What is China's national flower?

According to folklore, China's national flower is the peony. In fact, it is not. China's national flower has not been determined yet. What's going on?

Selection criteria

According to the proposal No. 0440 of the Second Session of the Eighth National People's Congress in 1994, "Suggestions on the Early Determination of my country's National Flower", it was forwarded to the Ministry of Agriculture for processing, and the China Flower Association was entrusted with the specific organization. The China Flower Association immediately launched an extensive and in-depth national flower selection campaign under leadership and organization across the country. A leading group for the selection of the national flower was established. After discussion by the expert group, the selection criteria for the national flower of my country were determined as follows:

It has a long history of cultivation and strong adaptability. It has an influence in most parts of my country and occupies a leading position internationally.

The characteristics of flowers such as posture and color can reflect the fine traditions and character traits of the Chinese nation.

It has a wide range of uses, is popular among the general public, and has high social, environmental and economic benefits.

Who are the candidates?

Since the China Flower Association organized and led a discussion on the national flower across the country, China Flower News has published news reports on many celebrities and the general public's heated discussions on the selection of the national flower. According to the China Flower News, the types of flowers that have been nominated as candidates for China's national flower include: plum, peony, chrysanthemum, orchid, rose, azalea, camellia, lotus, osmanthus, Chinese daffodil, pomegranate, wintersweet, forsythia, peach blossom, azalea, Clivia, daylily, golden camellia, Daphne odora, crape myrtle, cassia tree, Davidia involucrata (pigeon tree), and hibiscus and English rose, among dozens of other species. After nearly ten months of discussion, the task has been successfully completed.

Peony leads the way

According to the results reported by 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities (including Shenzhen Special Economic Zone), they support one country - one flower.

There are 18 provinces with (Peony), accounting for 58.06%. Eleven provinces, accounting for 35.48%, support the national four flowers (peony, plum blossom, chrysanthemum and lotus). Two provinces proposed a new four-flower plan, which is to replace orchids with lotus flowers, accounting for 6.45%. After careful study, the National Flower Selection Leading Group unanimously agreed that "Peony" is my country's national flower.

Other popular flowers include orchid (spring), lotus (summer), chrysanthemum (autumn) and plum blossom (winter) as China's famous flowers of the four seasons. Thus, orchid (spring), lotus (summer), chrysanthemum (autumn) and plum (winter) are the four seasons that dominate the beauty of youth, and the peony is the leader of all flowers. The national flower and the famous flowers of the four seasons form a situation of stars surrounding the moon, which can better reflect the prosperous, honest, steadfast and noble spirit of our Chinese nation.

Despite strong calls, peony has not been established as China's national flower!

In 1994, after nearly ten months of discussion, many candidates for the national flower emerged, including plum, peony, chrysanthemum, orchid, rose, azalea, camellia, lotus, osmanthus, daffodil, pomegranate, wintersweet, forsythia, peach, azalea, clivia, daylily, golden camellia, Daphne odora, crape myrtle, gardenia, salvia, and hibiscus. But the National People's Congress shelved it on the grounds that there were "too many differences".

On September 20, 2016, the majority of delegates supported the selection of peony and plum blossom as the "dual national flowers" of our country. But there are also different opinions, advocating "one country, one flower", and differences arise again.

Both the plum blossom and the peony have won the championship before, but why is the peony the only national flower?