What are the most iconic plants and flowers of autumn?
Autumn is nature's colorful canvas, and many iconic plants add unique charm to this season. Today let's recommend a few of them, so we can all feel the charm of autumn together.
Ginkgo: The golden ginkgo leaves are the messengers of autumn. When the autumn wind blows, the leaves all over the tree turn golden and brilliant, just like delicate little fans, and the way they drift down in the wind is beauty at its finest. Whether it is a whole grove of ginkgo trees or a single ginkgo on the street, it can become the most beautiful scenery of an autumn day. Walking on a path carpeted with ginkgo leaves feels like being in a fairy-tale world.
Maple leaves: "Frosted leaves are redder than February flowers." From orange-red to deep red, maple leaves all over the hills are like clumps of burning flames. The shape of maple leaves is distinctive too, with delicate leaf edges that look as if they were carefully trimmed by nature. Whether admiring the vast maple forest from afar on a mountain or picking up a single maple leaf to press between the pages of a book, you can feel the charm of autumn.
Osmanthus: Osmanthus flowers are very small and always hide in clusters among the branches and leaves, yet their rich fragrance can fill an entire neighborhood. The small golden-yellow flowers of golden osmanthus have a rich, mellow scent; silver osmanthus carries an elegant, light fragrance, with flowers as white as snow; and red osmanthus is orange-red in color with a distinctive scent. When osmanthus is in full bloom, the air is filled with a sweet fragrance. People use osmanthus to make traditional foods such as osmanthus wine and osmanthus cake, letting the fragrance of osmanthus blossom on the tongue and deeply imprinting the taste of autumn in memory.
Goldenrain tree: The goldenrain tree has a special charm in autumn. Its flowers are golden yellow, while its fruit is pink, and when it hangs all over the branches it looks like strings of little lanterns. With its mix of yellow and green and its interweaving of pink and yellow, the goldenrain tree stands out especially along roadsides, adding a unique touch of color to the city's autumn, and it is also a favorite foraging spot for birds.
Chrysanthemum: Chrysanthemums come in a great many varieties, with rich colors and varied forms. Some chrysanthemum petals are slender and curled, as elegant as curled hair; others are broad and thick, arranged in a radial pattern, looking dignified and luxurious. White chrysanthemums are as pure as snow, yellow chrysanthemums are as radiant as gold, and purple chrysanthemums are mysterious and noble. Chrysanthemums stand proudly in the autumn wind, unafraid of frost, showing a quality of resilience. Since ancient times they have been deeply loved by people and have become a frequent subject in the works of scholars and poets, symbolizing a noble and unsullied character.
Dahlia: Dahlias bloom especially brilliantly in autumn. Their flowers are large and vivid, with layer upon layer of petals, like a lavish giant pom-pom. The colors are diverse as well, including red, pink, purple... each one blooms so radiantly, as if competing in a beauty contest. Planting dahlias in the yard really can make the whole yard come alive.
