Wintersweet (腊梅 or 蜡梅 'Lamei') is a traditional Chinese flower that blossoms in winter, gathering crowds of viewers. 'La' (蜡) means wax, and 'mei' (梅) means plum. As it has a similar yellow color as waxes and it looks like plums, Chinese called it 'Lamei'. Some places also use another character for 'La' (腊) which means the twelfth lunar month as the flower is usually in full bloom at this time of year.
Wintersweet blossoms are considered as the guest of chilly winter because they start to appear at the coldest time with the arrival of snow in late December or early January. The flowers striving under the snow are often compared to the indomitable spirit and nobility of human.
People often confuse the wintersweet and the plum since they have a similar name in Chinese and are both known for their blossoms. However, most of the wintersweet flowers are yellow, while plum blossom colors range from pink and white to purple and red. Also, the wintersweet blooms two months earlier than the plum.
The flowering period of wintersweet is roughly from January to March. During this time, there are many places in China where you can view the beauty of the flower, smell the pleasant fragrance, and appreciate the human values it reflects. In Beijing, some of the places to observe the wintersweet blossoms are the Lamei Valley in the Fragrant Hills, Temple of the Reclining Buddha in Beijing Botanical Garden, and the Lenong Xuan at the Longevity Hill of the Summer Palace. If you are in Shanghai, Century Park would be the right place to go. Also, other provinces such as Sichuan, Zhejiang, and Hubei are great destinations for spotting tender wintersweet blossoms.
Practical info
When can one expect to see wintersweet flowers in China?
The wintersweet flowers can be seen in China from January until March, when they emit a pleasant fragrance, becoming the star of the winter season. The flowering period starts as the snow arrives in late December or early January and lasts until March. Show more
What is the meaning behind the name for wintersweet in China?
The wintersweet flower is known as 'Lamei' in Chinese, with 'La' referring to wax and 'Mei' referring to plum. This name was given because of its shape and style of a plum flower and its yellow color which resembles a wax tablet. Another character, which means twelfth lunar month, is also used, as the flower is usually at its full bloom in this period. Show more
How do wintersweet and plum blossoms differ?
Wintersweet and plum blossoms differ from each other in terms of the range of colors and bloom time. Wintersweet blossoms can be seen from January, which is two months earlier than the bloom period of plum blossoms that is February to March. The wintersweet blooms are usually yellow or white, while the plum blossoms come in a more diverse range of colors, including pink, white, purple, and red. Show more
What are some of the places in Beijing where one can observe wintersweet blooms?
Lamei Valley in the Fragrant Hills, Temple of the Reclining Buddha at Beijing Botanical Garden, and Lenong Xuan at the Longevity Hill of the Summer Palace are among the places to observe wintersweet blooms in Beijing. In other parts of China, including Shanghai's Century Park, Zhejiang, Hubei, and Sichuan, wintersweet flowers are found in abundance, making them great options to visit during the wintersweet flowering period. Show more
Which other provinces in China are known for spotting wintersweet blooms, apart from Beijing and Shanghai?
The provinces known for spotting wintersweet blooms are Zhejiang, Sichuan, and Hubei, in addition to Beijing and Shanghai. Sichuan produces a high yield of wintersweet flowers, and in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, many wintersweet cultivars are grown. Hubei Province's wintersweet forest is famous due to the unique wintersweet stumps and the breathtaking sight of blooming under the snow. Show more
