Hornbeam trees finally bear fruits in Kunming

Two hornbeam trees that have been growing in the Kunming-based World Horticultural Exposition Garden for 20 plus years finally bore fruits, according to a staffer at the garden on September 23.

A hornbeam tree in the Kunming world expo garden. Photo provided to Yunnan Daily

“The hardwood trees were planted on the occasion of the 1999 World Horticultural Exposition, and it began to bloom in May this year and bear tender fruits in August,” said the gardener, adding the fruits will be ripe in October.

 

A hornbeam branch in the Kunming world expo garden. Photo provided to Yunnan Daily

Originally growing in east China’s Zhejiang province, the hornbeam hardwood tree has been put under first-class state protection, and it was one of the four chosen tree species for space breeding in Tiangong-1 in September 2011.

 

A hornbeam branch in the Kunming world expo garden. Photo provided to Yunnan Daily

Reporting He Rong (Yunnan Daily); Trans-editing by Wang Shixue