By THO XIN YI
Saturday January 12, 2008
PLANTS are symbols of life and growth. For the Chinese, it is a must to have plants decorating their houses and gardens during the Chinese New Year celebration.
Some of the popular plants are, among others, bamboo shoots, lime trees, cherry blossoms and plum blossoms.
Apart from decorative purposes, each of them carries a special connotation that is usually synonymous with good health, longevity, good fortune, abundance of wealth, business growth and career successes.
Shopping for plants for next month’s Chinese New Year celebration will be more exciting and fun as there are many new choices, some quite out of the ordinary.
Green gifts: These bamboo shoots are among the items found at NZX Commercial Centre.
At the flower bazaar at the NZX Commercial Centre in Ara Damansara, lime fruit almost as big as pomelos are the big attraction among the shoppers.
“People like to buy these big lime trees as they are very special. Our lime trees are available in different styles. There are the one-tier, three-tier and also eight-tier ones,” Phoenix Ocean marketing director Eric Hong said.
Another newcomer is the dragon pussywillow that comes planted in pots, in contrast to the normal ones that come in vases without soil.
According to Hong, the Chinese love the new pussywillow as it is “alive” and will grow leaves, symbolising growth in many aspects in life.
The Bromeliad (pineapple or “ong lai” flower) in red, purple and yellow is another popular plant since it represents the arrival of fortune. “Ong lai” in Hockkien means “Fortune comes”.
“The plants here are not only suitable for decorating houses and offices; they make great gifts as well,” Hong sai
Unique feature: The dragon pussywillow comes planted in pots to signify growing opportunities in life.
According to Hong, even non-Chinese purchase the plants because of their vibrancy and uniqueness.
Also available at the bazaar are the bamboo shoots, “change-your-luck” bamboos, bonsai, crystal soil, pussywillows, vases, plastic plants, decorative items and garden fountains.
The bamboo is very popular as a symbol of life, longevity and strength. It stays firmly rooted even in the face of fierce winds. For the Hokkiens, the bamboo plants represent their shelter from the evil demons that terrorised their ancestors during an ancient dark evil era.
The imported plants come from China and Taiwan while the homegrown ones are from Cameron Highlands.
“I will have cherry blossoms, tulips, chrysanthemums and more,” Hong said.
The bazaar, opened since Jan 1, is open from 10am till 11pm daily until the 15th day of Chinese New Year.
For more information, call 016-841 7887 (Jason) or 016-332 2322 (Melvin).
-- The Star Metro
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