Garden plants for China
302 plants that appear on garden plant lists for China: vegetables, herbs, fruit, flowers, shrubs and trees that gardeners there commonly grow, native or introduced. Each links to a growing guide with spacing, sun, water, hardiness, toxicity and sources.
China spans more than one climate. Being on this list does not mean a plant suits your own site: check its hardiness and water needs against your local conditions, and avoid plants listed as invasive in your area.
Plan a garden with these plants →
Vegetables (57)
- Amaranth (leaf, callaloo) Amaranthus tricolor
- Bell pepper Capsicum annuum
- Bitter melon Momordica charantia · invasive in some regions
- Bok choy Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis
- Bottle gourd Lagenaria siceraria
- Broad bean (fava) Vicia faba
- Broccoli Brassica oleracea var. italica
- Buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum
- Bush bean Phaseolus vulgaris
- Cabbage Brassica oleracea var. capitata
- Carrot Daucus carota subsp. sativus
- Cauliflower Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
- Celery Apium graveolens
- Cherry tomato Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme
- Chili pepper Capsicum annuum (hot types)
- Chinese water chestnut (mÇŽtĂ) Eleocharis dulcis
- Chinese yam (nagaimo) Dioscorea polystachya · invasive in some regions
- Choy sum Brassica rapa var. parachinensis
- Crown daisy (shungiku) Glebionis coronaria
- Cucumber Cucumis sativus
- Daikon Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus
- Deodeok (bonnet bellflower) Codonopsis lanceolata
- Eggplant (aubergine) Solanum melongena
- Fuki (Japanese butterbur) Petasites japonicus
- Gai lan (Chinese broccoli) Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra
- Garden pea Pisum sativum
- Garlic Allium sativum
- Konjac (devil’s tongue) Amorphophallus konjac
- Lettuce Lactuca sativa
- Luffa (sponge gourd) Luffa aegyptiaca
- Minari (water dropwort) Oenanthe javanica
- Mung bean Vigna radiata
- Muskmelon (cantaloupe) Cucumis melo
- Mustard greens Brassica juncea
- Napa cabbage Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis
- Onion Allium cepa
- Peanut Arachis hypogaea
- Potato Solanum tuberosum
- Prince’s feather (huautli amaranth) Amaranthus hypochondriacus
- Pumpkin Cucurbita maxima / C. pepo
- Radish Raphanus sativus
- Sesame Sesamum indicum
- Soybean (edamame) Glycine max
- Spinach Spinacia oleracea
- Sweet corn Zea mays var. saccharata
- Sweet potato Ipomoea batatas
- Sword bean (tua phra) Canavalia gladiata
- Taro Colocasia esculenta · invasive in some regions
- Tomato Solanum lycopersicum
- Tonkin jasmine (cowslip creeper, dok khachon) Telosma cordata
- Watercress Nasturtium officinale
- Watermelon Citrullus lanatus
- Water spinach (kangkong) Ipomoea aquatica · invasive in some regions
- Wax gourd (winter melon) Benincasa hispida
- Welsh onion (scallion) Allium fistulosum
- Yardlong bean Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis
- Zucchini (courgette) Cucurbita pepo
Herbs (20)
- Alfalfa (lucerne) Medicago sativa
- Basil Ocimum basilicum
- Coriander (cilantro) Coriandrum sativum
- Fish mint (dokudami, rau diếp cá) Houttuynia cordata
- Garlic chives Allium tuberosum
- Ginger Zingiber officinale
- Hops Humulus lupulus
- Japanese indigo (ai, dyer’s knotweed) Persicaria tinctoria
- Korean ginseng Panax ginseng
- Korean mint (baechohyang) Agastache rugosa
- Liquorice Glycyrrhiza glabra
- Mint Mentha spicata
- Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris · invasive in some regions
