These days, it’s hard to scroll through social media in Hangzhou without bumping into a cascade of pink, red, and yellow roses. They’ve taken over the city’s elevated highways and roadside medians, turning commutes into a floral spectacle. Locals can’t stop snapping photos, but how do you truly read a rose? Si Haoxiang, who leads the West Lake Scenic Area’s rose studio, decided to answer that question by relocating his skills workshop to the rose garden at Hangzhou Flower Nursery. More than twenty self-proclaimed “flower chasers” braved the rain for an immersive lesson among the blossoms.

The nursery’s rose garden was established in 1956 and is one of the earliest rose-specialty gardens in China. It sprawls across roughly 10,000 square meters and features over 400 rose varieties. Beyond the common blooms seen on the city’s highways, it also hides some true “national treasure” cultivars.

During the event, Si introduced visitors to several standout varieties and their quirks. Take “Yueyuefen,” for example—a rose documented as far back as the Song Dynasty and recognized as the first ancient Chinese rose to introduce perpetual blooming genes to Europe. Then there’s “Yueyuehong,” named for its monthly flowering cycle and deep red hue. For something truly unusual, “Lü-e” (green calyx) is a traditional Chinese green rose whose petals stay entirely green and look almost like sepals—earning it the nickname “Green Hydrangea.” Another gem, “Lüyun” (green cloud), is a shrub rose bred in-house by Hangzhou Flower Nursery back in 1979. Its pale green-tinged petals with yellowish bases give it a truly unique look.

But it wasn’t all history and botany. Si also shared some tips for keeping roses happy at home. “First of firsts: sunlight,” he said. “They need five to six hours of strong direct light daily.” Watering? Let the soil dry out between drinks. Soil should be loose, well-draining, slightly acidic, and able to hold onto nutrients. Roses are also heavy feeders: fertilize regularly during the growing season, but go easy when temperatures spike, or you risk burning the roots. And don’t forget pruning—it’s essential for both blooming and disease prevention, and it comes in two flavors: growing-season cuts and dormant-season cuts. Keep an eye out for powdery mildew and botrytis, too.

A quick heads-up from the West Lake Scenic Area’s master station: the roses at Hangzhou Flower Nursery will hit their peak right around the May 1st Day holiday. The 4th Hangzhou Rose Exhibition kicks off on April 28, with more than 400 varieties bursting into bloom. If you are looking to truly lose yourself in a rose-filled wonderland, that is your moment.