Top 6 Meanings and Origins of the Mai Flower Tree

Shape and Root System: The Mai tree has an elegant appearance and is a perennial plant, capable of living and thriving for over a century. The golden Mai is a woody tree with a strong trunk and slightly brittle branches, which can still be shaped and pruned. Its bark is rough, with numerous branches and twigs. The canopy has sparse leaves, and if left to grow freely from seed, it can reach a height of 20–30 meters. The base of the tree is quite thick, and its roots are deep and protruding, extending up to 2–3 meters underground.

Mai Leaves: The Mai leaves are simple, growing alternately along the branches, with an elongated oval shape. They are a vibrant green on top with a slightly yellowish hue on the underside.

Mai Flowers: The Mai flower is bisexual, with blooms appearing in clusters from the leaf axils. Initially, female flowers blossom first, followed by the emergence of green buds. Within a week, these buds unfold into bright yellow Mai petals. The flowers typically have five delicate petals, though some may have as many as nine or ten petals. The flowers usually last for about three days before wilting.

Flowering Time: Although Mai flowers generally bloom in the spring, unpredictable weather can lead to early or out-of-season blooms. Not all flowers will produce fruit, but those that do will swell after the petals fall, and seeds will eventually form after some time.

There are over 24 types of Mai trees worldwide, with around 19 varieties found in Vietnam. The six most common Mai species globally include the Cambodian Mai (Mai vàng Campuchia), Indonesian Mai, Myanmar Mai, South African Mai, African Mai, and Madagascar Mai.

Some of the most popular Mai varieties today are:

• Mai Tứ Quý: Also known as the red Mai tree, scientifically named Ochna Atropurpurea, this variety blooms year-round, unlike other types. It has a unique characteristic of blooming twice, once in yellow and again in red. Initially, it has bright yellow petals, which fall off after flowering, leaving behind dark red sepals that close around the flower's pistil.
• Hạnh Mai: Scientifically known as Prunes Mume, or apricot Mai, this tree is smaller than most, reaching only 6 to 9 meters in height. Its oval leaves are pointed at the ends with slight serrations. The flowers, usually white or pink, are five-petaled, and the fruit starts green, ripening to a yellow color with a sweet-sour taste.
• Bạch Mai: This white Mai tree can grow up to 15 meters tall and is mostly found in Ben Tre, Ba Den mountain in Tay Ninh, and Ha Tien. The flowers are pure white with six to eight thick, round petals and a yellow stamen, resembling frangipani flowers. A downside is that this tree is difficult to grow and maintain.
• Hồng Mai: The scientific name of the pink Mai tree is Jatropha pandurifolia. It is a small, woody plant, growing only 1 to 4 centimeters tall. Its dark green leaves grow singly with lobed edges. The flowers, which are pink with yellow stamens, bloom in clusters at the branch tips and bloom sporadically throughout the year, not just in spring. When ripe, its fruit turns brownish-black.
• Hoàng Mai: Also called Lạp Mai, the golden Mai has small, five-petaled, bright yellow flowers that bloom only once a year, usually at the end of the lunar December.
• Nhất Chi Mai: Known for its thick, rough trunk and dark, shiny wood, the Nhất Chi Mai has small, narrow leaves that resemble a spearhead. Its flowers are smaller than other varieties, with thin petals that begin as white and gradually turn red as the bloom fades. The flowers can grow singly or in clusters.
• In addition to the most common types mentioned above, Vietnam is home to many other varieties, such as the double Mai, water Mai, lantern Mai, Dương Mai, celestial Mai (also known as Vạn Phúc or Tiểu Thư Mai), Thanh Mai, Hoàng Yến Mai, stone Mai, Tùng Tuyết Mai, Japanese Mai, Thai Mai, Cẩm Tú Mai, wild Mai (mountain Mai), and Bạch Tuyết Mai, among others.

The Mai flower can be propagated through various methods, the most common being seed sowing and stem cutting. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages for the Mai tree as follows:

• Seed sowing: This method produces a large number of young Mai trees, which can live for 30 to 40 years if allowed to grow naturally. It saves effort and time. However, the downside is that the new trees may not inherit the best traits of the parent tree, such as fewer branches, smaller flowers, or different colors.
• Stem cutting: The advantage of this method is that the new tree retains the desirable traits of the original tree. For stem cutting, select a healthy, small branch, and make a 3-4cm ring cut around the bark, ensuring the wood is not harmed. Use a mix of soil, coconut fiber, decomposed manure, etc., to cover the wound. Water regularly and after about three months, when the cutting has rooted, it can be separated from the parent tree.

