Camellia flowers 'advance towards the official' in Qiao Zhong

One of the flowers that has built the brand and reputation of Kieu Trung flower and ornamental plant village (An Hai ward, Hai Phong) is the camellia.

Camellia flowers are associated with the brand and reputation of Kieu Trung village, a traditional flower and ornamental plant growing village.

Kieu Trung Camellia Flower Brand

Kieu Trung village (An Hai ward) is one of four flower and ornamental plant growing villages in the former An Duong district, specializing in a wide variety of flowers and plants. While Dong Du and Tri Yeu villages are known for growing peach blossoms, kumquats, and begonias; and Minh Kha village specializes in cut flowers and kumquats, Kieu Trung village is known for its diverse range of flowers and ornamental plants.

To develop the economy , the people of Kieu Trung flexibly change their crop structure according to market demand. From peach blossoms and royal betel nuts to frangipani, peonies, crape myrtle, antique roses, camellias… Among them, Kieu Trung camellias are particularly popular.

Mr. Nguyen Van Than, who has nearly 35 years of experience growing camellias, said that the hobby of growing camellias dates back to ancient times, with the folk saying "kings play with orchids, officials play with camellias." However, it is only in the last 10 years that camellias have truly become widely known. Currently, Mr. Than's family has more than 500 camellia plants to supply the market for this year's Tet holiday.

Camellia flowers bloom only once a year but are very long-lasting, with each flower blooming for 10-15 days. Notably, camellias don't all bloom at once but rather in successive bursts, allowing enthusiasts to enjoy the beautiful flowers for 2-3 months.

Camellia flowers are unique because of their large, evenly shaped, thick petals, with many layers of petals blooming symmetrically on the branches. Not only beautiful, each type of camellia also has its own symbolic meaning. For example, the white camellia (also called bạch trà) with its pure white color and thick, round, fully bloomed petals symbolizes pure beauty; the pink camellia, with its gentle pink hue, is considered a symbol of perfect beauty, pride, and brings good luck…

Camellia flowers bloom right around the Lunar New Year, so alongside peach blossoms and kumquats, camellias are a popular choice for decorating homes.

Camellia flower powder.

Developing flower varieties with high economic value.

According to some residents in the flower village, compared to other ornamental plants, camellias are difficult to care for but offer high and stable value. Camellias cannot tolerate high temperatures and require stable humidity and a consistent watering schedule. To ensure the flowers bloom at the right time for Tet (Lunar New Year), with large, thick petals, growers must be meticulous in every step.

To meet market demand, households in the craft village proactively propagate camellias using the cutting method. This method helps households both preserve their seed source and expand production in the long term.

Another unique aspect of Kieu Trung flower village is that, to save arable land amidst rapid urbanization, households grow camellias in pots instead of planting them directly in the ground and then transplanting them for sale. Because of this, the sales process for camellia growers in Kieu Trung village is simpler than for some other ornamental plants like peach blossoms, kumquats, and begonias.

Currently, camellias are available at various price points for enthusiasts, ranging from 500,000 to 1 million VND per plant… and can even reach over 10 million VND depending on the type of flower, age, and quality of the plant.

According to information from the An Hai Ward Farmers' Association, camellias have become a unique brand for the Kieu Trung flower and ornamental plant growing village. Along with other types of flowers and ornamental plants, growing camellias provides a stable source of income for local people.

However, currently, the cultivation of flowers and ornamental plants by people in traditional craft villages in general, and camellia cultivation in particular, is facing certain difficulties. These include shrinking cultivated areas due to urbanization and climate change…

Therefore, in order to maintain and sustainably develop the craft village, as well as preserve the flower varieties associated with the village's name, such as camellias, the households hope that local authorities at all levels, departments, and relevant units will continue to support the transfer of scientific and technical knowledge in plant propagation and care; guide the implementation of land consolidation policies; and support the development of distinctive products associated with the registration and certification of product trademarks...

MINH CHAM

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/hoa-tra-tien-quan-o-kieu-trung-530414.html