The Four Virtuous Flowers/Plants
Four plants that demonstrate
laudable characteristics of people
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By Angela Chiu  | Published Feb 2008

The four virtuous flowers are often featured in Chinese art such as in these wall hangings.

My mom loves plants and so, like many other households, there are little pots of plants sporadically placed around. To the Chinese, plants are very important to our culture and different plants symbolize different things. A notable group of four plants are called “the four virtuous flowers/plants.” The four flowers individually represent good characters that people should have. These plants include the orchid, the plum blossom, the bamboo, and the chrysanthemum.

Out of the many plants that we have at home, my mom’s most prized possessions are her twenty or so pots of orchids. The orchids are all different and we have a wide array of color. Orchids are not as expensive as they used to be in ancient China, however, long ago, orchids could only be found growing on the sides of dangerous cliffs and precipices with just the right combination of sunlight and moisture. Orchids are said to be elegant flowers and they stay in bloom for a really long time. The Chinese believed that orchids represented peace and passiveness.

Plum blossoms are the second of the group of four virtuous flowers/plants. Plum blossoms have a calm and light scent. Unlike many plants, they will bloom brilliantly on cold days whereas the flowers on other plants may shrivel up. The blossoms represent a tough character that is not daunted by a harsh environment and will strive to prove they are capable of withstanding austerity. In our house, we also have two small plots of bamboo that someone gave to me as a present. Bamboo was an important plant to ancient China. Since bamboo could be found just about anywhere in China, they were fairly cheap. The shoots were used for food and the leaves are used to prepare certain dishes. The stalks were used for brushes, furniture, and firecrackers. Today, bamboo flooring is a growing trend in some houses and small pots of “lucky bamboo” serve to be a unique gift. It is also said that a gift of bamboo will bring the bearer luck, prosperity,
and happiness.

When I was younger, my dad and I made a kite with a bamboo skeleton. Bamboo is light and sturdy but is also flexible. Bamboo stalks are very strong and when harsh winds blow, they will bend in the wind. The Chinese say that bamboo represents an important characteristic, to stay strong and bend, but not break, in the face of adversity.

Finally, the chrysanthemum is the last of the group of flowers. Chrysanthemum comes in many different colors and shapes. Each of the many different colors represents a different emotion or meaning. Usually, it is customary to see these flowers at weddings, funerals, and happy events. During the New Year, people will usually display red and yellow chrysanthemums together and during funerals people will have displays of white flowers. Chrysanthemums are supposed to represent honesty and integrity.

All four of these flowers are commonly used as subjects of many Chinese paintings or can be seen in the background of portraits. We at Asia Trend would love to learn about the different meanings of other plants and flowers or what they represent to you. May flowers fill the world!

“ Thank you Merlin John for your reponse to the Chinese New Year article from last month’s issue. It was very interesting to hear about your New Year traditions. As for all the other readers out there, Asia Trend still encourages everyone to write back in response to any work we publish. Once again, Happy New Year guys! “