What is the difference between Gong chrysanthemum and regular chrysanthemum?
Dec 12, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
The differences between Gongju chrysanthemum and general chrysanthemum are typically reflected in aspects such as botanical classification, geographical distribution, physical appearance, therapeutic emphasis, and application scenarios. Chrysanthemum is a general term for plants belonging to the genus Chrysanthemum in the family Asteraceae, encompassing numerous varieties and thus having a broad scope. In contrast, Gongju chrysanthemum is a specific high-quality cultivar within the chrysanthemum group, considered a premium variety that historically served as a tribute offering in ancient China—hence its name—and is more precisely defined in terms of cultivar characteristics.
The differences between Gongju chrysanthemum and regular chrysanthemum are generally reflected in aspects such as variety classification, geographical distribution, appearance, functional emphasis, and application scenarios. The detailed analysis is as follows:
1. **Variety Classification**: Chrysanthemum is a general term for plants belonging to the genus *Chrysanthemum* in the Asteraceae family, encompassing numerous varieties with a broad range; Gongju chrysanthemum, on the other hand, is a specific high-quality cultivar within the chrysanthemum family, considered a premium type historically presented as tribute, thus having a more defined and specialized classification.
2. **Geographical Distribution**: Regular chrysanthemums are widely cultivated throughout China, demonstrating strong adaptability and scattered production regions; in contrast, the core growing areas of Gongju chrysanthemum are concentrated in specific regions, most notably Huangshan in Anhui Province, where unique environmental conditions contribute to its quality, resulting in relatively centralized cultivation and significant regional influence on product quality.
3. **Appearance**: Ordinary chrysanthemum flowers are larger, with broad and thick petals, available in various colors including white, yellow, and purple; Gongju chrysanthemum flowers are smaller, with fine, evenly distributed petals predominantly white in color, possessing a neat and compact shape that appears more delicate overall.
4. **Functional Emphasis**: Regular chrysanthemum primarily functions to dispel wind-heat and clear heat while detoxifying, making it particularly effective for symptoms such as wind-heat colds and sore throat; Gongju chrysanthemum focuses on clearing liver heat to improve vision and calming hyperactive liver yang, making it better suited for relieving dizziness, red eyes, and eye pain caused by excessive liver fire.
5. **Application Scenarios**: Regular chrysanthemum has wide-ranging uses, suitable for brewing tea, medicinal formulations, and culinary seasoning, offering high cost-effectiveness; due to its superior quality and concentrated health benefits, Gongju chrysanthemum is mainly used for tea preparation, especially favored for daily wellness and health regulation, and is preferred as a premium herbal tea.
When selecting, one may choose according to specific needs—opt for regular chrysanthemum for relieving surface heat, and prefer Gongju chrysanthemum for liver-clearing, vision-improving, and general wellness purposes. When brewing tea, control the amount used and avoid excessive consumption.
