Eternal flowers, also known as preserved flowers or eco-flowers, are processed using fresh-cut flowers as raw materials. Through procedures like dehydration, decolorization, drying, and dyeing, they maintain the texture, shape, and feel of fresh flowers while offering richer colors, wider uses, and a longer shelf life. As China’s main producer of fresh-cut flowers, Yunnan Province has significant advantages in resources and technological development for the eternal flower industry.

High Added Value and Promising Prospects

On the consumer end, eternal flowers have advantages over fresh-cut flowers, such as easier preservation, convenient transportation, and a wider range of colors, thereby expanding the consumption of fresh flowers. Statistics show that in 2019, the market size of China's eternal flower industry was approximately 14 billion RMB, with an annual growth rate of 7% to 11% in recent years. This growth is expected to continue rapidly in the coming years. A 2020 consumer survey indicated a growing interest in purchasing eternal flowers, with one-quarter of fresh flower consumers considering or already buying them. In the same year, demand for eternal flowers in Southeast Asian countries such as Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand increased by 47% year-over-year.

On the production end, eternal flowers have higher added value, attracting more businesses and producers in recent years. For example, the annual output value per acre of fresh baby's breath is around 60,000–70,000 RMB, but when processed into eternal flowers, the value can increase to 600,000–700,000 RMB, a tenfold increase. When further designed into eternal flower art pieces, the value can multiply by dozens or even hundreds of times.

With the rise of diversified and high-end floral consumption in China, high-quality eternal flower products with a touch of luxury are expected to be promoted to mid-to-high-end markets through new retail channels both online and offline. This will comprehensively enhance industry scale and accelerate its development.

Advantageous Conditions in Flower-Producing Regions

The production and processing of eternal flowers require high standards for the freshness of raw materials, necessitating proximity to flower production areas. In recent years, the development landscape of China's eternal flower industry has begun to take shape, with industrial clusters forming in Yunnan, Fujian, and Guangdong. Among these, Yunnan stands out as the most prominent. Yunnan accounts for half of the nation’s fresh-cut flower production, offering an extensive variety of flowers. In 2019, Yunnan’s eternal flower raw material output value was estimated to comprise one-fifth of the global total. The province’s eternal flower industry has since grown to exceed 5 billion RMB.

In terms of sales, over 10,000 flower shops nationwide now sell eternal flower products from Yunnan. These products are also exported to more than 50 countries and regions, including Europe, ASEAN countries, the United States, and Japan. On the production side, Yunnan boasts more than 30 scaled eternal flower enterprises, including notable brands like “Dream Grass” and “Flower Hou.” Notably, the preserved baby’s breath produced by Yunnan Dream Grass Flora Co., Ltd. was recognized as one of Yunnan Province's top ten flower products in 2018 and 2019.

Leveraging Technological Advantages to Build Industry Support

Eternal flower processing technology is a core competitive edge for the industry. The Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences have long been dedicated to researching eternal flower production technologies. They have achieved a series of breakthroughs that have been applied to scaled production, laying a solid technical foundation for Yunnan's eternal flower development.

In 2005, the Kunming Institute of Botany introduced eternal flower technology from Japan to Yunnan. Under the leadership of researcher Lu Yuanxue, the team innovated upon the imported technology, developing a practical and advanced localized production system. They successfully created over 100 varieties of eternal flowers, including roses, carnations, hydrangeas, and phalaenopsis orchids, spawning hundreds of processing enterprises and local brands. The team also pioneered new smart and digital production equipment for eternal flowers and efficient processing technologies. These include integrated systems for liquid formulation, gas-liquid phase control, ultrasonic bleaching, air compression, air purification, drying, and waste recycling. They also developed plant-specific processing formulas and eco-friendly, efficient production techniques while selecting and demonstrating suitable flower varieties from Yunnan. With the highest number of intellectual property rights for eternal flowers in China, their efforts have provided strong technological support for the development of Yunnan’s deep-processing flower industry.

Automation and standardization are the future of eternal flower production. Many large-scale processing enterprises in Yunnan now have dedicated R&D departments and laboratories, recruiting professionals in fields such as chemistry and dyeing to refine processes like coloring, drying, and environmental protection. The industry is steadily progressing toward professionalization, scalability, and standardization. Recently, the cross-border e-commerce company Shanghai Mizang Technology Co., Ltd. established an eternal flower processing plant in Mojiang, Yunnan. The facility, equipped with four fully automated production lines, is currently undergoing testing for standardized production of eternal flower materials.

Industry Fragmentation Calls for Integrated Development

Although the eternal flower industry has a bright future and rapid growth, production processes remain rudimentary, with inefficiencies and widespread issues in fire safety and environmental compliance. In 2021, the Kunming Institute of Botany and other organizations formed a task force to promote Yunnan’s deep processing of specialty agricultural products. They proposed making eternal flowers a new growth driver for the province's floriculture industry, highlighting eternal flowers as one of the most representative and best-selling deep-processed flower products globally. To achieve this, they recommended strengthening industry guidance, establishing safety production regulations, and enhancing technological support for sustainable development. These efforts aim to position eternal flowers as a major growth engine for Yunnan’s floriculture industry, creating new competitive advantages for "Colorful Yunnan Flowers."

In June 2023, the Yunnan Floriculture Association established a dedicated Eternal Flower Professional Committee. Led by the Kunming Institute of Botany, the committee was co-founded by over 100 research institutions, organizations, and enterprises. It aims to address industry challenges and promote the sustainable growth of the eternal flower industry.