有意栽花花不发，无心插柳柳成阴
yǒu​yì​zāi​huā​huā​bù​fā​wú​xīn​chā​liǔ​liǔ​chéng​yīn

plans often fail but luck can bring success

  1. 有意栽花花不发 有意栽花花不發 yǒu​yì​zāi​huā​huā​bù​fā
    effort without reward
    to plant flowers with intent but the flowers do not bloom; describes a situation where careful effort and planning fail to produce the desired outcome
  2. ， wú
    non-Chinese
  3. 无心插柳柳成阴 無心插柳柳成陰 wú​xīn​chā​liǔ​liǔ​chéng​yīn
    unexpected success
    unintentional actions may bring unexpected results; literally to idly poke a willow branch in the ground and have it grow into a shade tree