As winter approaches, frost-sensitive autumn flowers and plants have gradually withered. However, the greenery in Chengdu’s urban areas remains vibrant and colorful. Currently, the Chengdu Flower and Tree Technical Service Center is replacing the flowers and plants in major roads, urban landmarks and key areas, to create a fresh atmosphere in the city.

The replacement will continue until the end of December, using flowers with strong cold resistance and longer blooming periods, such as horned pansy, snapdragon, dianthus, sedum lineare, violet, and primula. These flowers, in combinations of red, pink, yellow, and purple hues, will add vigor and color to the streets in winter.

Introducing Pyracantha Topiary and Forsythia Suspensa for the First Time

What are the standout plants in this flower replacement?

A relevant person in charge of the Chengdu Flower and Tree Technical Service Center said that this winter, for the first time, pyracantha topiary is used. "Unlike flowering or foliage plants, its characteristic is its fruit. The red berries look visually stunning and festive, making it ideal for the vibe during New Year’s celebrations," the official said. Pyracantha is presented in bonsai form, and through pruning and shaping, its branches are designed to take on specific artistic forms. "In winter when the landscape colors are monotonous, the pyracantha topiary can enhance the visual appeal of the greenery through its color and shape."

Forsythia suspensa is also being used for the first time in urban greening. "Due to the climate, Chengdu has a large variety of flowers in spring, summer, and autumn, but fewer in winter. We are continuously optimizing urban greening varieties, choosing more colors to enhance the winter viewing experience," the official explained, "Its golden-yellow color creates a better visual effect."

Additionally, drought-tolerant plants like dianthus, viola, and pansies are being used for winter greening. Dianthus flowers come in shades of purple-red, pink, bright red  or white and are known for air-purifying properties; viola in various colors including red, white, yellow, purple and blue; pansies have distinctive flowers with three colors, yellow, purple and white on each bloom. "By combining different species and colors, we can create a splash of color in winter and provide a better viewing experience for the public," the official said.

Independent Innovation in the Flower Industry

Native Plant Small Primula Returns to the Streets

Small Primula, a native plant of Chengdu, is also a highlight on the city’s winter streets.

Primula is one of the world’s three famous alpine flowers. Known for its early blooming and vibrant colors, it is an indispensable ornamental in winter and spring gardens. Sichuan, as one of the global distribution centers for primula, boasts abundant wild resources. However, due to the late start and slow development of the flower industry in China, most of the primulas used in landscaping are imported.

Sichuan has abundant wild primula resources, and "small primula" is a local native plant of Chengdu. Over the years, Chengdu has been conducting independent cultivation and application research on small primulas. The cultivated varieties have been displayed in such locations as the Tianfu Square, Yingbin Avenue, as well as the second and third ring roads.

"Small primulas come in a variety of colors and shapes, with abundant flowers that bloom for 3 to 4 months. They have helped resolve the problems of fewer flower varieties in winter and our country's reliance on imported primulas," the official said.

In addition, the Chengdu Flower and Tree Technical Service Center has been conducting innovative research and practice on landscape models. A representative from the center told reporters that the center has collaborated with the Urban Agriculture Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences to apply cutting-edge technologies like synthetic biology to design and construct glowing artificial chromosomes, which include dark-inducible expression systems, blue and green glowing genes, and multi-plant transformation systems. "The work will lay the foundation for cultivating stably glowing urban ornamental plants with varied colors and controllable light durations."