25 Peony Facts: Learn About This Flowering Plant Native To Asia

On a walk around your neighborhood, you've probably seen peonies in bloom, and their gorgeous flowers are hard to miss.

In China, Luoyang is renowned as the Peony City. It features a beautiful national peony garden with over a 100 different varieties of the lovely blossom, and it celebrates a peony festival every year with millions of visitors.

Depending on the kind, individual peony flowers can be up to 10 in (0.25 m) wide and come in lots of colors. Nothing puts a grin on a face like a bouquet of pink peonies. Peonies make excellent cut flowers and can last for more than a week in a vase; the buds can even be stored in the fridge for up to three months, allowing you to enjoy the flowers well beyond their natural blooming season. Many believe that peonies are a symbol of love, success, good luck, a happy marriage, wealth, honor, and empathy in China. It's no surprise that peonies are such a popular flower, but there's a lot more to them than you may think. Peony, a genus of roughly 30 flowering plants in the Paeoniaceae family, is distinguished for its beautiful flowers. With the exception of two species, all are native to Europe and Asia and are mostly cultivated for the flower industry. Peonies, in addition to their large, layered flowers and sweet fragrance, can live for over a 100 years!

Maintenance And Growth Of Peony Plants

Peonies are a flowering plant grown in Asia, Europe, and Western North America. With 40 distinct peony varieties, they are among the most popular garden plants in temperate countries. The majority of the plants are herbaceous, and are perennials. They can grow up to 3.2 ft (1 m) tall, although others are woody shrubs that grow up to 11 ft (3.3 m) tall. Peonies are one of the most popular perennials since they require little maintenance. There are more aspects to consider if you wish to produce a peony plant, such as where it is planted, and how to support and plant it properly. However, peonies do not take well to being replanted.

Peonies should be planted in the fall, between late September and October.

Peonies aren't demanding plants. However, you need to choose your planting site carefully because they don't respond well to being transplanted and disturbed.

Peonies prefer direct sun, and while they can survive in partial shade, they bloom best in a bright area that receives six to eight hours of sunlight per day. They also need to be protected from windstorms.

Peonies thrive in moist, deep, fertile, humus-rich soil that drains well. Before you plant, work the soil well; adding manure and a little fertilizer will be enough.

If your soil is weak, fertilizer should be applied in early summer, after the peonies have blossomed and the dead flowers have been removed. You should fertilize only once every few years.

Peonies are simple to grow, but the depth at which they are planted is critical.

Herbaceous peonies should not be planted too deeply or they will not grow. The plant's crown should not be more than 2 in (5 cm) below the soil's surface.

To encourage the growth of lots of branches from the base, tree peonies should be grafted well below soil level, at least 3.14 in (8 cm).

Uses And Benefits Of Peony Plants

Who doesn't want their home to be filled with pleasing visuals as well as pleasant fragrances? Cut the blooms as soon as they open in the morning and set them in a vase with other classic blossoms such as lilacs, snowball shrub, lilies, and roses for an aesthetic look.

In some studies, peony plants have been found to stimulate the immune process and enhance the mood, and some believe they can be used to treat inflammation, blood clots, and general pain.

Peony roots and seeds have been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat headaches, asthma, convulsions, liver illness, and a variety of ailments for years.

You can eat peony petals if they are farmed organically and without pesticides!

Peonies are a popular flower choice among brides because of their significance, in addition to their scent and abundant availability as cut flowers.

Peonies are believed by many to be a good omen for a happy marriage, since they symbolize romance and love. If you are celebrating your 12th anniversary, then peonies are considered the traditional flower of the celebration.

Characteristics And Features Of Peony Plants

Part of what makes peonies so remarkable is how brief and sweet their season is. It's April to mid-June in the UK, so mark your calendars now if you want a vase full of gorgeous hues! However, you can enjoy peonies in bloom for months on end. In April, a distinct species called Paeonia mlokosewitschii (commonly known as 'Molly the witch'), blooms with lemon-yellow flowers. The widely-planted deep crimson 'Rubra Plena' is one of the first herbaceous peonies to flower in May. Late-flowering cultivars like 'Sarah Bernhardt' can also often be seen blooming till the end of June.

Paeon (sometimes written Paean) was a disciple of Asclepius, the Greek deity of medicine and healing, and the peony bears his name.

According to one account of the story, Paeon, the god's healer, used a peony to heal Zeus' wound. When Asclepius became enraged at his pupil, Paeon was saved by Zeus, who transformed him into a peony flower.

Peonies come in over 6,500 different types, with new ones being created all the time. The variety which stands out receives a gold medal from the American Peony Society.

Peonies are divided into three groups: the herbaceous peonies, the tree or Moutan peonies, and itoh (which is a cross between the other two) are the three different types of peony.

Tree peonies prefer partial or full shade, whilst herbaceous peonies prefer full sun. Both types of plants thrive in most types of soils as long as the winters are not too rainy. Right before planting, add some organic matter to the soil, such as compost, and a spoonful of bonemeal to the planting area.

Ants are drawn to peonies due to the nectar that accumulates on the outside of the flower buds.

Pink peonies with a lighter hue are more fragrant than those with a darker color, like red peonies.

Peony buds are three times smaller than the original full-grown peony flowers. Peony blooms begin as small, tight buds that resemble gorgeous golf balls, but when they open, they reveal large blossoms that can grow up to 10 in (25.4 cm)!

Marco Polo described peony flowers as "roses that look like cabbages" when he first saw them.

Coral Charm peonies are a variety of peony that change color as they bloom.

Peony blossoms have reportedly been in existence for almost 4,000 years! They originated in China and were introduced to Europe in the 1800s, where they have became a major hit.

The peony flower, like many flowers, has different meanings depending on its color. Red peonies represent love, pink peonies symbolize good fortune and prosperity, and white peonies represent shyness.

FAQs

How long do peonies live?

Peonies are perennials that have luxuriant blossoms, rich hues, and a prolonged life span of up to a 100 years! Cut flowers, on the other hand, have a short vase life of about five days.

What are peonies known for?

Peonies are recognized by many as the flower of prosperity and honor. They are the traditional floral symbol of China, the state flower of Indiana, and the flower that represents a 12th wedding anniversary. For a long time, peonies have been associated with romance and prosperity and are said to be an omen of good fortune and a happy marriage because of their lush, full, rounded blossom.

Is the peony poisonous to humans?

Peonies are quite poisonous, despite their fragrance and beauty, and they can make pets and humans sick. They can also lead to a heavy menstrual flow and miscarriage in women. The peony can cause accelerated heartbeat, nausea, and vomiting if consumed in large doses. Tremors and seizures are possible side effects for certain persons. Along with vomiting and diarrhea, peonies can cause severe depression in animals, especially housecats and dogs, if ingested.

What animal eats peony leaves?

Rabbits, beavers, and squirrels are common pests that pose a serious threat to your peony. Peony buds are also vulnerable to insects such as red ants and snails, which eat them.

Are peonies safe to touch?

Peonies are safe to touch. However, it is not safe for humans and animals to consume it.

Why are peonies so expensive?

Peonies, being dazzling and exotic, are considered to be the Princess Grace of the flower world. They range in color from the deepest hues to the palest neutral shades, are expensive since they're only available during a short span, that is between April and July. A peony should be roughly 6 in (15.2 cm) to be considered high quality.