Emitting a strong scent of banana, the Michelia figo is commonly referred to as the banana shrub. This little flower is native to the moist forests along the springs in China's southern province of Guangdong. In Chinese, the flower is known as the "contained smile flower" or Hanxiao Hua in Chinese.

This name came from its distinctive flowering characteristic: the petals closely surround the stamen instead of opening up to a full blossom, like a timid child with a shy smile.

The sunny and humid weather in Guangdong, as well as in provinces like Guangxi and Fujian, is the banana shrub's natural habitat. Although it is widely cultivated along the Yangtze River, north of its original regions, it needs to be kept in greenhouses during winter as it cannot withstand a temperature below 10 degrees Celsius.

This banana-scented flower actually belongs to the magnolia family, and has nothing to do with bananas. It blossoms in spring from March to May, and fruiting period is usually in July and August. The sweet-scented petals of banana shrub are often made in to flower tea, or extracted to make essential oil.

China's Flora Tour

From the wetlands along the coast to the dense rainforests hidden in the southwest of China, they all boast an array of plant species. In this series, CGTN goes on a tour to learn about some of the most iconic flora in different provinces and see how they live in harmony with the local climate and topography. 

(Cover photo via VCG, designed by CGTN's Yin Yating.)

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com)