25 Lucky Plants And Flowers To Buy For Chinese New Year
Usher in abundance and prosperity with these auspicious plants
The Year of the Snake is coming up fast and many families will begin sprucing up their homes with fresh flowers and plants. Why? This is because flower blossoms are believed to bring fortune, according to the popular Chinese saying 花開富貴 (“blossom flowers bring wealth”).
While you may see some nurseries churning out fun animal-themed products, others are sticking to time-honoured lucky plants like kumquats and lime trees, pussy willows, money plants and kalanchoes, which are popular for their auspicious-sounding names or colours.
Here are 25 lucky plants and flowers that are auspicious for the lunar new year:
This tropical plant is highly sought after during Chinese New Year as it is believed to usher in luck. When the signature bright yellow flowers fall off, they resemble gold sprinkled on the ground, and this is why its Chinese name, man di huang jing, literally translates to "gold all over the floor".
This plant comes in a variety of auspicious bright colours including red and pink.
Known as fu gui hua (wealth plant) in Mandarin, it is a popular pick during the festive period because its rotund basal stem represents wealth and fortune. It is believed that the bigger the basal stem is, the more prosperity will be ushered in.
These vibrant flowers often bloom simultaneously and this is commonly taken to be a symbol of harmony. They are available in various bright colours, such as striking shades of pink.
Tip: Keep the plant in semi-shaded areas such as balconies. Water every alternate day and keep the soil moist.
For a more quirky choice, get this ornamental citrus plant that bears unusually shaped fruit. The fragrant fruits resemble the hands seen on representations of Buddha, which lends the plant its name.
This plant is believed to bring good luck and the deep yellow-coloured fruits also add to the festive atmosphere.
These flowering plants are also known as "pineapple flowers". Pineapple is an auspicious fruit, as it is called ong lai in Hokkien, meaning "good fortune arriving". These plants are also relatively easy to maintain.
These brightly-hued plants are called wan shou ju in Mandarin, which signifies longevity.
With their bright gold or purple hues, chrysanthemums are an auspicious choice for the season. The plant is also said to symbolise longevity, while those with gold blooms represent wealth and prosperity.
Flamingo lilies come in an auspicious red or pink colour symbolising prosperity. With blossoms shaped like little hearts, these flowers are perfect for Valentine's Day too and if you care for them properly they'll last a long time. What's more, flamingo lilies have the ability to remove formaldehyde, xylene and ammonia from the air.
This South African native, which is also known as Crassula Ovata, is often in demand because of its emerald green leaves which resemble the shape of jade stones. The plant is regarded as a symbol of prosperity, wealth and fortune.
Tip: It requires very little moisture — water sparingly every alternate day. Place it in a semi-shaded area.
Also known as Devil's Ivy, this versatile and hardy plant can remove formaldehyde, benzene and xylene from the air, making it great for purification. And with its coin-like leaves, the money plant symbolises fortune and good luck.
Bent, twisted and twirled into various shapes such as the number eight, the lucky bamboo is the Chinese symbol for strength. The plant is often decorated with red ribbons and lucky ornaments, and the number of bamboo stalks in one pot represents different things. For example, two is said to be an expression of love, while seven stands for good health.
Also known as Dancing Ladies, these orchids with their tiny yellow petals look like they are sprouting gold coins. Besides their delightful shape, orchids have long been considered to be symbolic of fertility and abundance.
Known as wan zi qian hong — meaning "thousands and millions of red and purple", a reference to its small flowers —the kalanchoe is an easy plant to grow and is said to bring wealth and prosperity.
Known as hu die lan in Mandarin, this plant is a popular festive plant as its petals resemble the wings of a butterfly, symbolising happiness, spring, vitality and longevity.
Pussy willows signify the start of spring. Also known as catkins, this plant with furry buds needs a change of water twice a week if it is in a vase. If it is potted, water twice a week. Fresh water ensures the plant lasts longer and prevents mosquitoes from breeding.
Also known as boat orchids, these flowers are prized for their large and elegant blooms. Its colour has spurred the Chinese name hong pao, which means red cracker. Just as auspicious-sounding are the yellow cymbidiums, which are called huang jing, or yellow gold, in Mandarin.
Zamioculcas Zamiifolia, also colloquially referred to as the ZZ plant or Jin Qian Shu, is one of the best plants for attracting good luck and harmony in a home, according to Feng Shui. It's also a hardy plant that can survive in low light.
However, you'll want to keep them away from the pets. The sap of the plant can cause skin irritation, as well as diarrhea and vomiting if accidentally ingested (for both humans and pets) so be careful and wear gloves if handling them.
A perennial favourite during Chinese New Year, these potted shrubs are ideal for indoor decorations during Chinese New Year and are available at all flower markets. They represent "lucky tree bearing fruits" and are great for ushering in wealth.
Peonies are often associated with richness and peace in Chinese mythology because of how they grow in clusters. The red versions of these flowers are particularly more auspicious than the pink ones.
Peach and plum blossoms look similar as they belong to the same Rosaceae family of flowering plants, as with cherry (sakura) blossoms, which are more commonly associated with Japanese culture.
Peach blossoms or tao hua are considered sacred in China and symbolise romance, prosperity and growth. They're also popular with young people looking for love. Meanwhile, plum blossoms (pictured), called mei hua in Mandarin, are a symbol of endurance, courage, perseverance, and reliability.
They're a little less popular but pitcher plants are also highly regarded plants for the Lunar New Year. Because these plants look like money bags, they're considered lucky — and more pitchers on a plant are said to mean more accumulation of luck and fortune!
Roosters are considered lucky animals in Chinese culture (the rooster's crow at dawn is often seen as a symbol of good luck and awakening), and these plants are hence considered lucky because they resemble a cock's comb.
Also known as Barberton daisies, these colourful blooms can also remove toxins in the air like formaldehyde, xylene and trichloroethylene. Get them in bright red to symbolise a prosperous year ahead.
The plant is popular in Chinese culture because of how it looks like a phoenix's tail.
Text: Natasha Ann Zachariah, The Straits Times / Additional Reporting: Elizabeth Liew, Natalya Molok and Atika Lim