Will heavy snow disrupt the Yangmingshan Flower Festival? The extreme cold snap may actually lead to more cherry blossoms this year

▲The magnificent cherry blossoms of Yangmingshan. (Photo/ Illustration, taken from the Yangmingshan Flower Festival fan page)

Reported by Chen Rui-zhong / Taipei

From January 30 to March 20, Yangmingshan will host its longest-ever flower festival. Due to the recent cold wave affecting the entire island, there has been snow accumulation at the summit of Yangmingshan, prompting many to worry, "What will happen to the flowers on Yangmingshan?"

Camellias and mountain cherry blossoms, which typically bloom in January, along with azaleas that follow in March, have always been the stars of the Yangmingshan Flower Festival. However, this year Taipei saw snowfall that hasn't occurred in decades, which could also impact flower growth. The Taipei City Floriculture Experiment Station stated that although there was snowfall this year, the amount of snow on Yangmingshan was minimal and short-lived. Moreover, since cherry blossoms and azaleas have not yet bloomed, the snow has not caused significant harm to the plants or buds. So far, only a few trees have suffered frost damage, affecting less than 10% of the floral display.

▲Snowfall on Yangmingshan this year due to the cold wave. (Photo/ Provided with permission by photographer Hsieh Hung-i)

The Floriculture Experiment Station also noted,that Typhoon Soudelor had a severe impact last year, uprooting many cherry trees and disrupting their growth cycles. In contrast, the extreme low temperatures brought by the "King Cold Wave" this year may actually help stimulate the mountain cherry trees to produce more blossoms.As for the camellias, which have already begun to bloom and are naturally cold-resistant, they remain unaffected. Although it's still difficult to predict the exact floral conditions this year given the interplay between the typhoon and the cold wave, the overall flower season will not be impacted, and the public can enjoy the event with peace of mind.

This year’s camellia exhibition, which has already begun, showcases 10,000 camellia plants and over 70 varieties of potted camellias. The 51-day Yangmingshan Flower Festival, running from January 30 to March 20, has also gained an additional 5,000 square meters of green space thanks to the renovation of Yangmingshan Park, where nearly 200 newly planted cherry trees can be seen. Traffic controls will be in place during the flower festival period to ensure a quality experience for visitors enjoying the blossoms on the mountain.