Over the past two days, Chengdu residents passing by the Du Fu Thatched Cottage and the Cultural Park have been greeted by a familiar sweet fragrance, as osmanthus varieties such as golden osmanthus and orange osmanthus have unexpectedly come into bloom.

Although these varieties are known for early flowering, with their peak blooming period typically occurring from mid-September to early October in previous years, this year's osmanthus scent has arrived more than half a month ahead of schedule, sparking curiosity among citizens about the reasons behind such an early bloom.

In fact, early osmanthus blooming is not unique to this year. Zhu Mingchuan, vice president of the Chengdu Flower Association, noted that similar occurrences were observed in Chengdu in 2018 and 2019, stating, "Although the bloom is early this year, it is not extreme and follows established precedents." Osmanthus flowering occurs in two stages: flower bud differentiation is completed during the high temperatures of summer, while low temperatures in autumn are required to stimulate the buds to transition from a dormant state to full bloom.

Following the Start of Autumn solar term this year, continuous rainfall caused temperature fluctuations in Chengdu, with cooling periods followed by warming trends and no sustained high temperatures. Ample moisture combined with suitable temperatures led the flower buds to misjudge seasonal rhythms, resulting in premature blooming. Zhu added that the first round of osmanthus blooms typically occurs around early September, and detecting the fragrance in late August is normal under favorable climatic conditions, consistent with the plant's growth patterns.

Netizens Discuss Early Blooming of Osmanthus in Chengdu

Regarding the duration of the flowering season, osmanthus generally blooms in one to three rounds, with each round lasting seven to ten days. Based on current weather patterns, Zhu predicts that Chengdu's osmanthus will likely complete three full blooming cycles: the first round is expected to last until the end of August, the second round will arrive in early September, and the third round will depend on temperatures in mid-to-late September. However, he cautioned that heavy rainfall during the blooming period could dislodge flowers and shorten the flowering season accordingly.

Currently, osmanthus viewing is available at locations including Minjiang Village in Shou'an Town, Wenjiang District; the vicinity of Kuanzhai Alley; the Cultural Park; and the Du Fu Thatched Cottage. Experts note that while osmanthus fragrance is harmless to humans, individuals with allergies or respiratory conditions may experience discomfort upon exposure and are advised to wear masks during peak blooming periods. Furthermore, regarding the practice of harvesting osmanthus for consumption, experts warn that trees along major urban roads readily absorb vehicle exhaust and road dust; therefore, flowers from these areas should only be used for non-edible purposes such as dried floral arrangements or sachets, and consumption is not recommended.

【本文部分内容由AI辅助生成，特此声明。The author(s) generated part of the content in this work with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), which is hereby declared.】