The flower was part of a diversified and delicate farming equilibrium: Farmers in the surrounding Hangjiahu Plain cultivated it alongside silkworm, local sheep breeds, mustard greens, rice, pond fish, ...

Part of the problem is that naturally blue blossoming plants aren’t closely related enough to commercially important flowers for traditional methods—including selective breeding—to work.

As Brown reports, the flower market has a voracious appetite for new colors and blue versions of popular flowers could be a boon the industry. Blue in particular has been a sought-after color.