Lunar New Year 2026: Welcoming the Year of the Horse Through Plants
Lunar New Year marks a season of transition—when winter begins to loosen its grip and the promise of spring starts to take shape. It’s traditionally a time of renewal, intention, and preparing for the year ahead, themes that naturally align with the rhythms of the garden.
Plants and flowers play an important role in many Lunar New Year traditions, chosen for the meaning they carry as much as for their beauty. As we welcome Lunar New Year 2026, the Year of the Horse, this collection highlights plants long associated with prosperity, resilience, and positive energy—qualities that reflect both the spirit of the season and the steady progress gardeners value.
These plants make thoughtful gifts, brighten indoor spaces, and offer beauty and significance to enjoy throughout the Year of the Horse.
Please note, selection may vary by location.
10 Auspicious Plants to Welcome the New Year
1. Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) - New! from Armstrongs
Houseplant | Succulent | 6-inch
In many Lunar New Year traditions, the Horse represents freedom, perseverance, and forward momentum—qualities often associated with years considered lucky for growth and prosperity. The Jade Plant aligns beautifully with this symbolism.
Long regarded as a symbol of luck and prosperity, the Jade Plant is also prized for its longevity and resilience. Its thick, coin-shaped leaves are traditionally associated with abundance, while its slow, steady growth reflects patience and long-term success. As a houseplant, jade is both stylish and approachable, making it a meaningful way to welcome the Year of the Horse.
Care Tips:
Jade plants thrive in full sun and prefer to dry out completely between thorough waterings. During the growing season, fertilize once a month to support healthy, steady growth.
2. Orchids
Houseplant | Flowering
Orchids symbolize fertility, abundance, and refinement. Their elegant blooms brighten any home, and the long-lasting Phalaenopsis (moth orchid) is especially popular for its graceful form and extended bloom time.
Care Tips:
Water the bark medium thoroughly, allowing excess water to drain completely. Let the medium dry out entirely before watering again, and never allow orchids to sit in standing water. Place in bright, indirect light and keep away from drafts.
3. Lucky Bamboo
Houseplant | Tropical
Lucky Bamboo represents strength, resilience, and good fortune. Its symbolism is often enhanced by incorporating the five elements:
- Earth: Stones or pebbles around the stalks
- Metal: Decorative coins or a metallic or gold pot
- Water: Fresh water or diluted fertilizer
- Fire: A red ribbon
- Wood: A wooden tray or stand
Care Tips:
When grown in water, refresh weekly and ensure roots remain covered. Keep in bright, indirect light and out of direct sun.
4. Anthurium (Flamingo Flower)
Houseplant | Flowering
Anthurium symbolizes prosperity and hospitality, with glossy foliage and long-lasting blooms. It’s also known for helping filter common indoor air pollutants, making it both beautiful and beneficial.
Care Tips:
Provide bright, indirect light. Water thoroughly, then allow the top two inches of soil to dry before watering again.
5. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
Houseplant | Flowering
Peace Lilies are associated with cleansing, renewal, and harmony. Available in solid green and variegated forms, they thrive indoors and add graceful structure to any space.
Care Tips:
Keep soil evenly moist but not soggy. Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings, but avoid letting the plant wilt. Peace Lilies tolerate lower light but prefer bright, filtered, indirect light. They do best when slightly pot-bound.
6. Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)
Houseplant | Foliage
The Chinese Money Plant is traditionally associated with wealth and good fortune. Its round leaves resemble coins, making it a popular Lunar New Year plant.
Care Tips:
- Provide bright, indirect light
- Avoid drafts, heater vents, and hot, dry air
- Use a well-draining, peat-based soil
- Water weekly, allowing soil to dry completely between waterings
- Fertilize monthly during the growing season
7. Money Tree (Pachira aquatica)
Houseplant | Small Tree
Money Trees symbolize financial success and stability. Their braided trunks and lush green foliage make them a striking addition to homes and offices.
Care Tips:
Place in bright, indirect light. Money Trees prefer higher humidity and benefit from misting, a humidifier, or a pebble tray. Allow the top 1–2 inches of soil to dry before watering again.
8. Orange Citrus Trees
Outdoor Tree | Edible
Oranges symbolize abundance, happiness, and good fortune. Fruit-bearing citrus trees are often associated with prosperity and are a meaningful gift during Lunar New Year celebrations.
Care Tips:
Orange trees need at least 4–6 hours of direct sunlight daily, especially if fruit production is desired. Provide well-draining soil and consistent watering.
9. Flowering Quince Trees
Outdoor Shrub | Flowering
Flowering Quince is admired for its vibrant red blooms, which are traditionally associated with prosperity, protection, and renewal. In California, its early blooms often align beautifully with Lunar New Year festivities.
Care Tips:
Plant in full sun to partial shade with good drainage. Once established, flowering quince is low maintenance and rewards gardeners with striking seasonal color.
10. Forsythia
Outdoor Shrub | Flowering
Forsythia is one of the earliest shrubs to bloom, making it a powerful symbol of renewal, optimism, and new beginnings. Its cheerful yellow flowers appear just as winter fades, often coinciding with Lunar New Year celebrations and signaling the arrival of spring.
Care Tips:
Plant in full sun for best flowering. Forsythia is easy to grow, adaptable, and rewards gardeners with bright seasonal color year after year.
Lunar New Year reminds us that growth begins quietly—often before we see visible change. In the garden and at home, it’s a season for thoughtful preparation, reflection, and optimism for what’s ahead.
However you choose to mark the Year of the Horse, bringing living plants into your space is a simple, meaningful way to honor the season and welcome the months of growth to come.
To welcome the Year of the Horse, visit one of our garden center locations to explore plants traditionally associated with renewal, prosperity, and seasonal growth.
