Have you fallen in love with China’s natural beauty? The country famed for having bamboo forests home to fluffy pandas has many other Chinese plants on offer.
And, if you don’t live in this Asian country, you don’t have to miss out! Many of these species can thrive happily in other climates, locations, and soil conditions, to
If you’ve been trying to desperately research the right Chinese plants for you, you might find that it’s not an easy process.
With all the gorgeous choices laid out before you, it can be tricky to make your mind up on which to look after. Unfortunately, this means that you’re left in limbo, upset over not being able to decide.
To stop this from happening, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you! We took our time to gather the best information together to create the following article about Chinese plants for you.
We’ve also included high-quality photos so that you can gaze at these pretty species and work out whether they would look good in your space.
Even if you just want to learn more about Chinese leafy species, we’ve got you covered. Find out more about these plants that suit different skill sets, tastes, and climates. So, keep scrolling and read on!
1. Bamboo
When most people think about Chinese forests, they’re likely to imagine that it’s filled with tall bamboo trees and dotted with happily munching pandas!
To bring this lofty plant species into your landscape, we recommend ensuring you’re in a spot that has enough water and can allow the plants to grow super high into the air.
2. Plum Blossom
As China’s national flower, plum blossom is a super vibrant plant that produces globally famous light pink flowers, which grow from dark brown stems. If you’re a beginner gardener looking for a Chinese plant in your space, we recommend buying this one as the species is known for being resilient.
3. Peonies
If you’re searching for a plant that grows vibrant flowers and is super resilient to changing temperatures, we advise you consider getting a peony plant. This is because peonies can tolerate super-hot temperatures in summer and cold winters, ideal for spots exposed to unpredictable weather conditions.
4. Magnolia
The white and pink blossomed magnolia is standard in Chinese landscapes, bringing structure, elegance, and shade to any suitable garden. Native to Eastern Asia, these stunningly beautiful trees can grow to 80 feet tall when placed in moist soil.
RELATED: 28 Culturally Important Chinese Flowers For Your Own Gardens
5. Azalea
The azalea is known for its exotic and bright flowers, which fan out in a trumpeting shape from dark green foliage. Like most shrubs, azaleas are easy to care for, appreciating when they’re placed in partially shaded spots in a pretty cool climate.
6. Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums are bold flowering plants that create vibrantly structured petals, ideal for adding to a colorful bouquet, vase, or arrangement. For this reason, this species is super popular with professional florists. For amateurs, it’s a firm favorite because it’s hardy.
7. Olive
While not strictly native to China, olives thrive in this country’s climate, creating the intensely flavored food that’s loved worldwide. To nurture olive trees, make sure they can absorb loads of UV Rays, are in a hot spot, and don’t overwater them.
8. Spirea (Spiraea)
The Spirea (Spiraea) is beloved for its round white flower formations, which pop up on the branches like pretty clouds. To encourage these clusters to form, we recommend putting the shrub in a place that allows it to grow at least 6 feet tall. This is its height when mature in suitable conditions.
9. Pilea ‘Chinese Money Plant’
The pilea is otherwise known as the Chinese Money Plant because it grows round leaves that fan outwards and away from one central stem. If you’re a beginner at looking after houseplants, the pilea is an attractive choice to purchase and expand your collection as it requires no tricky maintenance.
10. Tiger Thorn Plum
If you’ve been desiring an indoor plant that’s easy to nurture, we advise you seriously consider getting yourself a Tiger Thorn Plum as it’s a hardy species. Caring for this leaf-filled plant is easy because it doesn’t require you to top it up with water often and doesn’t need direct sunlight.
11. Spathiphyllum (Moonflower, Peace Lily)
We believe the Spathiphyllum (Moonflower, Peace Lily) is a worthy contender for those who like their houseplants to flower because it produces snowy white blossoms. In addition, this species is known for being excellent at purifying the air, emitting a gorgeous scent, and being pretty hardy, too!
12. White Palm
If you’re searching for a structural, minimal, and simple to care for the plant, we advise you get yourself a white palm. This species has long and pointed leaves, which are ideal for screening off spaces indoors or softening harsh furniture edges.
