Chongyang chrysanthemum viewing: large chrysanthemums have the steady, noble bearing of a gentleman, while small chrysanthemums are exquisite and have become a new favorite in floral art

"When the Chongyang Festival comes, I shall return for the chrysanthemums." Meng Haoran's verse still fits the occasion today. Chrysanthemums rank first in the volume of flowers used for rituals in China, and were once a dazzling star of the floral industry.

Some people may think chrysanthemums are old-fashioned, but in fact chrysanthemums are diverse in appearance. Not only are the large chrysanthemums on altars steady and imposing, but the cute and vivid small chrysanthemums, such as the round ping-pong chrysanthemums and decorative chrysanthemums, have become new favorites in flower shops and floral design classes. For ancestor worship at Chongyang, you might as well arrange a pot of chrysanthemums at home yourself, fitting the occasion and soothing the mind.

Most chrysanthemum varieties in China are introduced from abroad. The Taichung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station also has a chrysanthemum variety garden and has bred 10 varieties. Chen Jianming, an acting staff member at the station, said that as extreme weather becomes more frequent, whether self-owned varieties with high environmental tolerance can be bred will become the key to sustaining the chrysanthemum industry.

Chrysanthemums were once Taiwan's leading flower and achieved outstanding export results, but in recent years only domestic sales remain

The chrysanthemum is one of the Four Gentlemen among flowers, and the Eastern Jin scholar Tao Yuanming loved chrysanthemums most of all. The chrysanthemum is also called the flower of longevity. The Chongyang Festival coincides with the chrysanthemums' full bloom, making it the best time to admire them, and it also carries the meaning of praying for extended life. Chrysanthemums can also be seen in ordinary temple rituals and Qingming ancestor worship.

Chen Jianming, acting staff member at the Taichung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, said that people use chrysanthemums for rituals or event displays, and chrysanthemums were the first successfully developed item in the floral industry. Thirty years ago, when the domestic floral industry was just starting out, it was also the glorious era of chrysanthemums. In 1989, the total planted area of cut flowers in Taiwan was 2,785 hectares, nearly half of which was chrysanthemums. That year, Taiwan's chrysanthemum exports to Japan totaled 4,195 metric tons, with a total value exceeding NT$200 million.

The elegance and steadiness of chrysanthemums won the hearts of Japanese people, but checking the Council of Agriculture data reveals that chrysanthemum export volume declined year after year after 1989. Chen Jianming explained that the reason exports decreased year by year is that Taiwan's environment has a subtropical climate, with higher temperatures and large fluctuations.