Orchids (lan, 蘭) have been very popular and in cultivation for centuries in China and other Eastern Asian countries.The Chinese believe it is a great honor to give or receive one of these extraordinary orchids because they are considered symbols of virtuosity and friendship. The orchids let out their fragrance even if there is no one around to appreciate it. Likewise, men of noble character will not let poverty deter their will guided by high principles and morals.

With a growing history of more than 3,000 years, the chrysanthemum was first cultivated in China as a flowering plant as early as 15th Century B.C.

Potted landscape art, praised as "silent poetry", is made by putting artistic touches on the plants, stones stored in a pot as an ornament or a miniature of natural beauty.

Plum blossom, one of China's top-10 flowers, enjoys a fond reputation among the Chinese people for its quiet coloring, simple but elegant pattern and its light fragrance. The blossom, with pine and bamboo, is one of the "three friends in cold winter". Since the tree blooms in late January/early February, coinciding with the Lunar New Year, admiring plum blossoms has been become a custom for the Chinese New Year celebration.

Chinese peoples have close feelings about lotus. Artists painted lotus. Poets and scholars wrote poems and essays about lotus. Lotus also has religious significance in Buddhism. Because of its long history in China many people throughout the history have made special studies about the lotus. The Chinese have always loved lotus flower paintings, which is always stand at the emotional center of Chinese aesthetic culture.