13. Dragon Boat Flower
The Dragon Boat Flower comes in a few different colors, including yellow, white, and red, which stay on the plant for a super long time. This plant likes warmer climates and works well as a houseplant because it’s easier for its carers to regulate the temperature indoors.
14. Mao Calyx Lipstick Flower
Trailing houseplants are super on-trend as they bring leafy elements high up into an indoor space, and the Mao calyx lipstick flower is no exception. As an additional bonus, this species loves the shade, so it’s ideal for using to fill up that dull corner you’ve been agonizing over!
15. Ficus Benjamin
The Ficus Benjamin is a little tree, which works super well when it’s potted and put into a living room, bringing height to an indoor space. The leaves are waxy, which means they’re very resilient to the wear and tear that happens naturally in lived-in rooms.
16. Calathea ‘Misto’
If you’re looking for a super patterned plant that has conversation-starting foliage, we recommend you look into getting the Calathea ‘Misto’. On each leaf, there are different green tones that makeup curving and fanning patterns, meaning you can make the plant an interior feature in its own right.
17. Acorus Gramineus ‘Licorice’
The Acorus gramineus ‘Licorice’ is a thin evergreen grass ideal for planting on flower bed borders because it will quickly soften up harsh edges. To look after this plant properly, we advise that you place it in partial sun and ensure it has enough room to grow 10 inches tall at maturity.
18. Achillea Sibirica ‘Japanese Lace’
As the exciting name suggests, the light-colored blossoms create lacy shapes between equally delicate spiky leaves. To nurture this grass, make sure it has access to at least a marginally sunny area and don’t let the soil dry out totally.
19. Amorphophallus X Knbus ‘Glow Light.’
The Amorphophallus x knbus ‘Glow Light’ has a petal surrounding a long central part. This unique species is a hybrid and can thrive when put in a 3.5-inch pot, so long as it is in a place that’s no more than lightly shaded.
20. Arachniodes Simulans
The Arachniodes simulans closely resemble many British fern species because they have light green fanning leaves. The intricate structure makes it a popular choice for those looking to bring leafy detail to a bare flower bed and those who live in wet climates.
21. Asarum Nobilissimum ‘Deep Throat’
This uniquely named plant has shiny, slightly pointed waxy leaves, which sit above attractive black and light pink-edged flowers. If you already have an Asarum nobilissimum ‘Deep Throat’ and don’t know what to do with it, make sure it’s not in full sunlight.
22. Asarum Porphyronotum Var. Atrovirens ‘Internet’
The Asarum porphyronotum var. Atrovirens ‘Internet’ has leaves with light green veins running through it that remind us of neural-connections in the brain! As if that wasn’t meta enough, the leaves are also heart-shaped, so you can enjoy these lovely evergreens’ funky shape if you plant them.
23. Aspidistra Basalis ‘Green Jeans’
If you’ve been hunting for a grass-like plant but with bushier foliage, the Aspidistra basalis ‘Green Jeans’ might just be for you. The leaves resemble a cartoonish mop of hair and thrive when placed either in whole or lightly shaded places in the garden.
24. Aspidistra Elatior ‘Asahi’
The Aspidistra elatior ‘Asahi’ has pointed white-tipped leaves that make it look to us as though it’s been sunkissed. The foliage reaches upwards and is tongue-shaped, making them ideal for adding color and interest to any suitable landscaping scheme.
25. Aspidistra Graniflora ‘Big Spotty’
If you love spotty patterns, the Aspidistra graniflora ‘Big Spotty’ has speckled and shining leaves, which are super eye-catching. This tropical species can survive well in a 3.5 inches pot, growing to 18 inches in height when they’re well cared for.
Conclusion
China is filled with mesmerizing natural beauty, lavish landscaping, and inspirational design. We’ve run through 25 different plants that suit many people, including beginners and intermediate and professional gardeners.
We hope you found the inspiration, information, and enjoyment you were looking for when you clicked on this article. Happy landscaping!
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