- Myoga ginger Zingiber mioga
- Parsley Petroselinum crispum
- Patchouli Pogostemon cablin
- Perilla (shiso) Perilla frutescens · invasive in some regions
- Vervain (common verbena) Verbena officinalis
- Vietnamese balm (kinh giá»›i) Elsholtzia ciliata
- Woad Isatis tinctoria · invasive in some regions
Fruit (32)
- Apricot Prunus armeniaca
- Burmese grape (ma-fai) Baccaurea ramiflora
- Chinese chestnut Castanea mollissima
- Chocolate vine (akebi) Akebia quinata · invasive in some regions
- Citron (incl. Buddha’s hand) Citrus medica
- Dwarf apple tree Malus domestica
- Five-flavour berry (omija) Schisandra chinensis
- Goji (wolfberry) Lycium barbarum
- Grapevine Vitis vinifera
- Japanese persimmon Diospyros kaki
- Japanese plum Prunus salicina
- Japanese raisin tree (kenponashi) Hovenia dulcis · invasive in some regions
- Jujube Ziziphus jujuba
- Kiwifruit Actinidia deliciosa
- Kolomikta kiwi (variegated kiwi vine) Actinidia kolomikta
- Kumquat Citrus japonica
- Lemon tree (dwarf) Citrus limon
- Longan Dimocarpus longan
- Loquat Eriobotrya japonica · invasive in some regions
- Lychee Litchi chinensis
- Mandarin orange Citrus reticulata
- Nashi pear (Asian pear) Pyrus pyrifolia
- Peach Prunus persica
- Pomegranate Punica granatum
- Pomelo Citrus maxima
- Sea buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides
- Strawberry Fragaria x ananassa
- Sweet orange Citrus x sinensis
- Wax apple (chomphu) Syzygium samarangense
- White mulberry Morus alba · invasive in some regions
- Yangmei (Chinese bayberry, yamamomo) Morella rubra
- Yuzu Citrus junos
Flowers (57)
- Armand’s clematis (evergreen clematis) Clematis armandii
- Balloon flower Platycodon grandiflorus
- Bamboo orchid Arundina graminifolia · invasive in some regions
- Barberton daisy (gerbera) Gerbera jamesonii
- Bigleaf ligularia (leopard plant) Ligularia dentata
- Blackberry lily (leopard lily, shaga) Iris domestica
- Bleeding heart Lamprocapnos spectabilis
- Bush lily (clivia) Clivia miniata
- Carnation Dianthus caryophyllus
- Celosia (cockscomb) Celosia argentea
- Chestnut-leaved rodgersia Rodgersia aesculifolia
- China aster Callistephus chinensis
- China pink Dianthus chinensis
- Chinese money plant (pancake plant) Pilea peperomioides
- Chinese monkshood (Carmichael’s aconite) Aconitum carmichaelii
- Crepe ginger Hellenia speciosa · invasive in some regions
- David’s lily (Lanzhou lily) Lilium davidii
- Daylily Hemerocallis fulva · invasive in some regions
- Easter lily Lilium longiflorum
- Flax (linseed) Linum usitatissimum
- Four-season orchid (jian lan, sword-leaved cymbidium) Cymbidium ensifolium
- French marigold Tagetes patula
- Garden balsam Impatiens balsamina
- Garden chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum x morifolium
- Garden rose Rosa x hybrida
- Giant Himalayan cowslip Primula florindae
- Golden clematis (orange-peel clematis) Clematis tangutica
- Hardy gloxinia (Chinese trumpet flower) Incarvillea delavayi
- Henry’s lily Lilium henryi
- Himalayan blue poppy Meconopsis betonicifolia
- Hollyhock Alcea rosea
- Hyacinth orchid (shiran) Bletilla striata
- Japanese anemone Anemone hupehensis
- Jewel orchid Ludisia discolor
- Lady Banks’ rose (Banksian rose) Rosa banksiae
- Lanceleaf coreopsis (tickseed) Coreopsis lanceolata · invasive in some regions
- Leopard plant (tsuwabuki) Farfugium japonicum
- Lily Lilium
- Mexican marigold (cempasĂşchil) Tagetes erecta
- Night-scented lily (giant upright elephant ear) Alocasia odora
- Noble dendrobium Dendrobium nobile
