Chrysanthemums are a multicolored flower, with many varieties besides yellow: from large-flowered chrysanthemums to carnations, daisy chrysanthemums, raspberry chrysanthemums, coin chrysanthemums, peony chrysanthemums, everlasting chrysanthemums… even wild chrysanthemums found along the roadside like the Bidens pilosa or the small-petaled white chrysanthemums called daisies, Tana chrysanthemums… showing that chrysanthemums have long been a symbol of spring.
About three months before Tet (Lunar New Year), gardeners begin planting chrysanthemums. By around the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, pots of chrysanthemums are ablaze with vibrant yellow, filling every street, waiting for buyers to take them home for Tet decorations. It can be said that in Tet flower markets, yellow chrysanthemums almost dominate other flowers because they are easy to buy and display. Flowers bought early, before being exhausted from the rain and sun at the flower stalls, can be cared for and last until the end of January, unlike apricot and peach blossoms which must be discarded after the 7th day of Tet. In Nha Trang, there are several villages that grow chrysanthemums; in Ninh Hoa, tens of thousands of pots are grown, sometimes ordered early by traders and transported to other provinces and cities, and occasionally even to northern provinces. In the South, Sa Dec flower village is extremely famous for its myriad of flowers grown for Tet, and chrysanthemum pots are no exception.
In the last days of the year, I often go to my usual flower shop on Da Tuong Street in Nha Trang and choose two pots of chrysanthemums as soon as the owner displays them, calling it my first purchase of the year. Every year, those two pots of large chrysanthemums bloom with yellow flowers, bringing joy to the Lunar New Year. It's the same in my neighborhood; everyone buys chrysanthemums very early and displays them in front of their houses, making the whole street yellow with chrysanthemums during the spring season.
During Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), flowers are indispensable, and bustling flower markets from Sa Dec or other flower villages in the provinces flock to Ho Chi Minh City, painting the sky yellow. Chrysanthemums are used to decorate hotels and restaurants to herald the arrival of spring, and of course, they are also abundant at tourist destinations. But it's not just the large chrysanthemums; many other varieties create their own unique Tet atmosphere, such as the tiny pompom chrysanthemums, with their clusters of flowers creating a vibrant yellow pot, and the everlasting chrysanthemums, which bloom in bunches, creating a different kind of beauty.
Another type of chrysanthemum, the marigold, has been cultivated and sold in many places for many years and is very popular. Compared to other chrysanthemums, marigolds are relatively easy to grow and can be planted in small pots or bamboo/plastic baskets. Marigolds also come in many colors and varieties, but the most popular is the round-petaled yellow variety, symbolizing fulfillment. Marigolds are sold alongside other flowers and sometimes along roadsides or from flower growers. People celebrating Tet (Vietnamese New Year) always buy large quantities of this flower to display on walkways and at temples, sometimes even creating a carpet of flowers to attract bees and butterflies seeking their fragrance. Another elegant chrysanthemum is the Tana chrysanthemum. Tana chrysanthemums often grow wild, creating a field of pure white, graceful flowers with a touch of bright yellow stamens.
Later, Tana chrysanthemums were cultivated and became very popular, grown in small pots and sold during Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year). That's the nature of chrysanthemums; these vibrant yellow flowers captivate hearts, not competing with more ornate flowers, just potted plants displayed on porches and in yards. But chrysanthemums have become an indispensable part of spring.
Text and photos: Khue Viet Truong
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