The latest detailed guide to the flower language and legends of the Chinese trumpet creeper
The Chinese trumpet creeper is one of the famous garden flowers, also known as five-clawed dragon, tree-climbing dragon, vine flower, etc. It is a climbing woody vine of the genus Campsis in the family Bignoniaceae. Its flowers are funnel-shaped, bright red or golden yellow, and vividly colored. When in bloom, the branch tips continue to spread and grow, and new shoots bloom in succession, so the flowering period is relatively long. Now let us take a look at the flower language and legends of the Chinese trumpet creeper!
The flower language of the Chinese trumpet creeper
The flower language of the Chinese trumpet creeper is “admiration, reputation”, symbolizing a mother's love. It is often placed together with wintergreen and primrose and made into a bouquet to give to mothers, to express deep love for one's mother. In addition, the Chinese trumpet creeper is also one of the famous flowers of Lianyungang City. Nancheng Town, the seat of the thousand-year-old ancient Phoenix City, has long enjoyed the reputation of “hometown of Chinese trumpet creeper”.
The value of the Chinese trumpet creeper
1. Ornamental: The Chinese trumpet creeper is a vine that likes to climb, and is an excellent plant for greening courtyards. With thin bamboo supports it can be trained into various patterns, which is very practical and beautiful. It can also be pruned into hanging bonsai or used to decorate windowsills and drying platforms.
2. Medicinal: The Chinese trumpet creeper has the effects of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, cooling the blood and dispelling wind. It is used for amenorrhea, postpartum breast swelling, red rubella, skin itching, and acne.
The legend of the Chinese trumpet creeper
According to legend, in a mountain village called Longdi in western Fujian lived a wealthy man surnamed Dong, who had a lovely and beautiful daughter named Lingxiao who could recite poetry and paint. As Lingxiao gradually reached the age of marriage, she quietly fell in love with a hardworking, kind, tall and handsome long-term hired laborer named Liu Mingquan.
Lingxiao secretly sewed new clothes for Liu Mingquan and often brought him tasty food. The two pledged to each other that they would be together in life and in death. The wealthy man and his wife were looking around for a son-in-law, hoping Lingxiao would marry into a family of equal social status. Eventually they learned of the love between Lingxiao and Liu Mingquan. The wealthy man was furious and ordered his servants to beat Liu Mingquan severely, then threw him into the wilderness.
Liu Mingquan passed away late at night. The next day, the kind villagers buried him by the small river outside the village. A few days later, a large willow tree miraculously grew from Liu Mingquan's grave. It had lush branches and leaves, and its slender willow branches swayed in the wind, as if sobbing out its own sorrow.
Lingxiao, who had been locked up by the wealthy man Dong for violating family rules, missed Liu Mingquan day and night, refused to eat or drink, and grew haggard. One day, Lingxiao learned from a maid that Liu Mingquan had already died. She rushed out of the house as if mad and threw herself in front of Liu Mingquan's grave. Miss Lingxiao bowed three times, then dashed her head against the willow tree and died. In an instant she turned into a woody vine, clinging to the trunk and persistently climbing upward. It soon grew entwined with the willow tree, and the vine was covered with red flowers.
Later, people discovered that the flower that Miss Lingxiao had turned into could promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, detoxify and reduce swelling, and could treat diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and traumatic injuries. To commemorate Miss Lingxiao, people named this Chinese herbal medicine “Lingxiao flower”, and the name has been used ever since.