Appreciate tea plum flowers at botanic wonderland at Yangmingshan in Taipei

置身於台北陽明山的植物仙境中欣賞山茶花

As the winter season approaches, the tea plums are quietly blooming at the Floriculture Experiment Center at Yangmingshan


TAIPEI (Taiwan News)—As the winter season approaches, the tea plums are quietly blooming at the Floriculture Experiment Center at Yangmingshan, and floral enthusiasts who would like to emerge themselves in a sea of red, white, and pink flowers are encouraged to visit the center to enjoy the wonderful sight.

Tea plums and camellias both belong to the same group, according to Taipei’s Parks and Street Lights Office. The most significant difference between the two is the way the petals drop off. Tea plum flowers shed their petals one petal at a time, whereas the entire camellia flower falls to the ground in its entirety. Many photographers will choose to include the beautiful sight of a carpet of flower petals in their photo shoot.



A carpet of tea plum flower petals

Center Director Song Fu-hua reminds tourists that massive blooming is expected to take place around mid-November. The flower season for tea plums is expected to last until December.

The director also said that since 2004, the center has organized the Taipei Camellia Festival between January and February each year – a must-visit event for many flower enthusiasts.

Besides the tea plums at this time of the year, the leaves of yellow maples at the center have turned into gold yellow. In fact, the center has many different flowering trees and shrubs and is suitable for tourists to visit and appreciate different plants all year round, according to the center.



Yellow maples at the center.



To reach the Floriculture Experiment Center, visitors can take public buses to Yangmingshan. Routes include 260, 303, R5, and Royal Bus Jinshan Line. Alight at the stop of Shanzihou Police Station. The center is a three-minute-walk downhill from the bus stop. Due to narrow roads and limited parking space, the center encourages the public to take public transportation.



A corner at the center.