Gansu's shiny-leaved yellowhorn trees enter colorful bloom season

The shiny-leaved yellowhorn trees at an institute in Zhangye, Gansu province, recently entered their peak flowering period, adding a touch of elegance to the early summer desert.

The flowers are densely packed at the shiny-leaved yellowhorn tree seed base of the Qilian Mountain Water Resource Conservation Forest Research Institute.

The shiny-leaved yellowhorn tree is a unique native species in China that can survive in frigid winters of minus 40 C and dry areas with an annual rainfall of only 150 millimeters.

According to the institute, its flowering period is from late April to early May, with bright colors, starting with pure white and gradually transitioning to green, crimson, and purple, creating a stunning sight.

The tree's leaves can be used to make tea, the flowers are a top-grade source of honey, the seeds have a high oil content, the fruit shells can be used to produce activated carbon, and the wood can be used to make high-end furniture.

In recent years, the institute has introduced more than 20 new varieties of shiny-leaved yellowhorn trees. It has developed over 1 million seedlings, which now cover nearly 2,000 hectares of demonstration forests.