A sea of calliopsis in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province [Photo/ntfabu.com]

"Nowadays, flowers are not only seen in parks but in clusters across the city," said Zhang Xixi, a citizen in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province.

Perennial plants, such as grass-leaf sweetflags, loosestrife and pampas grass contrast with bushes and trees, forming a multilayered, colorful landscape.

This is a result of the local government's efforts to implement an economical and environmentally friendly landscaping concept. The wide use of perennial plants not only reduced the cost of landscaping but also created a number of new favorites in the urban area.

According to officials at the city's municipal engineering and landscaping department, the widespread construction of lawn and flower terraces in the past cost a lot to build and maintain, but they were in bloom for a short time.

By contrast, perennial plants enjoy relatively longer florescence and require much less gardening. The diverse species with different flowering phases, colors, textures and shapes can produce variable scenes all year round.

Nengda Ecological Corridor in the Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area has been a model for the application of perennial plants. 

The 4.5-km-long corridor is decorated with a full array of chrysanthemum and hairawn muhly fields. It has attracted crowds of visitors at weekends and holidays, becoming a hit on local social media.