It all started in 2015 when people in Shanghai discovered a large field of "pink grass". Back then, the obsession with taking a perfect selfie or a beautiful photo was already spreading across social media.
The pink grass called "hairawn muhly" went viral on China's social media. /VCG Photo
Photos with hairawn muhly were frequently shared on Chinese social media. /VCG Photo
The photos of the pink grass named hairawn muhly immediately went viral, and the social media frenzy peaked last autumn after a lot of places in China picked up on that trend and started to grow large swaths of that grass to create "pink clouds".
Hairawn muhly originated from North America. /VCG Photo
Originating from the prairie in North America, the plant has a double layer: green, leaf-like structures surround the understory, and purple-pink flowers outgrow them from the bottom up. The flowers are feathery, adding a cloudlike appearance to the top of the grass.
Hairawn muhly can adapt to a harsh environment. /VCG Photo
The plant is a tough species, able to survive drought, flood, salt, and alkali, and can be used for a multitude of purposes, including ornamental gardening and farming.
Thus, it has been a good choice for parks and other open spaces in urban areas of central and southern China.
They are planted in many Chinese cities, but cases of damages due to too many tourists have also been reported.
Many cities in China have planted Hairawn muhly in parks and other open spaces. /VCG Photo
China's Flora Tour
From the wetlands along the coast to the dense rainforests hidden in the southwest, China boasts an array of plant species. In this series, we will go on a tour to learn about some of the most representative flora in different provinces and see how they live in harmony with the local geography and climate.
Read more:
China's Flora Tour: 'Land of Abundance' grows the gorgeous hollyhock
China's Flora Tour: Euphrates poplar – king of the desert
China's Flora Tour: 'King of Flowers' stuns with exquisite beauty
China's Flora Tour: Fine jade flowers
(Cover image via VCG, designed by CGTN's Fan Chenxiao)
(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com)