This flower blooms in midsummer, with buds like pearls

Editor: Yu

Some flowers look extremely ordinary from a distance, but up close they are stunningly beautiful. Sorbaria sorbifolia is one of them.

In eastern, northern and western China, you will see it when hiking in the mountains, and you may also come across it in parks. It can grow to about 2 m tall, and its root system has strong tillering ability, so it is often seen growing in clumps and patches.

They are everywhere, so much so that most people do not know what they are called, nor have they discovered the beauty of this plant.

Like Chinese roses, Sorbaria sorbifolia is a shrub in the Rosaceae family, flowering in summer and fruiting in autumn, with a long flowering period. Its leaves are pinnately compound, with netted veins and sharp, deep and shallow serrations along the edges; before the flowers open they are like small pearls, and after blooming they look like a mass of white fluff from a distance. Only up close can you discover that the blooms are layered and lush, elegant and refined, each small flower crystal clear and very beautiful. Florists often use it in flower arrangements.

Sorbaria sorbifolia is a common garden plant. Its stem bark and leaves have high medicinal value: promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, reducing swelling and relieving pain, and it is effective for bruises, joint inflammation and fractures.

Sorbaria sorbifolia is highly adaptable and does not need very fertile soil. It is easy to care for when planted in the ground, prefers sandy loam, and with base fertilizer it needs no additional fertilizing. Prevent drought in spring and summer, and protect it from freezing in winter. If there is no need to save seeds, prune the flowering branches after flowering, which is more conducive to flowering and ornamental value. It has a variety called Sorbaria sorbifolia var. stellipila, whose flowers and fruits both feel furry and are easy to identify.

Have you ever observed Sorbaria sorbifolia carefully? It is now in full bloom, so take a close look!