Tầm Xuân is a beautiful flowering plant often used for landscaping, balcony and fence decorations. With its vibrant colors and fragrant blooms, it’s no wonder that many people are fascinated by this captivating flower.
If you’re curious to know more about the Tầm Xuân flower and how to care for it, then this article is for you. Read on to discover the fascinating story behind this flower, its botanical characteristics, and the best practices for cultivating your very own vibrant Tầm Xuân display.
1 What is the Tầm Xuân Flower?
The Legend of Tầm Xuân
In a distant forest, there lived two orphaned siblings who relied on each other for survival. Every day, the older brother ventured into the forest to gather firewood, fruits, and mushrooms, while his younger sister stayed home to prepare their meals. As time passed, the brother ventured deeper into the forest, hunting wild animals. The sister, endowed with a special gift, could communicate with the birds and beasts. She also possessed a heavenly voice, as pure as a songbird’s. One day, a wicked demon, disguised as an old woman, lured her into the forest, intending to capture her and make her sing for his pleasure. Fear gripped the young girl, and she lost her voice. Enraged, the demon caged her, and as she desperately tried to escape, her hands became scratched and bloody.
When the brother returned home and found his sister missing, he was guided by the birds to the place of her capture. However, upon his arrival, he found only vibrant rose flowers where his sister once stood.
Botanical Characteristics of Tầm Xuân
The Tầm Xuân flower, also known by its scientific name, Rosa canina, is a species of wild rose native to Europe, West Asia, and Northwest Africa. In Vietnam, it goes by several names, including Thích Hoa, Ngưu Cước, Thập Tỉ Muội, and Dã Tường Vi. Tầm Xuân is a climbing rose with delicate petals, similar to the common rose but with thinner petals. It forms dense bushes and climbs to impressive heights.
Tầm Xuân is a climbing rose species
Botanical Description
The Tầm Xuân plant has a thorny stem with hooks, enabling it to climb and attach itself with ease. It typically grows to a height of 1-5 meters, although some plants can climb even higher by clinging to nearby trees. The flowers of the Tầm Xuân come in a variety of colors, including green, purple, and pink. Its leaves are feather-like compound leaves, with each leaf consisting of 5-7 small leaflets. The flowers have five thin petals, grow in clusters, and exude a delightful fragrance. When they first bloom, the petals are a delicate pink shade, gradually deepening to a richer hue, and finally turning white just before they wither.
Tầm Xuân’s stem is adorned with sharp thorns and hooks
Interestingly, the Tầm Xuân flower blooms only once a year, during the spring season, from February to April. The plant also bears eye-catching orange-red fruits, approximately 1.5-2 cm in size.
Growth Habits
Tầm Xuân thrives in sunny conditions and cool climates, with an ideal temperature range of 15-20°C. It is a low-maintenance plant that is easy to cultivate and rarely bothered by pests and diseases, making it a popular choice for home gardeners.
Tầm Xuân thrives in sunny and cool environments
2 Symbolism and Meaning of Tầm Xuân Flowers
The Tầm Xuân flower carries a deep significance, symbolizing the unbreakable bond between siblings, enduring through life’s challenges and hardships. As the flower blooms only once a year, during the spring, it is often displayed during the Tet holiday and other special occasions, symbolizing family reunion and happiness.
Tầm Xuân symbolizes strong familial bonds
3 Are Tầm Xuân Flowers the Same as Buds?
It’s easy to confuse Tầm Xuân flowers with other blooms, but they are distinctive in their own right. Tầm Xuân flowers have thin, delicate petals similar to peonies, with a yellow stamen. In contrast, the buds known as “nụ tâm xuân” are round, colorful buds that appear in clusters on branches and are commonly displayed during Tet.
Tầm Xuân flowers and nụ tâm xuân buds are two different varieties
4 Medicinal Properties of Tầm Xuân Flowers
Aside from their aesthetic appeal, Tầm Xuân flowers offer a range of health benefits:
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Cooling and heat-reducing properties to alleviate symptoms such as chest tightness, loss of appetite, nausea, and fatigue.
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Ability to prevent blood clots, protect the heart, stimulate blood circulation, and detoxify the body, thereby reducing pain.
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Support in treating various conditions, including nosebleeds, vomiting blood, diabetes, goiter, and chronic mouth ulcers.
Tầm Xuân flowers possess heart-protective properties
5 Cultivation and Care Tips for Tầm Xuân Flowers
Planting Techniques for Tầm Xuân
There are two primary methods for cultivating Tầm Xuân:
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Soil planting: Select a healthy branch and use a sharp knife to cut it into segments approximately 25 cm in length. Then, tilt the segments at a 45-degree angle and plant them about 5 cm deep in the soil. Finally, cover the area with dry grass or straw and water the plants sufficiently.
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Pot planting: Fill a pot with organic soil up to about two-thirds of its capacity. Place the plant in the center of the pot and cover it with soil. Water the plant adequately.
Caring for Tầm Xuân Flowers
Watering
As Tầm Xuân thrives in sunny conditions, excessive watering is unnecessary. The soil should be kept slightly moist but not waterlogged. For plants grown in the ground, a light watering once a day during the dry season is sufficient. For potted plants, water 2-3 times a day.
Fertilization
Avoid over-fertilization, and limit fertilization to once or twice a month. Opt for organic fertilizers such as well-rotted manure, self-made organic fertilizer, or earthworm castings for best results.
Tầm Xuân plants do not require excessive watering
Weed Control
Keep the area around the plants free from weeds to prevent pests and diseases. Use specialized tools to gently loosen the soil.
Pruning
Before the Tầm Xuân flowers bloom, prune away small shoots and buds. Ideally, each bush should retain only 7-8 of the strongest, largest branches. Once the flowers begin to appear, remove old, diseased, and weak branches, as well as any secondary shoots and young buds, to encourage a lush and vibrant display.
Additionally, after the flowers have withered, prune away 2-3 leaf nodes to remove seed-producing buds, promoting the plant’s overall health.
6 Where to Buy Tầm Xuân Flowers and Their Price
Tầm Xuân flowers are available for purchase at various flower shops and nurseries across Vietnam, with prices ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 VND per pot. Here are a couple of recommended places to acquire these beautiful flowers:
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Hưng Thịnh Garden: 17 Ấp 4, Tân Quý Tây, Bình Chánh, Ho Chi Minh City
7 Captivating Images of Tầm Xuân Flowers for Tet
Tầm Xuân flowers in full bloom
Tầm Xuân flowers and buds
A vibrant display of Tầm Xuân
Purple Tầm Xuân flowers
We hope that this article has provided you with valuable insights into the Tầm Xuân flower. Happy gardening and may your Tầm Xuân display bring you joy and beauty!
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