Early winter is the perfect time to appreciate various types of fruit-bearing trees and shrubs in Suzhou's scenic areas.
Ginkgo
The fruit of ginkgoes is commonly known as "white fruit." It takes over 20 years for the tree to bear fruits and another 20 years to produce abundant fruits.
Where: Lingering Garden留园, Suzhou Botanical Garden苏州植物园, Tongli Ancient Town同里古镇风景区, Shazhou Park沙洲公园
Crabapple
Crabapples are adorned with red and yellow fruits. The Suzhou Botanical Garden has over 400 crabapples across 20 varieties, including those native to North America.
Where: Suzhou Botanical Garden苏州植物园, Lingering Garden留园
Persimmon
Persimmons are like red lanterns hanging on branches, adding a festive touch.
Where: Yiyuan Garden怡园, Tianping Mountain天平山, Canglang Pavilion沧浪亭
Pine cone
Pine cones are spherical or oval-shaped organs of pine plants. Each one of them is an exquisite product of nature.
Where: Suzhou Botanical Garden苏州植物园, Shazhou Park沙洲公园
Pomegranate
The pomegranate tree in the southeast corner of the Gengle Hall in Tongli Ancient Town basks in sunlight, complementing the surrounding old buildings.
Where: Tongli Ancient Town同里古镇, Lion Grove Garden狮子林, Lingering Garden留园, Couple's Retreat Garden耦园, Yiyuan Garden怡园
Bald cypress
With oval cones hanging at the end of branches, bald cypresses appear charming.
Where: Suzhou Botanical Garden苏州植物园
Diospyros cathayensis
Its fruits are retained until the following spring, boasting high aesthetic value. The tree is suitable for bonsais.
Where: Fangta Garden方塔园
Sacred bamboo
It has vibrant leaves and red fruits, symbolizing auspiciousness and good luck in China.
Where: Lion Grove Garden狮子林, Suzhou Park苏州公园, Yiyuan Garden怡园
Chinese tallow
As its fruits mature, the walls fall away and release globose seeds with a white, tallow-containing covering, resembling pearls.
Where: Tongjing Park桐泾公园, Suzhou Park苏州公园, Suzhou Botanical Garden苏州植物园
Beautyberry
With purple fruits that endure for a long time, beautyberries are extremely ornamental.
Where: Suzhou Botanical Garden苏州植物园
Platycarya
Known for a fragrant scent, the tree bears little fruits resembling pine cones.
Where: Suzhou Botanical Garden苏州植物园
Chinese soapberry
Its fruit contains the compound of saponin, which has natural cleansing properties, and therefore can be used as a cleanser.
Where: Suzhou Botanical Garden苏州植物园
Chinese sweet gum
The fruits are exactly like the soot sprites from Hayao Miyazaki's movies.
Where: Tianping Mountain天平山, Master of the Nets Garden网师园, Keyuan Garden可园
Chinese yew
Its fruit is most extinctive: a fleshy red berry about the size of a pea, which often attracts birds and small mammals.
Where: Suzhou Botanical Garden苏州植物园
iSuzhou reminds you: though these fruits are beautiful, please refrain from picking and eating them.
Source: Suzhou Gardening and Greening Bureau