Golden flower spikes clustered together, reaching skyward—sun hemp fields in a hidden scenic gem

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team    |    Images courtesy of the East Rift Valley National Scenic Area Administration

It’s the season of the golden shower tree, with “golden rain” falling across Taiwan, making this early summer flower spectacle a nationwide craze. But beyond the golden blooms of the golden shower tree and daylilies, it’s also the season for sun hemp flowers. Unlike the golden shower tree’s drooping, chain-like bright yellow flower spikes, sun hemp flowers grow upright, forming clusters that resemble miniature hollyhocks. Often used as a green manure crop, sun hemp can commonly be spotted in fallow fields within the East Rift Valley. The photos below were taken along Minquan East Road and Zhongzheng South Road in Ruisui Township, Hualien. Since these are usually mixed plantings, the plants are relatively short—but in a pure sun hemp field, they can grow even taller than a person. These golden, captivating flower seas not only offer beauty but also serve as green manure, and can only be seen during fallow periods.

【Info】
Sun Hemp Flower Sea
Location: Intersection of Minquan East Road and Zhongzheng South Road, Ruisui Township, Hualien