Chinese rose takes root in success story

Research efforts

Last year alone, more than 50 million Chinese rose plants from over 2,500 varieties were growing in Beijing's streets, gardens and parks, said Chen Junqi, deputy director of the industrial department at the Beijing Gardening and Greening Bureau.

"The Chinese rose usually blooms three to four times every year after Spring Festival, each lasting about 10 days, providing a perfect opportunity for Beijing residents to fully appreciate them until October," Chen said.

Li Wenkai, a Chinese rose specialist who has worked at the Temple of Heaven for several decades, can tell precisely when the flowers will start to bloom.

Li, 63, said that in summer the flowers often become dry and scorched, and it is usually difficult for them to remain in full bloom due to high temperatures.

Before the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, Li spent three years researching the exact day that the roses would bloom.

In August 2008, a week before the opening ceremony for the Games, the roses burst into bloom around Tian'anmen Square.

"Most of the time, I treat the roses as my own 'babies' and observe them to find the most suitable way to cultivate them. I am also very careful about when I start to prune the plants," he said.

Li said that compared with other regions of China, Beijing has a unique advantage when it comes to planting Chinese roses.

The city's mainly dry weather and low rainfall make pest control easier, he said. Some fungal diseases, such as black rot, which is usually seen in southern China, are also prevented by these weather conditions.