With its charming and elegant appearance, yet difficult to care for, the chrysanthemum is cherished and pampered by enthusiasts. Photo: Dao Manh Hung

Royal Flower

At 10 PM, Mr. Minh Tung in Giap Bat, Hanoi, still has the habit of tending to his pots of antique chrysanthemums. When he's in the mood, he and his son enjoy cakes, tea, and admire the flowers in their small 10-square-meter rooftop garden. The community of antique chrysanthemum enthusiasts constantly gets to admire the masterpieces from his garden, eliciting countless exclamations of admiration and praise.

At 50, his passion for chrysanthemums remains as strong as it was when he first started growing them alongside his parents. This man has had many lively debates about the origins and the tradition of growing antique chrysanthemums. He says that, according to the elders in the traditional flower village of Nghi Tam (Hanoi), in the past, only wealthy officials could afford to grow antique chrysanthemums.

In East Asian culture, the chrysanthemum is a symbol of longevity, good fortune, nobility, and elegance; it is considered one of the four noble plants: pine, chrysanthemum, bamboo, and plum blossom. The chrysanthemum is often referred to as the "flower of royalty," characterized by the saying, "Leaves do not leave the branch, flowers do not fall to the ground." After offering its fragrance and beauty to the world, the chrysanthemum does not wither and die on the plant.

In Northern Vietnam, chrysanthemum enthusiasts are currently trading many varieties of antique chrysanthemums, but the most valuable and sought-after are the Hoàng Long Trảo (Cảo), Hồng Tú Kiều, and Bạch Khổng Tước. These three varieties, when in bloom, have gracefully curved petals and charming flower shapes, yet are difficult to cultivate, making them incredibly cherished and pampered by collectors. Each stage of the flower's development offers its own unique charm, from the anticipation of budding and the shy, hesitant appearance of the blossoming to the overwhelming joy of its vibrant bloom. This trio of elegant and beautiful antique chrysanthemums was highly sought after by many families in Hanoi for Tet (Lunar New Year) celebrations in the early 20th century, then became scarce, but have recently made a comeback.

While some people cultivate chrysanthemums individually, at the Vietnam Botanical Garden, Director Dao Manh Hung and his team have collected and set up a dedicated area for chrysanthemums, including rare and precious varieties. Mr. Hung once organized a large-scale exhibition on ancient chrysanthemums and Vietnamese ceramics, attracting public attention and evoking memories of a bygone era of this hobby among the people of Hanoi.

To create this large-scale garden, a destination attracting thousands of visitors, Mr. Hung spent many years searching for, cultivating, and shaping ancient chrysanthemum plants in ceramic pots. Many of these ancient chrysanthemum pots have been offered prices of several million dong, but he refuses to sell them.

Think of a royal botanical museum.

Through networking and searching among mansions, gardens, and researchers, information about ancient chrysanthemums in Hue is quite scarce. However, 90-year-old culinary artist Mai Thi Tra, granddaughter of Emperor Duy Tan's wife, revealed a rather interesting detail. Recalling her memories, she said she had seen two types of chrysanthemums – the "Hong Tu Kieu" and "Bach Khong Tuoc" (as they are now depicted and named) – which were formerly collectively called "large chrysanthemums." "Only the palaces and mandarins' houses cultivated these flowers. When the plants grew tall, the growers would insert bamboo sticks around them as supports and take meticulous care of them," she recalled.

A descendant of the Mỹ Hóa Công family, Nguyễn Phúc Lỗi, grandson of Thụy Thái Vương Nguyễn Phúc Hồng Y, and son of Nguyễn Phúc Ưng Ái - Ưng Chân (Emperor Dục Đức), recounted that he had long ago seen a species of white chrysanthemum with long, delicate petals – the white peacock – in his garden. Over time, due to rain and storms, the flowers had withered.

According to many flower enthusiasts, ancient chrysanthemums originally appeared in Hue , from the imperial court, and then spread to other palaces. Perhaps the philosophy of "chrysanthemums defying the cold frost" represents the integrity of scholars, as if speaking for officials amidst the ever-changing world. The symbol of ancient chrysanthemums appears quite frequently on Nguyen Dynasty heritage sites. In his work "The Sun and the Chrysanthemum, a Symbol of Vietnamese Royal Power," researcher Vu Kim Loc points out the image of chrysanthemums in clothing, jewelry, and imperial artifacts of the dynasties. Currently, on the Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, and the tomb of Emperor Thieu Tri, the reliefs and paintings depict flowers with many layers of petals, very similar to ancient chrysanthemums today.

While diligently searching for information about whether ancient chrysanthemums still existed in Hue, I unexpectedly met Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Duc, Head of the Training and Student Affairs Department at the University of Agriculture and Forestry (Hue University), who was collecting a trio of purebred Vietnamese ancient chrysanthemums from the North for experimental cultivation. Associate Professor Duc said that he had asked his students and friends to search for ancient chrysanthemums in the Central region, but unfortunately, none were left. Last year, a student in Trieu Phong, Quang Tri, informed me that her mother used to grow these types of chrysanthemums, but the plants died during the recent storms. Given the climate of the Central region, the enemy of ancient chrysanthemums is heavy rain and flooding.

In a conversation with Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Duc, a passionate advocate for the restoration of rare and precious plant and flower varieties, he proposed building a royal botanical museum. He noted that the ancient capital was home to many rare and valuable plant and fruit species such as longan, lychee, rice, and goldenrod… This is a unique advantage and identity that no other place possesses now that Hue has become a centrally governed city.

“These precious plant varieties are just scattered among the people. Just keep searching, keep cultivating, and you will surely reap the rewards. Just like the ancient chrysanthemums, this spring we hope they will bloom in Hue as they once showcased their beauty and fragrance in the former imperial capital,” Associate Professor Duc shared.

Tue Ninh