Home » LUCKY Plants To Buy For Chinese New Year In Singapore To IMPROVE Your Luck
LUCKY Plants To Buy For Chinese New Year In Singapore To IMPROVE Your Luck
Is your favourite flower on this list?
20 January 2021
You might have seen some families sprucing up their homes by snapping up fresh flowers and plants for Chinese New Year.
Why? Flower blossoms are believed to bring fortune, according to a popular Chinese saying, which means “blossom flowers bring wealth”. While some nurseries are churning out fun animal-themed products this year, others are sticking to time-honoured Chinese New Year plant classics like kumquats and lime trees, pussy willows, money plants and kalanchoes, which are popular for their auspicious-sounding names or colours.
Here are some other CNY lucky plants that are popular in Singapore:
Be sure to snag them up quick before they’re gone!
1. Chrysanthemums
With their bright gold or purple hues, chrysanthemums are an auspicious choice for the season. The plant is said to symbolise longevity, while those with gold blooms represent wealth and prosperity.
2. Flamingo Lilies
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 can remove formaldehyde, xylene and ammonia from the air.
3. Jade Plants
This South African native, which is also known as crassula, is often in demand because of its emerald green leaves, which resemble the shape of a jade stone. The plant is regarded as a symbol of prosperity, wealth and fortune. It requires very little moisture – water sparingly every alternate day. Place it in a semi-shaded area.
4. Kalanchoes
Known as wan zi qian hong – meaning thousands and millions of red and purple in reference to its small flowers – the kalanchoe is an easy plant to grow and is said to bring wealth and prosperity.
5. Lucky Bamboos
Bent, twisted and twirled into various shapes, such as the number eight, the lucky bamboo is the Chinese symbol for strength. The plant is 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.
6. Money Plants
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.
7. Oncidium Orchids
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.
8. Peace Lilies
Peace lilies are like flamingo lilies, but with ivory white flowers instead. Keep them around the home as they are one of the most effective air-filtering plants, removing chemicals like trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, xylene, benzene and ammonia.
9. Phalaenopsis
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. They are also known as moth orchids.
10. Pussy Willows
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.
11. Red Cymbidiums
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.
12. Celosia Plumes
The plant is popular in Chinese culture because of how they look like a phoenix (a symbol of high virtue and grace)’s tail.
13. Tangerine Trees
A perrennial favourite during Chinese New Year, these potted shrubs are ideal for indoor decorations and are available at all flower markets. They represent “lucky tree bearing fruits” and are great for ushering in wealth.
14. Peonies
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.
We know they’re often associated with Japanese culture but peach blossoms are also heavily used in Chinese culture. Peach blossoms are considered sacred in China and symbolise romance, prosperity and growth. They’re also popular with young people looking for love.
16. Pitcher Plants
They’re a little less popular but pitcher plants are also highly regarded plants for the Lunar New Year. Because of the fact that these plants look like money bags, they’re considered lucky.
17. Cockscombs
These plants are considered lucky because they resemble a cock’s comb and because roosters are considered lucky animals in Chinese culture.
By Natasha Ann Zachariah, The Straits Times, January 2016 / Additional Reporting: Young Parents staff, January 2018 / Updated January 2020 / Updated by Willaine G. Tan, January 2021.