When planting a Mai tree, it's essential to ensure proper spacing to allow the tree to grow fully. The soil quality is crucial, and it should be well-drained, rich in organic matter, and have sufficient nutrients. Mix in coconut fiber, rice husks, peat, and decomposed manure to achieve the right soil texture.

Golden Mai trees are drought-tolerant, so you can water them twice a day—morning and evening—using an appropriate amount of water to prevent wilting or waterlogging.

During the planting process, you should fertilize the trees with nitrogen and phosphorus-rich fertilizers, avoiding high potassium content. Use NPK fertilizers in appropriate quantities, applying them 2-3 times a month, ideally during the rainy season. Additionally, after repotting the tree in 3-4 months, you can apply manure or poultry manure to further nourish the plant.

The Mai flower originated in China, with the species appearing over 3,000 years ago. According to the Ming dynasty writings of Phí Cung Ấn in his book “Trân hương bảo ngự,” he mentions: “Đắc Kỷ loved watching the cold Mai flower. The emperor would often watch it with her, even in the snow.” This means that 'Đắc Kỷ enjoyed admiring the Mai flower in the cold, and the emperor would join her to admire it in the snow.' Due to its beauty, the Mai flower became a beloved flower in ancient China, often grouped with Pine and Chrysanthemum as the “Three Friends of Winter,” and later became a symbol of their national pride.

In its early history, the Mai flower was given poetic names based on its characteristics, such as “Yên chi Mai” (the red-pink Mai), “Thủy Tiên Mai” (the six-petal flower resembling the narcissus), and “Lục Ngạc Mai” (the Mai with a deep green calyx). Historical records mention four primary varieties of Mai in China: White Mai, Green Mai, Pink Mai, and Black Mai.

Originally, the Mai was a wild plant. It thrived in tropical climates, exhibiting robust growth and development. It became apparent that with proper care, the Mai tree could bloom beautifully and live for many years. Due to its distinctive characteristic of shedding its leaves in late winter and blooming in early spring, the Mai flower became a popular choice for ornamental gardening during the Lunar New Year, particularly in Vietnam and other parts of Asia.

The Mai tree has long been considered a symbol of wealth and good fortune. Its resilience and unwavering vitality embody strength and perseverance.

Before the Mai flower blossoms into vibrant yellow during the spring, it endures the harsh winter winds, braving the cold to bloom. This journey makes the tree a metaphor for motivation, encouraging people to push through challenges, persist through difficulties, and ultimately achieve beautiful results, much like the radiant flowers of the Mai tree.

Due to these positive connotations, the Mai flower is one of the “Four Noble Plants” in Vietnamese culture, often depicted in traditional artwork such as the “Tùng Cúc Trúc Mai” (Pine, Chrysanthemum, Bamboo, and Mai) paintings, or paintings with titles like “Flowers Blooming with Prosperity.”

The Mai flower has become a cherished symbol of Tet for the Vietnamese people. Those who grow and care for Mai trees recognize the resilience and deep roots of the plant, enduring through storms and harsh weather, symbolizing strength and vitality that persists through the years.

Many families believe that if the Mai flower blooms on the first day of Tet, it will bring prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead. Thus, the image of the yellow Mai flowers blooming at the start of the year is seen as a miracle, spreading wealth and blessings to all who visit.

There is also a popular belief that the more petals the Mai flower has, the more wealth it will bring. Specifically, if the tree blooms with seven-petaled flowers, it is said that the family will experience great fortune and success. This is why, despite the busyness of the season, no one forgets to prepare a pot of Mai flowers or a single branch to honor their ancestors and decorate their homes for Tet. Displaying the Mai tree has become an important spiritual tradition for every family during the holiday.

Legend has it that before the Zen master Mãn Giác passed away, he wrote: "Do not think that when spring ends, all the flowers fall. Last night, in the yard, a branch of Mai bloomed."

It is said that, in a single night, a whole branch of Mai flowers bloomed magnificently. This is why every family strives to decorate their homes with blooming Mai flowers, hoping for a year filled with joy and happiness. Moreover, the golden color of the Mai flowers represents abundance, wealth, and prosperity, bringing a prosperous and happy year ahead.