In his Records of Old Suchow, Wang Ao of the Ming dynasty (1368--1644) writes, "The people of Huch'iu like to grow strange flowers, wonderful plants, twisting pines, and ancient plum trees in pots.
明朝人王鏊著姑蘇志中有言：「虎丘人善於盆中植奇花異卉、盤松古梅，置之几案間，清雅可愛，謂之盆景。」