The Tan Hua flowers that belong to Nick’s grandmother are a type of flower that blooms only at night and very rarely. Because they are so unique, they are very expensive and considered priceless flowers. Tan Huas represent luck and prosperity, which is why Shang Su Yi throws a party when hers are about to bloom. In Crazy Rich Asians, they also represent a rare, once-in-a-lifetime event, which is what Rachel is experiencing in Singapore. She is thrust suddenly into a world of couture, money, and prestige, and is introduced to experiences and places that she could have never imagined. Like the Tan Hua flowers, the beauty of the experience only lasts a short time before the whole thing withers, and she is left with heartache.

The wealthy families in Crazy Rich Asians live with extreme wealth and privilege and only like to keep other, similar families in their circle. That means that someone like Rachel, who is comfortably middle-class and has a good education, still fails to meet their standards. This wealth and class disparity is a central theme in the novel. Michael Teo and Charlie Wu, like Rachel, both have good qualities, but fail to impress the old-money Singaporeans due to being a part of the out-group.