Chinese New Year is a time of renewal, abundance and fresh beginnings. One of the most meaningful ways to welcome prosperity into your home or workplace is through HUAT plants - auspicious plants believed to attract wealth, good luck, harmony and success.

From blooming flowers that symbolise growth to fruiting plants that represent abundance, here are 10 popular HUAT plants, their meanings, and care tips to help them thrive throughout the festive season.

1. Four Season Lime (四季桔)

Meaning: Great luck, wealth & abundance

A festive staple, Four Season Lime symbolises “大吉大利”​​. With round golden fruits surrounded by emerald leaves symbolising golden nuggets and bearing fruits in all seasons (hence its name), a pot at home is believed to draw in wealth and good luck throughout the year.

Care Tips:

  • Light: Place in warm, bright areas
  • Water: Water daily, avoid watering directly on the fruits

2. Mandarin Orange (朱砂桔)

Meaning: Auspicious luck, golden harvest

With “桔” sounding like “吉”, Mandarin Orange plants symbolise good luck and prosperity. It is believed that the bigger the oranges, the greater the opportunities. A pot will reap you a big harvest and sweet success for the coming year.

Care Tips:

  • Light: Place in bright, sunny locations
  • Water: Water daily, avoid wetting the fruits

 

3. Peach Blossom (桃花)

Meaning: Prosperity, growth, success & new opportunities

Often described as “一树桃花满庭春”, Peach Blossoms symbolise blooming success and flourishing fortune. Their vibrant pink blooms emerging at the end of winter represent resilience, hope and new beginnings - making them a classic Chinese New Year decoration.

Care Tips:

  • Light: Place in bright, sunny areas, 
  • Water: Water moderately; avoid waterlogging

4. Hyacinthus (风信子)

Meaning: Happiness, joy & positive energy

Hyacinthus is a spring bulb flower known for its rich fragrance and colourful blooms. Beyond its cheerful appearance, it symbolises happiness and good fortune, making it ideal for uplifting indoor spaces.

Care Tips:

  • Light: Place in partially shaded indoor areas
  • Water: Water regularly, avoid watering directly on the blooms

 

5. Japanese Begonia (日本海棠)

Meaning: Blooming prosperity (花开富贵)

Known as the “flower goddess”, Japanese Begonia features lush, vibrant blooms in red and pink. It is believed that displaying this plant during Chinese New Year brings wealth and abundance to the household.

Care Tips:

  • Light: Place in bright, well-lit areas. Suitable for balconies
  • Water: water with cool water, avoid wetting blooms

 

6. Guzmania / Pineapple Flower (旺梨花)

Meaning: Wealth arriving (旺来 / 旺旺来)

Highly popular during Chinese New Year, Guzmania’s Hokkien name “Wang Lai Huay” ​​(Pineapple Flower) sounds like “'a flower that brings wealth”. ​​Decorating one’s home with Guzmanias implies a longing for the family to have a smooth-sailing year ahead.

Care Tips:

  • Light: Place in shaded or indoor areas, avoid harsh direct sunlight
  • Water: water every few days, avoid wetting blooms

 

7. Four Seasons Camellia (四季茶花)

Meaning: Year-round luck and prosperity

With glossy green leaves and fiery red blooms, Four Seasons Camellia symbolises continuous good fortune throughout the year. Its ability to bloom repeatedly signifies constant growth and abundance.

Care Tips:

  • Light: Place in full sunlight, suitable for outdoor or bright indoor areas
  • Water: Water daily

 

8. Cockscomb (鸡冠花)

Meaning: Double happiness, joy & celebration

Named after its rooster-comb-like shape, the bright red blooms of Cockscomb bring festive cheer. Traditionally displayed in pairs, it symbolises double happiness and bliss. 

Care Tips:

  • Light: Place in full sunlight
  • Water: Keep soil moist but well-drained, avoid watering the blooms directly

9. Narcissus (水仙花)

Meaning: Good fortune, purity & blessings

Also known as the “Water Fairy Flower”, Narcissus is a beloved Chinese New Year plant. It is believed that if it blooms on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the family will enjoy prosperity for the entire year.

Care Tips:

  • Light: Place in bright indoor areas
  • Water: Keep soil moist, not waterlogged, avoid wetting the flowers

10. Impatiens (凤仙花)

Meaning: Good beginnings, festive joy

The presence of flowering plants at home gives the sentiment of good beginnings for the Chinese. The striking coloured flowers of the Impatiens make them one of the favourite blooming plants to have for the Chinese New Year. A pot at home represents the wish for good fortune in the coming year.

Care Tips:

  • Light: Place in bright shaded areas
  • Water: Keep soil moist, avoid excessive water

 

Bonus: 

Ardisia Crenata (富贵籽)

Meaning: Wealth multiplication & prosperity

Also known as 百两金, this plant is loved for its clusters of red berries symbolising abundant wealth and success. The hanging clusters of red berries surrounded by dark green and glossy leaves will turn to shades of coral then bright scarlet once it ripens. The numerous clusters of berries are associated with prosperity and the multiplication of wealth. 

Care Tips:

  • Light: Place in semi-shaded or bright indoor areas. Avoid strong direct sunlight
  • Water: Water lightly on alternate days

 

Choosing the right HUAT plants is more than festive décor - it’s about setting positive intentions for prosperity, harmony and growth in the year ahead. Whether you’re decorating your home, office, or gifting loved ones, these auspicious plants carry meaningful blessings rooted in tradition.