Islamabad chrysanthemum show highlights autumn blooms rooted in ancient Chinese tradition
ISLAMABAD – The Gardenia Hub in Chak Shehzad turned into a vivid canvas of seasonal colour as the Capital Development Authority opened its annual Chrysanthemum and Autumn Flower Show, where hybrid chrysanthemums and other autumn blooms cultivated by the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) formed the core of the displays. Gul-e-Dawoodi, the Urdu name for chrysanthemum, has a botanical lineage tracing back more than 2,500 years to ancient Chinese cultivation, a heritage now reflected in Islamabad’s autumn as varieties are propagated and adapted locally.
The exhibition showcased a large number of cultivars in yellow, crimson, white, magenta and pastel shades, many of which were developed through modern chrysanthemum breeding in China and remain relatively uncommon in Pakistan’s commercial nurseries.
Prize-winning flower beds displayed at the Flower Show in Islamabad. [Photo by Tahir Ali]
Most of the prize-winning exhibition benches were located inside the Friendship Garden, while individual potted displays appeared along the brick pathway. The Bonsai Corner stands just across the pathway, separated by a gentle zigzag of brick paving, where colourful pots of chrysanthemums, including yellow, maroon, white and bi-colour blooms, were arranged around the miniature trees as ornamental accents. A few flower growers also displayed seasonal blooms in small pots for sale from hand-pushed carts, although their number remained limited compared with the main exhibition areas.
A floral bicycle display adds colour to the Flower Show. [Photo by Tahir Ali]
Raja Khizar Hayat, who has worked for 20 years in CDA’s nursery, told Gwadar Pro that horticulturists spend nearly 11 months preparing flowers for the annual exhibition. “These flowers last for around one month and at most survive until mid-January,” he said, adding that Islamabad’s avenues and public spaces are decorated with chrysanthemums each autumn.
Pakistan increasingly relies on chrysanthemum breeding knowledge developed in China, including spider-type mums, hardy autumn asters, hybrid marigolds and several heat-resistant ornamental foliage plants, which have become part of Islamabad’s seasonal beautification plan.
“China has made extraordinary progress in chrysanthemum breeding,” Abdullah, a horticulture expert, told Gwadar Pro. “We are importing premium varieties because they survive autumn better and have more dramatic colours.”
Visitors photograph and take selfies with flowers. [Photo by Tahir Ali]
Muhammad Salim, a visitor, said the wide presence of Chinese-origin varieties was “an example of friendship in a quiet language,” adding the classical phrase that “flowers bloom silently, yet warmth is felt.” Families photographed the colourful terraces as students recorded notes on hybrid characteristics. “I did not know chrysanthemums could have so many shapes,” Omer Farooq, a college student, told Gwadar Pro. “It feels like a lesson in botany and culture at the same time.”
A group of schoolchildren expressed excitement at seeing rare colours and unusual flower forms, calling the event “the most Instagram-friendly festival of the season.”
The Chrysanthemum and Autumn Flower Show concludes on Dec. 7.
