The King Protea, the national flower of South Africa, will be in bloom at a flower exhibition at Shanghai Botanical Garden that opens on September 28 and runs through October 28.

Millions of flowers and more than 300 species of plants will be on display in the 300,000-square-meter exhibition area, which is divided into indoor and outdoor areas.

"Different from the previous exhibitions focusing on seasonal flowers, this time the show will display not only autumn plants but also spring ones," said Zhao Yingying, an official with the Shanghai Botanical Garden.

In the section of "exotic flowers and herbs", visitors can expect to see nearly 10,000 King Proteas, which will be transported to the garden from South Africa by air.

"It's spring in South Africa now and the King Protea is one of the spring flowers," Zhao said.

More than 3,000 other flowers native to South Africa will also be shown with the King Protea in the temperate zones and greenhouse of the exhibition hall.

The Dahlia, native to Mexico, which has tuberous roots and showy, rayed, variously colored flower heads will also be displayed during the exhibition.

"The Dahlia should be planted in a cool and dry environment," Zhao explained.

"Visitors can also expect to see colorful grass, not only the green of normal grass," she added. "This is the first time that so many species of grass are displayed."

In the "harvest farm" section, more than 30,000 fruits and vegetables of 70 species will also be.

The ticket price to enter the garden will remain at 15 yuan (US$2) during the flower exhibition, officials said.

(Shanghai Daily September 21, 2007)