• China has vibrant plant life with more than 31,000 species native to the region, representing about 12 percent of the world's flora. To put this in perspective, the United States and Canada have a combined total of 20,000 native plant species. The study and conservation of native Chinese plants is important, not only because of the many varieties, but also, their medicinal properties. For example, Artemisia annua, which belongs to the sunflower family, has been shown to have enormous potential against Plasmodiumfalciparum malaria, which is resistant to other drugs.
  
  

Chinese Abelia (Abelia chinensis)

• The Chinese Abelia is a deciduous shrub which is native to China. It is named after Clark Abel, a naturalist and surgeon, who retrieved some specimens of the plant from China in 1816, during an unsuccessful trip by the British Embassy to the country, and was introduced to England as a living plant in 1844 by Robert Fortune. This plant is especially popular among gardeners who wish to attract butterflies into their gardens because the Abelia produces huge clusters of white, bell-shaped flowers which butterflies favor. The Chinese Abelia is an easily grown plant which requires full sunlight to thrive. This plant needs pruning to control its size and this must be done in the spring, before growth begins.
  
  

Arisaema erubescens (Chinese Cobra Lily)

• The Chinese cobra lily is a native plant of China with 105 genera and more than 3,300 species. This plant has alternate or clustered leaves, with vertical or horizontal rhizomes and milky or watery latex. The Chinese cobra lily is one of the few plants which are either male, female or both. When Chinese cobra lily plants are immature, they are usually male, only to switch to female before fruiting. The the plants switch back to the male form sometime after fruiting. This ability to switch back and forth is known as being paradioecious. A few Chinese cobra lily species have both the male and female sexes on the same plant, (bisexual) because the staminate and pistillate are usually on the same plant. Unisex species include Arisaema consanguineum, Arisaema flavum and Arisaema tortuosum.The Chinese cobra lily contains crystals of calcium oxalate which causes irritation when handled. Despite this apparent toxicity, some genera of the plant are cultivated for food. These include Colocasia esculenata and several species of Xanthosoma. Some species of the plants, such as Aglaonema (Chinese-evergreen), Philonderon, Syngonium and Epipremnum (golden pothos) are grown for ornamental purposes. The Chinese cobra lily grows from early June and does well in moist, well-drained, neutral to acidic soil. The Chinese cobra lily also prefers to grow in a warm, partially shaded area.
  
  

Chinese astilbe (Astilbe chinensis)

• Chinese astibe is a perennial, herbaceous flowering plant native to China. These plants are known for their extravagant foliage, which resemble dense, feathery plumes. These plants require peaty soil to thrive and do well in full shade.