- Ominaeshi (golden lace, Patrinia) Patrinia scabiosifolia
- Ornamental rhubarb (Chinese rhubarb) Rheum palmatum
- Peony Paeonia lactiflora
- Petunia Petunia x hybrida
- Queen of the night (Dutchman’s pipe cactus) Epiphyllum oxypetalum
- Rabbit-ear iris (kakitsubata) Iris laevigata
- Red spider lily Lycoris radiata
- Rex begonia Begonia rex
- Sacred lotus Nelumbo nucifera
- Safflower Carthamus tinctorius
- Scarlet sage Salvia splendens
- Shell ginger Alpinia zerumbet
- Sunflower Helianthus annuus
- Tiger lily Lilium lancifolium
- Wax plant (porcelain flower) Hoya carnosa
- White ginger lily Hedychium coronarium · invasive in some regions
Shrubs (64)
- Anemone clematis Clematis montana
- Arabian jasmine Jasminum sambac
- Beautybush Kolkwitzia amabilis
- Bigleaf hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla
- Boston ivy Parthenocissus tricuspidata
- Burning bush Euonymus alatus · invasive in some regions
- Butterfly bush Buddleja davidii · invasive in some regions
- Camellia Camellia japonica
- Chinese fringe flower Loropetalum chinense
- Chinese juniper Juniperus chinensis
- Chinese perfume plant (mock lime, prayong) Aglaia odorata
- Chinese redbud Cercis chinensis
- Chinese wisteria Wisteria sinensis · invasive in some regions
- Chinese witch hazel Hamamelis mollis
- Climbing ylang-ylang (karawek) Artabotrys hexapetalus
- Common jasmine Jasminum officinale
- Coral ardisia (manryō) Ardisia crenata · invasive in some regions
- Cotton (upland cotton) Gossypium hirsutum
- Delavay’s tree peony Paeonia delavayi
- Dwarf umbrella tree (schefflera) Heptapleurum arboricola
- Early lilac (Chinese lilac) Syringa oblata
- Fairy Lake cycad Cycas fairylakea
- Forsythia Forsythia x intermedia
- Fountain butterfly bush (alternate-leaved buddleja) Buddleja alternifolia
- Fragrant viburnum (Farrer’s viburnum) Viburnum farreri
- Gardenia Gardenia jasminoides
- Heavenly bamboo (nandina) Nandina domestica · invasive in some regions
- Japanese beautyberry (murasaki-shikibu) Callicarpa japonica
- Japanese flowering quince Chaenomeles speciosa
- Japanese holly (inutsuge) Ilex crenata · invasive in some regions
- Japanese kerria Kerria japonica
- Japanese mock orange (pittosporum) Pittosporum tobira
- Japanese pepper (sanshĹŤ) Zanthoxylum piperitum
- Japanese snowball (doublefile viburnum) Viburnum plicatum
- Japanese spindle (masaki) Euonymus japonicus
- Korean rhododendron (jindallae) Rhododendron mucronulatum
- Lady palm (bamboo palm, rhapis) Rhapis excelsa
- Lily magnolia (mulan) Magnolia liliiflora
- Moyes’ rose Rosa moyesii
- Nanking cherry Prunus tomentosa
- Paperbush (mitsumata) Edgeworthia chrysantha
- Rhododendron Rhododendron
- Rice-paper plant (tsūdatsu) Tetrapanax papyrifer
- Rose of Sharon Hibiscus syriacus
- Rough-leaved hydrangea Hydrangea aspera
- Sago cycad Cycas revoluta
- Sasanqua camellia Camellia sasanqua
- Satsuki azalea Rhododendron indicum
- Sichuan pepper (huajiao) Zanthoxylum bungeanum
- Staghorn sumac Rhus typhina · invasive in some regions
- Star jasmine Trachelospermum jasminoides · invasive in some regions
- Sweet osmanthus Osmanthus fragrans
- Tea plant Camellia sinensis
- Thunberg bush clover (miyagino-hagi) Lespedeza thunbergii
- Tibetan tree peony (Ludlow’s peony) Paeonia ludlowii
- Tree peony Paeonia suffruticosa
- Trifoliate orange (karatachi) Citrus trifoliata · invasive in some regions
- Wall cotoneaster Cotoneaster horizontalis · invasive in some regions
- Weigela Weigela florida
- Winter daphne Daphne odora
- Winter jasmine Jasminum nudiflorum
