These 7 plants belong in your study: practical, elegant, and anything but ordinary

Ancient scholars loved to take nature as their teacher, and the inspiration that all things brought them must, at first, have come from the spirit and charm those things possess in their natural state. In other words, only when the flowers, grasses, trees and woods of the natural world drew scholars in with the forms and postures they presented, and the spirit they contained struck a chord with men of lofty character, would the sages of old invite them into their gardens, keep them beside their studios, and bring them onto their desks.

1 Acorus calamus (sweet flag)

Acorus calamus loves shade and damp, and when grown it is mostly kept out of the sun. In the harsh cold of autumn and winter, when a hundred grasses rot and die, Acorus calamus remains "fine as hair, green and trailing, lonely in the cold with no one to share it." Even when the wind rages and the snow lashes, it still blooms sadly alone. The cold, lean, heroic bearing is what the recluse admires in its form; the proud bone that defies the frost is what the sages of old took from its spirit. It is truly like a gentleman cultivating himself: though hardship and poverty come, his noble spirit remains, and through cold and bitterness his firm resolve does not waver.

In "Six Records of a Floating Life," Yunniang placed Acorus calamus seeds on charcoal, then fed them with rice water; once they formed a tray, she set them on the desk to admire.

2 Moss

The scene of soft, green, carpet-like moss in a tea room sets off the elegance of a humble room and the quiet seclusion of its setting to the fullest. Suddenly the humble room is no longer humble, and it is full of life.

The bond between delicate moss and the Chinese people has gone through more than a thousand years of tempering before it gained life, spirit and vitality, gained an independent character, and enriched the Chinese aesthetic world.

3 Asparagus fern (Asparagus setaceus)

Asparagus fern is a highly ornamental plant that can be placed in the living room or study; it purifies the air while also adding a touch of scholarly elegance.

The name "asparagus fern" really does sound lovely. People say one would rather eat no meat than live without bamboo, but bamboo is too big and not easy to move into a tea room; perhaps whoever first saw this plant also found it truly had the character of bamboo, and so named it "asparagus fern."

4 Pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris)

Pennywort: the name has an ugly "coin" ring to it, and seems to have nothing to do with elegance. But pennywort's fresh green roundness and the fairy-like air it has when growing by water make people not mind its name at all.

The above is a pennywort painting by Laoshi Huahua.

5 Orchid

Plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum, the Four Gentlemen, have been loved by scholars since ancient times. Plum and chrysanthemum are seasonal plants, and bamboo is too large to lie on a desk; only the orchid suits all four seasons and has a small, delicate form. Standing in a tea room, it brings out the best in its surroundings.

6 Maidenhair fern (Adiantum)

Maidenhair fern has the looks of a "little ginkgo." Because it fears dryness and strong light, it must be placed where there is no direct sunlight for care, which makes a tea room seem more suitable than anything. Maidenhair fern is easy to keep alive, and its lines are extremely beautiful; placed on a tea table, it is wild and elegant too.

7 Bowl lotus

Bowl lotus: imagine a lotus blooming in a porcelain bowl on a tea table; its plain, elegant realm is fully revealed within a few inches.

Show this to the flower lovers who need it!