Nanyang makes progress on rose research

Nanyang, China's rose city, has made great progress in flower research in recent years.

The scientific achievements include the cultivation of new varieties of flowers, breeding, seedling preservation, fertilizing, pest control, mass production, as well as developing and promoting the genus of Chinese roses.

An institute was launched by the municipal government to support the R&D and cultivation of new rose species. It cooperates in research with the Chinese Academy of Forestry, Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University, Henan Agricultural University, Huazhong Agricultural University and Beijing Institute of Landscape Architecture.

At present, Nanyang's rose gene pool boasts some 8,000 species and has cultivated over 50 new species including "the Spring of Nanyang", "Golden Sunshine" and "Summer Camp". Nanyang has also developed seedling preservation technology, which makes all-season transportation and off-season transplanting a reality.

In addition, the city has set and regulated the standards in the industry and taken Chinese seedlings global. Nanyang has won more than 160 gold and silver awards in national rose competitions. Particularly noteworthy is the special gold awards granted to Nanyang for its outdoor rose setting and potted roses exhibition at the sixth Chinese Rose Show in 2014.