桂花在中国有2500多年的栽培历史。桂花通常在八月盛开，还有一个和中秋节相关的典故：传说吴刚因遭天帝惩罚到月宫砍伐桂树，其树随砍随合，以这种永无休止的劳动作为对吴刚的惩罚，只有在中秋节这一天吴刚才能休息。
Planting sweet-scented osmanthus in China has a history of more than 2,500 years. Often blooming in August, the plant is also connected with Mid-Autumn Festival due to the fairy tale about a man named Wu Gang. Wu is ordered to cut down a large and strong osmanthus tree on the moon every day, yet the charmed tree never falls and has fragrant flowers each autumn. Wu is only allowed to have a rest for Mid-Autumn Festival.
中秋赏月之时，人间也有喝桂花酒的习俗。这一习俗，有史可考的是唐代,是祭拜月神之后“吃”的内容之一,有吉祥、祝福、喜庆、团圆的含义。
暗淡轻黄体性柔，情疏迹远只香留。
light yellow, with a delicate figure, that only leaves fragrance behind.
——【宋】李清照《鹧鸪天·桂花》
