Three friends of winter

The Three Friends of Winter (松竹梅; Chō-chiku-bai) refers to a traditional combination of three plants in Japanese garden culture. In Japan, the evergreen pine (Pinus thunbergii), bamboo (Pseudosasa japonica), which is also evergreen, and plum blossom (Prunus mume), which already blooms in spring, are planted in pots in front of houses on New Year's Day and bring joy to residents and guests during the winter months.