource Conservation (by Wang Kailin and Pan Shanshan, China Flowers & Horticulture), cultivating early-blooming varieties is a major breeding objective at Beihai Park. Several varieties that bloom by mid-October have been successfully bred, such as hybrids of 'Guoqing Zao Xiao Ju' (flowering period in September) and 'Zao Huang Yi Hao' (short-day treatment), which were further crossed with large chrysanthemum varieties like 'Ni Sha Man Wu' and 'Taiye Cheng Lu'. These new varieties can reach peak bloom as early as October 10th. 'Jin Zhong Ming Qiu' and 'Zhu Sha Hong Shuang' are also recent early-blooming varieties that can reach full bloom before October 20th.
The second breeding goal of Beihai Park is to cultivate bright and rare flower colors. During the breeding process, it was discovered that the purple color characteristic of the new variety 'Taiye Zixia' is not only unique but also genetically stable. 'Qiu Ji Wan Hong', hybridized from 'Zhong Sheng', and 'Qionghua Fei Hai', a bright yellow variety, also proved to be excellent flower color traits, making them excellent parent plants for future breeding.
Flower shape is another major breeding objective. For example, Zhu Sha Hong Shuang has a spiny type, while the 'Taiye' and 'Qionghua' series feature rolled and scattered types of flowers.
However, many unexpected challenges arise during the breeding process, one of which is the need to keep butterflies away from the chrysanthemums.
Liu Ning said that before she started growing flowers, she particularly loved butterflies, but after starting to cultivate chrysanthemums, she found that butterflies became beautiful pests. She dreaded the thought of butterflies fluttering around her plants.
The reason butterflies are considered pests is primarily because they lay eggs on chrysanthemum plants. Once the larvae hatch, they feed on the leaves, stems, or flowers, causing damage to the plants and hindering their growth. This can be especially destructive during the breeding process, as it affects the observation and evaluation of certain traits and interferes with the breeding experiments' results. The larvae may also carry pathogens, which could lead to disease outbreaks and affect the success rate of the entire breeding process.
Another issue caused by butterflies is natural, uncontrolled pollination. When butterflies and other insects collect nectar, they carry pollen from one flower to another, which can result in hybrid pollination and disrupt the breeding outcome. This can make the results unpredictable, increasing the chance of undesirable varieties. Since breeding requires careful tracking of each hybrid combination's parentage, uncontrolled pollination complicates tracking the genetic lineage and affects subsequent breeding analysis and improvements.
To prevent butterflies from entering the greenhouse and ensure the breeding process goes smoothly, two layers of netting were installed at the entrance of the greenhouse—truly "fireproof, theft-proof, and butterfly-proof!"
Chrysanthemum care tips for appreciation
Taiye Chunxia in the Color Transition Stage
In late August, when the natural light duration is 13.5 hours, nighttime temperatures drop to 15°C, and the daily temperature difference is about 10°C, autumn chrysanthemums begin to differentiate their flower buds. Once the flower buds begin to differentiate, side buds gradually emerge, which need to be removed. Additionally, the stems should be supported with bamboo stakes (note: insert a thin bamboo stick at the center of the pot to support the stem, preventing the flower head from becoming too heavy and causing the plant to break). Around September 15th, as daylight shortens to 12.5 hours and the night temperature drops to around 10°C, the flower buds form, and it's time to remove side buds (note: keep the central main flower bud and remove the side buds to prevent them from consuming too much nutrition). By October 15th, the buds begin to show color, signaling the early stages of blooming. The final step involves supporting the flower stems with bamboo stakes. By early November, the chrysanthemums reach full bloom.
In early and late August, fill the pots with fertilizing soil. After the White Dew period, the weather cools, and chrysanthemums enter their rapid growth phase. During this time, they require regular watering and fertilizing.
Chrysanthemums prefer sunny, well-ventilated places with good drainage. The potting soil should also be loose and breathable, avoiding water accumulation. Therefore, when watering chrysanthemums, make sure to water thoroughly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings to encourage healthy root growth.
