Cover of the Nantong Chrysanthemum Manual. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The Nantong Chrysanthemum Manual was recently published in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province to show the city's fruitful results in cultivating chrysanthemums.

The graceful and fragrant chrysanthemum is a renowned flower in China and has been grown in the country for about 3,000 years.

About two years ago, the Nantong municipal affairs and parks bureau set up an editorial committee to be responsible for the book's compilation.

Chrysanthemums in the Nantong Chrysanthemum Manual. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The book showcases the construction of chrysanthemum bases, chrysanthemum cultivation, and chrysanthemum exhibitions and competitions in Nantong and also records 1,626 varieties of chrysanthemum, which are divided by petal and flower type.

Nantong natives have had deep affection for chrysanthemums since ancient times and they also love growing the flower, said folklorist Wang Yuming in Nantong, adding that in ancient times, there were people in the city who specialized in growing and cultivating it.

Chrysanthemums in the Nantong Chrysanthemum Manual. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

In 1982, the chrysanthemum was identified as the city flower of Nantong and in 1999, the chrysanthemum variety base in Nantong received recognition from the China Chrysanthemum Research Association and since then has been commissioned to preserve Chinese chrysanthemums.

The variety base has been making efforts to explore the cultivation methods and techniques of chrysanthemums, record the varieties, and maintain the purity, leading to efficient measures for species conservation.