Located on the Tropic of Cancer, Conghua district enjoys unique natural conditions in floriculture. 

After years of efforts in developing the floriculture industry, Conghua has become a major flower production area in Guangzhou, the capital city of South China's Guangdong province. It is the biggest small-potted plant production base in the country, taking 60 percent of the national market share.

Xiaojiao, a variety of Anthurium andraeanum from Conghua with independent  intellectual property rights [Photo/Official WeChat account of Conghua]

At the seventh Shandong Flower Expo in 2020, Xiaojiao, an Anthurium andraeanum recommended by Guangzhou Flower Research Center, won the "Golden Flower Award", the highest-level award in the potted-plant field. 

After 20 years of hard work in the research and development of new varieties, Xiaojiao obtained the plant variety rights. The research program has increased the market share of the new variety and related technology, and plays a role in optimizing the variety structure as well as improving quality and the national competitiveness of the Anthurium industry.

Flower tissue cultivation site [Photo/Official WeChat account of Conghua]

Over the last 20 years, the Guangzhou Flower Research Center has been focusing on developing and promoting new flower varieties. Till now, the center has bred 58 new flower varieties accredited by the Guangdong Crop Variety Approval Committee, among which Xiaojiao won the title of Guangdong Brand Product and ranked in the Top 10 most popular agricultural products of Guangdong as the only flower product on the list in 2019.

Now, the Anthurium andraeanum seedlings and potted production technology have been extensively applied. The import substitution rate of high-quality seedlings is 60 to 70 percent, while the market share of the new technology reaching 90 percent. These improvements have saved nearly 1.5 billion yuan ($231 million) in seedling costs for the growers and directly increased social and economic benefits by nearly 2.5 billion yuan.

Guangzhou owns the only germplasm resource bank of Araceae flowers in the country, and 30 new varieties of Anthurium andraeanum with independent intellectual property rights (IPRs), the most in the country. 

Chengjiao subdistrict is where the Guangzhou Conghua flower industry park lies. Since 1997, when the first flower enterprise started business in Xihe village in Chengjiao subdistrict, the area has developed into a flower industry cluster with 38 flower enterprises above designated size. By adopting professional and standardized production models, the subdistrict boasts an output of small-potted plants accounting 60 percent of the national market. It has 58 flower varieties with independent IPRs. The conversion rate of sci-tech achievements hit  90 percent.