Plants, Fruits, And Flowers Among Chinese People

Peony

 

Peony is also known as 'Mu Dan' or 'Fu Gui Hua". It represents ‘wealth, prosperity and honour’. When it flowers, it represents ‘good fortune is arriving’.

 Jing Qian Shu

‘Jing Qian Shu’ is another popular plant as its Chinese name literally means ‘Golden Money Plant’. Its shiny angular shaped leaves represent gold ingots. Therefore, having this plant at home symbolises ‘having plenty of wealth in the household’. When it flowers, it is believed that good fortune is arriving for the household. Can you spot the flower above? It looks like a white corn.

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum is well liked for its vibrant and rich colour, especially its yellow flowers. Chrysanthemum signifies ‘great joy and happiness’.

Four Season Lime

‘Four Season Lime’ is known as ‘Si Ji Ju’ in Chinese. This is a very popular plant during Chinese New Year as ‘Ju’ is associated with New Year. It bears many fruits, which is called ‘Kum’ in Cantonese and ‘Kum’ literally means ‘gold’. Therefore, having a ‘Four Season Lime’ plant at home symbolises the ‘abundance of wealth’.

Peach Blossom

Peach blossom symbolises ‘courage and hope’. The blossoms burst forth at the end of winter season on a seemingly lifeless branch.


Keng Huay

 

‘Keng Huay’ is a Hokkien name. Its botanical name is known as Epiphyllum. It is considered as a lucky plant by the Chinese.  When it flowers, it signifies ‘the arrival of good luck’.


Lucky Bamboo

It is known as ‘Kai Yun Zhu’ in Chinese, which means ‘bamboo that invites good fortune’. Lucky Bamboo represents the natural 5 elements of water, earth, wood, metal and fire to balance the flow of energy or ‘chi’ in the house.  A red ribbon is tied around the stalks to represent the fire element. The number of bamboo stalks and layers has its own symbolic meaning:

• 2 for Love & Marriage
• 3 for Happiness
• 5 for Perfection
• 6 for Luck
• 8 for Wealth and Abundance
• 9 for Everlasting Good Fortune and Happiness

Water Narcissus

Water Narcissus signifies ‘good luck and prosperity’. If the narcissus flowers blossom on the first day of the New Year, it indicates good fortune for the rest of the year.

Tangerines and Oranges 

 

Tangerines and Mandarin oranges are commonly displayed in homes and shops. Tangerines symbolises ‘good tidings’ as it sounds like ‘good luck’ in Chinese.  Mandarin Oranges symbolises wealth as it sounds like ‘gold’ in Cantonese.

Guzmania Or 'Ong Lai Huay'

Guzmania is also known as 'Huang Li Hua' in Chinese. It is popular because its Hokkien name 'Ong Lai Huay' signifies the 'arrival of wealth and prosperity'. It is also popularly referred as ‘Pineapple Flower’.




Lotus Flower

Lotus Flower is greatly esteemed and cherished by Buddhist followers. Lotus represents ‘purity of body, speech and mind’, as it floats above the muddy waters of attachment and desire without being stained. It symbolises ‘purity, elegance and peacefulness’.


Fatt Chye Su’

 

‘Fatt Chye Su’ is another sought after plant during Chinese New Year. As the Chinese name suggest, this plant brings ‘wealth and prosperity’. When it flowers, it is believed that the owner will experience ‘good windfall luck

Taken from: Chinese New Year Decoration