Autumn's in Shanghai and so are the sweet osmanthus. But the white and pale yellow blooms along Shanghai's parks and sidewalks have arrived unusually late.

Botanical experts said this year's blooms are the latest in 10 years. The good news is that they will stay for a longer period - nearly 20 days.

The sweet-smelling flowers blossomed only after October 3 this year, missing the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 14. The usual time for sweet osmanthus to flower is mid to late September - its fragrance is deeply associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Experts said the relatively high September temperatures delayed the flowers. Sweet osmanthus are extremely sensitive to temperature and can blossom only when the mercury falls below 20 degrees Celsius. Shanghai residents who are fans of the flowers don't have long to exercise their passion.

Wu Zhixing, an expert from the Shanghai Botanical Garden, said people should go out to the parks and green belts of the city as soon as possible to enjoy this unusual flower.

But he also hopes that citizens will desist from snapping up the flowers and destroying the plants.