Chinese New Year: Pots of flowering plants

[Cecil Lee]

SOURCE & CREDIT: THE STRAITS TIMES, SINGAPORE, SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 2011
Potted beauties
Pots of kumquats, pussy willows and chrysanthemums - Chinese New Year would not be complete without them.
1. Crinum superbum also known as the Fa Cai Suan. Fa cai means getting rich in Mandarin, while suan, meaning count, also refers to how its stems resembles that of a leek, which has the same sounding name. Unlike the leek, this is not edible.
2. Hoya Multifora: Gardeners nickname this nian nian you yu, as its flowers appear like yu or fish in Mandarin. Nian nian you yu is a Chinese idiom, meaning having surpluses every year.
3. Ardisia crenata: An evergreen shrub with dark green and glossy leaves, it has red berries that hang in clusters. They turn to shades of coral and then brigh scarlet once they ripen. Its numberous clusters of berries are associated with prosperity and the multiplication of wealth.
4. Holmskiodia sangulinea. A new import this year. This flowering plant is more known by its common name, the Chinese hat plant, because its flowers resemble that.
5. Four Seasons Lime. The round golden fruits surrounded by emerald leaves are auspicoius symbols for the NewYear. This one is shaped in a ball, representing abundance and rich harvest. Four seasons limes bear fruits in all seasons,hence its name.
6. Rabbit ear cactus.
7. Hydrangea. The Chinese believe that blossoms bring luck and fortune. With their large flower heads, these blooms are one of the most popular festive ornamental plants.
8. Camellia. Their pink blooms are consideredauspicious for Chinese New Year.
9. Azaleas. Also known as the du juan hua, its flowers come in aupicious colourssuch as pink and red.
10. Prunus.The buds on this plant will bloom with pink and red flowers that resemble cherry blossoms.