Popular Chinese New Year Plants
With the Lunar New Year/Spring Festival around the corner, our local nursery suppliers are all busy stocking up the popular Chinese New Year Plants, hoping to cash in on the New Year frenzy. Shopping for plants to display in the households during this festive period of the year is akin to buying a Christmas tree in December. However, the various varieties of Chinese New Year plants all have a different symbolism unique to themselves, which makes them hot property.
The Chinese refer the plant below as “Pussy Willow” or “Yin Liu” in Mandarin. You will be surprised that the Pussy Willow is actually a common tree in the forests and wetlands of Canada and northern Alaska. In Cantonese, “Yin Liu” sounds like “Yin Lou” which is similar to “Yin Liang” (money). Therefore, having this plant around during Chinese New Year would represent the invitation of abundant luck and prosperity into homes.
Pussy Willow
The plant below, Zamioculcus zamiifolia, has leaves that are circular in shape and this is closely associated with the round coin that China had in the olden days. Therefore, it is no surprise that the plant is called, “Jin Qian Shu”. If you directly translate the Chinese term for the plant into English, it explicitly implies that this is a “Money Tree”. There is also a local myth that if the plant bears flowers whilst in your home, you will be on a lucky streak and may even strike 4D/Toto.
Zamioculcus zamiifolia
Another interesting looking plant is the Dracaena, which resembles a pineapple. Coincidentally, pineapple is known as “Wang Lai” in the Hokkien dialect, and that means that good fortune will come along your way with this plant.
Dracaena
The newest addition that I have seen this year, is the Chinese Yellow Banana. However, this is not as common as the rest of the plants in commercial nurseries and will be an extraordinary addition to the range of existing Chinese New Year plants. Some Chinese refer it as “Luo Di Kai Hua”, which has the auspicious meaning of bearing fruit and being fruitful. The flowers are really lasting and it may survive up to 2 months or more, if well taken care of. Although it is a native plant from temperate regions, it is resilient enough to thrive in our local climate and produce suckers.
Chinese Yellow Banana
For decades, many Chinese have gotten into the habit of bringing in festive plants no matter what these symbolisms have been branded as - mere superstition, plain creativity and some have even said that the symbolisms attached to them, bears much truth to it.
So, have you done your New Year plant shopping yet? Who knows, one of these lucky plants may just bring you a windfall this New Year!
I hereby wish everyone Gong Xi Fa Cai and have a prosperous new year ahead!
- by Woon Ling Ling
Kymon said,
April 26, 2007 @ 8:08 pm
Nice…
Lorena said,
January 3, 2008 @ 12:30 pm
Nice site. Keep up keeping our environment green.
Thanks.
hayan said,
January 20, 2008 @ 7:59 pm
WISH YOU VERY GOOD LUCK
Vasin Tangkaew said,
May 6, 2008 @ 2:14 am
Dear Ms Woon Ling Ling,
I just bought “1001 Garden Plant in Singapore” and would like to ask you a couple of questions regarding ornamental palm trees in this book.
If you don’t mind please contact me at vasintangkaew@yahoo.com
Thank in advance.
Vasin T.
Thai palm tree-lover
Jack said,
July 20, 2008 @ 12:18 pm
How does Zamioculcus zamiifolia/Jin Qian Shu”.flower look alike, is there any picture on it.
What I should do if there is a flower on the plant itself.
Presently the flower pot is out side at the main entrance of my house……….must keep the pot in side my house for better luck or just leave it out side.
Pls advice. Thanks
ooeoeoe said,
January 7, 2009 @ 12:56 am
oooooo it awsome
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo said,
January 14, 2009 @ 12:39 am
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo that awsome
jx said,
January 18, 2009 @ 7:21 pm
-.- lame
Bebie said,
January 14, 2010 @ 6:48 pm
Pls i want know more about some fortune plants … i wish u show more picture.. god bless …,.
violy del rosario said,
March 29, 2010 @ 11:23 pm
i love plant esp fortune and or money plant , also flowering plants like orchids and roses. but now i am more interested and happy taking care of my zamioculcus zamiifolia plants, I am excited to see in the near future that it will bears flowers.
But now can i ask a favor to show us picture of zamioculcus flowers . and i want to know if there is effect not to bear flowers if i cut and transfer stems of it to have another plant.
thank you and God bless