Lunar New Year flowers carry meaning: red and gold for luck, peonies for wealth, orchids for grace, and a few blooms to leave out entirely. Our team includes members from Chinese and Asian backgrounds, and we have designed Lunar New Year arrangements for several seasons, so here is what we get asked most.
Quick answer: the top lucky flowers
- Peonies: wealth, honour and abundance.
- Orchids: grace, refinement and good fortune.
- Red roses: luck, joy and protection from bad spirits.
- Kumquat and citrus branches: golden fruit for wealth and prosperity.
- Peach blossom and peaches: longevity and good fortune.
Lunar New Year flower meanings
| Flower | Meaning | How we use it |
|---|---|---|
| Peony (mudan) | Wealth, honour, abundance | Home displays, business receptions, corporate gifts |
| Orchid (lan hua) | Grace, elegance, good fortune | Potted orchids for elders and respected colleagues |
| Red rose | Luck, joy, warding off bad spirits | Bright home displays and lobbies, often with natives for texture |
| Kumquat and citrus | Wealth and prosperity | Entryways, shop fronts, modern table settings |
| Peach | Longevity and good fortune | Styled alongside vases or arrangements |
In mid-February sourcing can be tricky. Peonies are sometimes available but starting to fade out, so we lean on premium imported and locally grown roses, orchids and summer blooms like dahlias, plus Australian natives for texture. The result is an Aussie-Asian hybrid look that has become one of our signatures.
Colours: red, gold and what to avoid
Red is the dominant colour. It stands for luck, happiness and protection. Gold and yellow stand for wealth and imperial power. Modern Sydney celebrations also welcome pink (joy), orange (energy and success) and purple (dignity, especially orchids).
Keep the tone vibrant and colourful: bright pink, not pastel pink. White and black are associated with funerals and mourning, so we leave them out.
Flowers to avoid
- Chrysanthemums (all colours): strongly associated with funerals.
- Carnations: also associated with mourning.
- Lilies: used in funeral arrangements.
- White flowers in general: white is a mourning colour in Chinese culture.
Gifting etiquette
- Lucky numbers: even numbers are auspicious (6, 8, 10 or 12 stems), but never 4. The word for four (四, sì) sounds like the word for death (死, sǐ). We would never make a 4-stem arrangement for Lunar New Year.
- The number 8 is especially lucky because it sounds like wealth and prosperity (发, fā).
- Red envelopes (hongbao) can accompany flowers when gifting to elders or children.
- Timing: send flowers before the celebrations begin so they can be displayed by New Year's Eve.
- Display: place flowers near the entrance to welcome good fortune, pair them with red decorations or lanterns, and remove wilted blooms, which are considered bad luck. A preserved arrangement is an easy option for offices. Our flower care tips help with fresh ones.
2027: Year of the Goat
Lunar New Year falls on 6 February 2027 and welcomes the Year of the Goat, a year linked with gentleness, harmony and creativity. Celebrations run for 15 days, ending with the Lantern Festival. Warm reds, golds and soft textures suit the mood.
Ordering in Sydney
Orders spread across the first week of celebrations, from people sending flowers to family they cannot visit to businesses gifting to partners and clients. Browse our Lunar New Year flowers in Sydney collection or the Lunar New Year arrangement. For long-lasting gifts see our orchids and plants, or get in touch about corporate Lunar New Year arrangements.
FAQ
What flowers represent Chinese culture?
Peonies (wealth and honour), orchids (grace and refinement), plum and peach blossom, chrysanthemums (in other contexts, but not for New Year) and lotus are among the best known. For Lunar New Year, peonies, orchids and red roses are the most popular.
What are three don'ts on Chinese New Year's Day?
Customs vary by family and region. Commonly cited ones include avoiding the colours white and black, avoiding the number 4, and not gifting funeral flowers such as chrysanthemums, carnations or lilies. If in doubt, ask the family.
