Chinese New Year plants that you need at home to usher luck and abundance for 2024

A prevalent sight in most Chinese households around the world, the Jade Plant, otherwise known by its scientific denomination of Crassula ovata, is one of the most popular of auspicious flora for the Lunar Chinese New Year season. Owing its name to its waxy leaves that appear to mimic pieces of polished jade, these potted succulents are culturally symbolic of wealth and abundance. Perfect for the entreprising businessperson.

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Another common Lunar Chinese New Year fixture is the pussy willow, which is often sold in separate stalks, each festooned with miniature buds of wonder. Beloved for their inherent beauty, some sellers may even go so far as to dye the naturally cotton-white bulbs into celebratory hues, such as red, pink, yellow, or orange, to best suit the occasion. They are representative of growth, whether it be in one’s personal or professional lives, as well as the heralding of prosperity.

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This one needs no introduction, as the aptly named Money Plant is often a hot commodity come the Lunar Chinese New Year season. Also known as Epipremnum aureum, this plant is identified by its bright-green heart-shaped leaves, all of which feature a distinctive bright-green colouration occasionally marred by cream markings. According to feng shui practitioners, these plants are capable of warding off bad luck and attracting wealth, hence its name.

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Beautifully serpentine as it matures, the Lucky Bamboo is one of the most visually distinctive additions to any space. Native to Central Africa, these are not technically considered bamboo plants as they belong to a different taxonomic order. With that said, they share several visual similarities, chief of which being their segmented stems. When arranged in a series of five stems, Lucky Bamboo plants are representative of balance, peace, harmony, and power, across all aspects of life.

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A common misconception that many have is that Peach Blossoms are identical to Cherry Blossoms. While both are inherently beautiful, Peach Blossoms, which are more inherent to the Lunar Chinese New Year celebrations, sport pointy petals as compared to the rounded ones found on Cherry Blossoms. In Chinese culture, the blooming of Peach Blossoms are believed to usher in good luck and wealth, as well as budding romance.

As for the peach fruit itself, they are often considered to be symbols of longevity.

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A perennial favourite for home gardeners across the world owing to their beauty, you will be surprised to learn that Orchids also hold symbolic weight in Chinese culture. Oftentimes considered to be a plant of noble origins, they are synonymous with beauty, good taste, and refinement, in addition to fertility and abundance. Hence, they make great Lunar Chinese New Year gifts for couples who are hoping to start a family together.

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A component in many popular mainstream floral fragrances, peonies have often been prized for their radiant redolence and stunning allure when in full bloom. It comes as no surprise that these flowers similarly occupy a vital cultural significance for the Chinese during the Lunar Chinese New Year and even during weddings, representing luck, honour, and generous fortune.

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Named for the sharply tapered shape of its leaves, the Snake Plant, sometimes derisively nicknamed the ‘Mother-in-Law’s Tongue’ plant, is a tenacious plant that offers protective qualities in both a practical and cultural sense. In a literal sense, the plant has been shown to be capable of removing certain toxins, such as Trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene, from the surrounding air. In a cultural sense, the Chinese believe it wards off bad luck, which makes it essential for keeping negativity at bay from the new year.

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Children from Chinese families often recall growing up around these fruit-bearing trees and plucking their tantalising ripe citruses to taste out of curiosity. Asides from serving as a shared anecdote for many generations, Kumquat Trees are typically stationed in many Chinese households, especially those of Cantonese origin, as they symbolise perpetual wealth. The key is in its name, 金橘, which means ‘golden orange’.

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The exuberantly flashy Flamingo Lily, otherwise known as the anthurium, is typically more closely associated with avant garde horticulture, playing a starring role in the pantheon of exotic floral favourites for haute florists owing to its dramatically deep contrasts of red and yellow. As you recall, both colours are incredibly auspicious to the Chinese, which is why the plant is also used to symbolise bountiful prosperity.

With that said, beware as the entirety of this plant is toxic, and should be handled with care.

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