The story The Winter Hibiscus, by Minfong Ho tells the story of two Laos women who emigrated to the United States. Saeng, the daughter, bought a hibiscus plant, despite its cost, after failing her driving test. Her mother was originally upset, but softened after seeing how much the plant meant to her daughter. Saeng bought the hibiscus plant because it reminds her of home, while it represents reassurance to her mother. In paragraph 5, the narrator describes Saeng’s memories of her old home after coming across the hibiscus plant. Minfong states “The familiar fragrance filled her lungs, and Saeng could almost feel the light strands of her grandmother’s long gray hair, freshly washed, as combed it out with the fine-toothed buffalo-horn comb.
