The city will soon be full of exuberance and vitality as spring is around the corner. iSuzhou has prepared a flower calendar. Scroll down and find the perfect time to admire your favorite flowers!
Wintersweet
Flower season: Early January to late February
Where: Lion Grove Garden 狮子林, Master of the Nets Garden网师园
When wintersweet is in blossom, other flowers remain dormant. In the cold season, only this yellow flower sends forth a delicate fragrance.
Camellia
Flower season: Late January to mid-March
Where: Master of the Nets Garden网师园
Camellia has numerous varieties and blooms for a long time. The scene is quite beautiful when the fallen flowers scatter and fly around.
Plum Blossom
Flower season: Mid-February to early March
Where: Canglang Pavilion沧浪亭, Yiyuan Garden怡园, Lion Grove Garden狮子林, Keyuan Garden可园
Plum blossoms signal the arrival of spring as well as the vitality of a new year.
Magnolia
Flower season: Early March to early April
Where: Master of the Nets Garden网师园, Lingering Garden留园
Magnolia trees were usually planted next to osmanthus trees in front of the halls in classical gardens, symbolizing abundant wealth or many children in the family.
Peach Blossom
Flower season: Mid-March to late March
Where: Humble Administrator’s Garden拙政园, Lingering Garden留园
Peach blossoms are produced in early spring before the leaves. There are peach trees to the east of the Mountain-in-View Tower in the Humble Administrator’s Garden and in the west of the Lingering Garden.
Crab Apple
Flower season: Mid-March to late March
Where: Lingering Garden留园, Master of the Nets Garden网师园
There are many kinds of crab apples in Suzhou classical gardens. Though their flowers vary in shape and color, their beauty is equally unforgettable.
Cherry Blossom
Flower season: Early March to early April
Where: Humble Administrator’s Garden拙政园
When cherries put forth their blossoms, passers-by will slow down and take a deep breath, trying to memorize the scene and the scent.
Peony
Flower season: Late March to late April
Where: Lingering Garden留园, Master of the Nets Garden网师园, Quyuan Garden曲园
Dubbed “the king of flowers,” peonies are both dignified and graceful. There are plenty of them in front of the teahouse in the Master of the Nets Garden and in the east garden of the Lingering Garden.
Wisteria
Flower season: Early April to late April
Where: Lion Grove Garden狮子林, Master of the Nets Garden网师园, Zhongwang Mansion忠王府
The wisteria grown in the Zhongwang Mansion is the best known one in Suzhou. It was planted by Wen Zhengming, a celebrated painter, calligrapher, and poet in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).
Tree Hydrangea
Flower season: Early April to early May
Where: Lingering Garden留园, Humble Administrator’s Garden拙政园
Tree hydrangeas are large in size and white in color, and have a plain and romantic feel.
Lady Banks’ Rose
Flower season: Early April to early May
Where: Lion Grove Garden狮子林, Lingering Garden留园
Lady banks’ roses are similar to roses, but are usually in bright yellow.
Rose
Flower season: Late April to early May
Where: Garden of Cultivation艺圃
“In me the tiger sniffs the rose.” The famous line written by Siegfried Sassoon highlights the very feature of rose – tender and elegant.
Pomegranate Blossom
Flower season: Early May to late July
Where: Lingering Garden留园, Keyuan Garden可园
Chinese Trumpet Vine
Flower season: Late May to late September
Where: Humble Administrator’s Garden拙政园, Lion Grove Garden狮子林, Master of the Nets Garden网师园
Chinese trumpet vines flower in summer. Dotted on fences, walls and eaves, the orange flowers surely can become the center of attention.
Lotus
Flower season: Early June to late September
Where: Humble Administrator’s Garden拙政园, Lingering Garden留园
Lotus is the flower of summer. The sight of it will immediately cool yourself down.
Crape Myrtle
Flower season: Early July to early October
Where: Master of the Nets Garden网师园
Crape myrtles are in blossom for nearly three months. The flowers, with thin and pleated petals, gently sway when the breeze is blowing.
Osmanthus
Flower season: Early October to late October
Where: Retreat & Reflection Garden退思园, Lingering Garden留园
As the city flower of Suzhou, osmanthus can be found everywhere. When the flowers are blooming, the air smells pleasant and sweet.
Chrysanthemum
Flower season: Early November to early December
Where: Lion Grove Garden狮子林, Master of the Nets Garden网师园
Chrysanthemums are dignified and graceful, matching the structures and furniture in classical gardens perfectly.
Sasanqua Camellia
Flower season: Early December to late January
Where: Couple’s Retreat Garden耦园, Master of the Nets Garden网师园
The flower was called “Yangfei Camellia” after Yang Guifei, one of the Four Beauties of ancient China, in ancient times for its breathtaking beauty.