National Flower of China | Symbols of China
China Currently has No official National Flower. Plum Blossom Consider As The Unofficial National Flower of China. It Was designated as the national flower by the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China on July 21, 1964. The peony Flower has long been considered as the flower of wealth and honor in China. The Scientific Name of Plum blossom is Prunusmume. It is commonly known as “mei” or “meihua” in China. It is also known as”flowering plum”, “winter plum” etc.
Plum blossom, China National Flower symbolize purity, beauty, strength, valor, hope and it is the harbinger of the spring. In Chinese tradition, the plum blossom is one of the three “friends of winter” along with bamboo and pine. As you can imagine, all these winter friends are chosen for their hardiness. One of the few plants that can bloom through the harsh conditions of the cold winter months, it represents the value of endurance, resilience, and diligence in the face of hardships.
Bright and cheerful plum blossom blooms miraculously against the barren winter landscape, and give the Chinese people hope. They also herald the coming of spring. China’s National Flower also stands for purity, faith, strength, and courage. It proves the common belief that characters are hardened through experience, which cultivates inner strength, faith, and an unbending spirit.
Facts About Plum Blossom
- Common Name: Plum blossom, Mei, Meihua
- Genus: Prunus
- Species: Mume
- Found in: Thin forests, streamsides, forested slopes along trails, mountains, and regions of cultivation
- Color: White, pink, and red
- Number of petals: 5
- Size: 2–2.5 centimeters
- Time of blooming: Early February
- Purpose: Ornamental and herbal use
- Symbolism: Strength, valor, hope, perseverance
Description
National Flower of China, Plum blossom plants or trees grows with a tall of between 4 to 10 m., which is six inches in diameter. It has lanceolate leaves with pinnate veined. The size of the leaves is 7–16 cm (2.8–6.3 in) long, 2–3 cm (0.79–1.18 in) broad. Interestingly the flowers are generated first then the leaves have been appearing. The flowers bloom singly or in pair forms with 2.5–3 cm diameter in size and have five pink colored petals. Whitish or yellow fleshy fruit, Prunus persica has an insubstantial fragrance.
There are two types of skin that can be found in the Peach fruit and they are either velvety or nectarines occurred in unusual species. Both the colors frequently have little red on their skin. The fleshes are extremely fragile and simply bruised in several species, particularly when they became green. The fruit has a single big size seed. The seed is mostly oval-shaped with red-brown color, just about 1.3–2 cm long, which is encircled by a wood-like peapod.
Plum Blossoms available in shades of white, pink, and red. It has 5 oval-shaped petals. The five petals represent the Republic’s 5 branches of the Chinese government. Each of the petals also symbolizes one of the five blessings or happiness- longevity, wealth, health, virtue, and the desire to die naturally at an old age. In China, Prunusmume has over three-hundred documented cultivars.
History
China has a long history of using and enjoying the plum tree and its flower. Plum blossoms have been treasured in gardens and around homes in China for over two-thousand years. So, the national flower of China, the Plum blossom has historical importance for Chinese people.
In the fifth century, Chinese princesses and court women began to use plum blossoms for beautification. Many poets of the Chinese Song Dynasty wrote poems about the plum blossom and made it popular. To sum up, due to the plentiful use in medicines, drugs, culture, and literature, the Chinese people are fond of plum blossom and for this reason, the Plum blossom has become the national flower of China.
