Horticulture mecca for succulents
Print Edition
SUCCULENTS have become a favorite of garden lovers in Shanghai, and the city’s largest seller and cultivator of the plants recently opened a center in Songjiang’s Wushe Modern Agricultural Park.
The 30-hectare Chunfang Succulent Plants Market boasts about one million potted plants and more than 600 varieties, including cactus, orpine and lithops.
“We have the widest variety of succulent plants at the cheapest prices,” said Lu Feng, director at the agricultural park. “The center supplies to brick-and-mortar retailers and to traders who run online shops.”
Take the popular Allen (a type of orpine) succulent as one example. The plant’s average price is often more than 20 yuan (US$3) per pot, but Chunfang market sells it for 10 yuan.
In recent years, growing succulents has become fashionable among Shanghai’s young people. A full-grown, carefully tended succulent plant can fetch up to 1,000 yuan in online shops.
The new Songjiang market contains several grow-it-yourself zones where succulent fans can learn potting and care techniques under the guidance of experienced growers.
Visitors to the market can also view rare species of succulents.
The yulu flower is not that rare, but when the shrub has evenly aligned patterns along each of its leaves, it’s a “one in 10,000 occurrence and becomes precious,” center director Chen Chunfang said.
Another pot of the palm-like jiyulu flower is valued at more than 10,000 yuan because of accidental mutation.
One of the more curious varieties is the butt flower, a form of lithops shaped like a human buttocks, but with a stony texture. A yellow flower squeezes out from two butt-shaped leaves.
The new center, located at the junction of Yexin and Huahui roads, is open free to the public.
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