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Blossoming flowers bring wealth, or so they say

by Northern Life

The Chinese New Year is a traditional celebration that signifies the start of the lunar calendar year. This year, people worldwide will celebrate the Year of the Dragon by treating their nearest and dearest with flowers and houseplants that are believed to bring good luck; here are a few of our favourites…

Fertility and Abundance
Nertera ‘Coral Beads’ – Thought to represent fertility and abundance, this plant boasts gorgeous orange berries in a colourway that perfectly complements the Lunar New Year. A low-growing houseplant with small, oval-shaped leaves, Nertera prefers bright, indirect light, so it would thrive on a windowsill with regular watering. This small, easy-to-maintain compact plant would be ideal for those wanting colour in their homes.

Nertera Coral Beads

Good luck and Prosperity
Lucky Bamboo is often associated with good luck and prosperity in various cultures, particularly in Asia, so it is the ideal plant to
gift. The popular houseplant is known for its strength, flexibility, and resilience, with its hollow centre of bamboo representing openness and the ability to receive. Lucky Bamboo prefers bright, indirect light, and the roots like to be consistently moist to bring positive energy for the Year of the Dragon.

Lucky Bamboo

Happiness and Eternal love
Chinese Jasmine – This beautiful blooming plant showcases tiny white star-like flowers with delicate yellow centres. Symbolising happiness and eternal love during the Lunar New Year, the Jasmine perfume will fill your home with a sweet scent over the celebratory period. A decorative and fitting addition to celebrations like the Lunar New Year, we recommend you keep jasmine plants in a location with plenty of filtered sunlight.

Chinese Flowering Jasmine

Elegance
Clivia minata – It is loved for its lush green foliage and vibrant, trumpet shaped flowers that come in orange, red, or yellow shades. Clivia is believed to bring both rarity and elegance, making it a symbolic and decorative choice for the lunar season. Place it in a well-lit room, but avoid exposing it to direct sunlight, especially during the hottest part of the day.

Clivia Minata

Wealth and Fortune
Pilea ‘Coin Plant’ – Pilea peperomioides, commonly known as the Chinese Money Plant, Coin Plant, or Pancake Plant is perfect for the Chinese New Year and is well associated with bringing wealth. The plant boasts round coin-shaped leaves, symbolise prosperity. It can tolerate lower light conditions, but it thrives in a well-lit spot without direct sunlight and will be a welcome addition in an attractive pot or container.

Pilea ‘Coin Plant’

Success
Azaleas, known for their vibrant and colourful flowers, are considered a symbol of success and auspiciousness. It is a time for new beginnings and fresh starts; with their blossoming flowers, Azaleas symbolise the renewal of life and the promise of positive things to come in the new year, they like well-draining, acidic soil to grow in.

Flowering Azaleas

 

FortuneIn Chinese culture, the Jade Plant is believed to attract great fortune. Jade Plants are relatively easy to care for, making them accessible to a wide range of gardeners, including those who may not have a green thumb. They will thrive in well-draining soil, moderate sunlight, and soil allowed to dry out between waterings.

Jade Plant

Bromeliads are known for their unique rosette-shaped foliage and striking flower bracts, which can come in various colours, adding a lively and celebratory atmosphere during the Lunar New Year. They are believed to bring good fortune to those who receive them. They generally prefer well-lit areas without direct sunlight for extended periods and must be protected from drafts and sudden temperature changes.

NorthernLife March/April/May 24