yǒu​yì​zāi​huā​huā​bù​fā​wú​xīn​chā​liǔ​liǔ​chéng​yīn

plans often fail but luck can bring success

Senses

有意栽花花不发,无心插柳柳成荫/ 有意栽花花不發,無心插柳柳成蔭 yǒu​yì​zāi​huā​huā​bù​fā​wú​xīn​chā​liǔ​liǔ​chéng​yīn plans often fail but luck can bring success

intentional efforts may fail while unexpected actions lead to success; literally: planting flowers with care but they do not bloom, while sticks of willow planted without thought grow into shade

References

variant 有意栽花花不发,无心插柳柳成阴/有意栽花花不發,無心插柳柳成陰 有意栽花花不发,无心插柳柳成荫/有意栽花花不發,無心插柳柳成蔭