- Wintersweet Chimonanthus praecox
- Yunnan camellia Camellia reticulata
- Yunnan rhododendron Rhododendron yunnanense
Trees (53)
- Camphor tree Cinnamomum camphora · invasive in some regions
- Cassia (Chinese cinnamon) Cinnamomum cassia
- China fir Cunninghamia lanceolata
- Chinese banyan Ficus microcarpa · invasive in some regions
- Chinese flowering crabapple (haitang) Malus spectabilis
- Chinese fringe tree Chionanthus retusus
- Chinese parasol tree (wutong) Firmiana simplex · invasive in some regions
- Chinese red pine Pinus tabuliformis
- Crepe myrtle Lagerstroemia indica
- David's peach (mountain peach) Prunus davidiana
- Dawn redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides
- Deodar cedar Cedrus deodara
- Dove tree (handkerchief tree) Davidia involucrata
- Emmenopterys (Henry’s tree) Emmenopterys henryi
- Empress tree (foxglove tree) Paulownia tomentosa · invasive in some regions
- English walnut Juglans regia
- Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba
- Golden larch Pseudolarix amabilis
- Hong Kong orchid tree Bauhinia Ă— blakeana
- Indian trumpet tree (broken bones tree, pheka) Oroxylum indicum
- Japanese black pine Pinus thunbergii
- Japanese cedar (sugi) Cryptomeria japonica
- Japanese flowering cherry Prunus serrulata
- Japanese maple Acer palmatum
- Japanese pagoda tree (Chinese scholar tree) Styphnolobium japonicum
- Japanese red pine Pinus densiflora
- Japanese snowbell Styrax japonicus
- Japanese zelkova (neutinamu) Zelkova serrata
- Katsura tree Cercidiphyllum japonicum
- Korean pine Pinus koraiensis
- Kousa dogwood Cornus kousa
- Lacebark pine Pinus bungeana
- Oleaster (Russian olive) Elaeagnus angustifolia · invasive in some regions
- Orchid tree (mountain ebony) Bauhinia variegata · invasive in some regions
- Oriental arborvitae (Chinese thuja) Platycladus orientalis
- Paperbark maple Acer griseum
- Père David’s maple (snakebark maple) Acer davidii
- Persian silk tree (mimosa) Albizia julibrissin · invasive in some regions
- Purple orchid tree (butterfly tree, Bauhinia purpurea) Bauhinia purpurea
- Red silk-cotton tree (kapok) Bombax ceiba
- Saucer magnolia Magnolia x soulangeana
- Siberian crab apple Malus baccata
- Southern magnolia Magnolia grandiflora
- Spiny tree fern Alsophila spinulosa
- Star anise Illicium verum
- Trident maple Acer buergerianum
- Ume (Chinese plum) Prunus mume
- Weeping willow Salix babylonica
- White champaka (champi) Magnolia Ă— alba
- Windmill palm (Chusan palm) Trachycarpus fortunei
- Yew plum pine (inumaki) Podocarpus macrophyllus
- Yoshino cherry (Somei-yoshino) Prunus Ă— yedoensis
- Yulan magnolia Magnolia denudata
Grasses (13)
- Barley Hordeum vulgare
- Broadleaf cattail (bulrush) Typha latifolia
- Clumping bamboo Fargesia murielae
- Golden bamboo Phyllostachys aurea · invasive in some regions
- Japanese sweet flag (sekishĹŤ) Acorus gramineus
- Korean feather reed grass Calamagrostis brachytricha
- Maiden grass (miscanthus) Miscanthus sinensis
- Moso bamboo Phyllostachys edulis
- Pink muhly grass Muhlenbergia capillaris
- Rice (Asian rice) Oryza sativa
- Rough horsetail (scouring rush) Equisetum hyemale
- Sugarcane Saccharum officinarum
- Wheat (bread wheat) Triticum aestivum
Groundcovers (6)
- Cast-iron plant (haran) Aspidistra elatior
- Creeping fig (climbing fig) Ficus pumila
- Lilyturf (liriope) Liriope muscari
- Mondo grass Ophiopogon japonicus
- Sacred lily (omoto) Rohdea japonica
- Strawberry begonia (yukinoshita) Saxifraga stolonifera
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.