Peonies: Your Ultimate Guide Facts & History (2024)

Peonies. They’re the most fashionable flower around. And what’s not to love? They’re the Cara Delevingne of the flower world. Instafamous, super stylish and just a little bit sassy.

Read on to find out more about why peonies make the dreamiest gift going. Plus we share our top tips for peony care and how to arrange these stunning stems at home.

When are peonies in season?

Peonies are only in season for a very short time, typically from late April to June (blink and you’ll miss them!). The fact that they’re so illusive only makes us want them more.

How long do peonies last?

Peonies have a naturally shorter vase life than most other flowers – around five days (oh how we wish they’d stick around a little longer!). Because their vase life is short but sweet most good florists will send your peonies out in bud (we know we do). Don’t worry if your blooms look less than impressive on delivery. Give those golf ball buds a couple of days, and WOW, POW, look at them now! Their big blousy blooms will open before your eyes. Just like magic.

Why haven’t my peonies bloomed yet?

If you want to hurry your peonies along, here are a few tricks of the trade to help your peonies open faster.

Whether standing solo or bunched up with other equally gorgeous blooms, arranging peonies is fun and oh-so easy. Fancy giving it a go? Here are our top tips for creating your own peony arrangement:

  • A goldfish-bowl type of vase is great for peony flowers, as it works well with their full rounded shape.
  • Before cutting the flowers, measure the stems against the vase. The big trend is for the peony flower heads to sit just about the top of the vase, creating a super luxe look.
  • Peonies look great with other voluptuous blooms. Team yours with roses, delphiniums and lilacs to create an insta-worthy arrangement.
  • Pair peonies with fabulously fragrant stocks for an arrangement that smells as good as it looks.
  • Peonies look great arranged en masse (like one big, fluffy pink cloud) but they can also hold their own as a few stems in smaller vases. Try splitting them up into different containers and scattering them around the home to bring beauty to different rooms.

What do peony flowers symbolise?

Peonies are linked to romance, prosperity and good fortune making them a great gift for any occasion. So whether you’re celebrating an anniversary, birthday or just want to say congratulations, sending a bouquet of peonies is always a good idea.

Peonies are also a popular choice of wedding flower because they symbolise good fortune and a happy marriage. What could be a better omen?

A brief history of peonies

Growing up to ten inches, the much-loved peony flower has been a staple in households for over 4,000 years. Cultivated in China (where it remains a symbol), the flower first came to Europe in the late 17th century.

Taking inspiration from the Greek name ‘Paeon’, legend has it that the flower was named after the Greek god of healing. Paeon, a medical student, was turned into the flower to save him from his jealous tutor Aesculapius, after he had saved Pluto using the now famous peony root.

To this day, peony root is still used in Chinese medicine. Fascinating!

How many different types of peony flowers are there?

There are hundreds of different varieties of peonies. Sarah Bernhardt and Coral Charm peonies a real favourite amongst flower fans.

When to give peonies?

Not backwards in coming forwards, peonies pack a real punch when given as a gift. Here are a few occasions that are perfect for celebrating with a peony flower delivery:

Anniversaries

A hot contender for the most romantic bloom ever (#sorrynotsorry roses!) peonies are the perfect flower to sweep them off their feet. They’re even the 12th anniversary flower – who knew?!

Birthdays

Peonies won’t just make their day, they’ll make their week. That’s because they can enjoy watching these beauties bloom before their eyes for five days or more. What a way to make them feel super special on their birthday and beyond!

Get Well Soon

Want to send them a little pick-me-up? Peonies are the answer. Choose the pretty pink variety for an instant mood boaster. They’ll be bowled over by the thought.

Just Because

Let’s face it. Everyone loves receiving peonies. And, in our book, that’s good enough reason in itself to surprise them with a spontaneous flower delivery.

Want to send a vase full of peonies? Our local artisan florists are at your service. Head over to our website to take a look at our peony collection and grab them whilst you still can!

Peony wedding flowers

It’s similarity to a rose in full bloom makes the peony an incredibly popular wedding flower. The flower itself represents romance and prosperity and is believed to bring good fortune and a happy marriage.

After declaring the flowers made her “so endlessly happy” on Instagram, Meghan Markle went on to choose peonies for her wedding bouquet when she married Prince Harry back in 2018. Need we say any more?

Peonies: Your Ultimate Guide Facts & History (2024)

FAQs

Peonies: Your Ultimate Guide Facts & History? ›

Peonies are native to Asia, Europe, and Western North America. Early in Chinese history, the peony was considered the national flower (although it's now officially the plum blossom). The Tang Dynasty of China began breeding peonies in the imperial courts in the 7th century BCE.

What is the history of the peony? ›

Peonies are native to Asia, Europe, and Western North America. Early in Chinese history, the peony was considered the national flower (although it's now officially the plum blossom). The Tang Dynasty of China began breeding peonies in the imperial courts in the 7th century BCE.

What is a fun fact about peonies? ›

The peony is named after Paeon, a student of Asclepias, the Greek god of healing. Legend says that when Asclepias became jealous of his gifted student, Zeus saved Paeon from his jealous master by turning him into a beautiful flower. Peonies are native to Asia, southern Europe, and western North America.

What is the significance of the peony flower? ›

Generally, though, peonies symbolise prosperity, good luck, love and honour. So, whether you know someone who's getting married, graduating or recently gave birth, send them a pretty peony bouquet. You can't go wrong!

What is the folklore about peonies? ›

It is believed that Peony is named after Paeon (also known as Paean), who was a healing deity who had healed Hades' and Ares' wounds. The flower myth related, says that Paeon was a student of Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing.

What is the rarest peony color? ›

What is the rarest peony colour? The rarest peony colour is blue. These flowers do not exist naturally and are created through artificial pigmentation.

What does the peony symbolize in Christianity? ›

The peony's symbolism, “Love of God,” has a dual expression of love: first for when, in his love for us, he sent his Holy Spirit to guide and console us; and secondly, for our own love and gratitude to God for having gifted us with his mercies and consolations.

What do peonies attract? ›

As it turns out, peonies will bring all the ants to your yard. And, potentially, into your home. According to the the University of Missouri's Integrated Pest Management, these flowers do in fact attract these tiny bugs.

What is the downside of peonies? ›

Peony: Diseases Issues. While peonies are generally robust, they can be susceptible to several diseases that can mar their beauty. Fungal infections like Botrytis blight and powdery mildew are common, often manifesting as discolored foliage and damaged blooms. Root rot and viral diseases can also impact their health.

Why are peonies so expensive? ›

”Field grown peonies take around three years to yield any commercially viable production. Purely from a growers perspective, peonies are a long term crop. Anyone getting into it has to be willing and able to set aside the acreage for a minimum of around 10 years.

What do peonies say about you? ›

For example, peonies are the symbol of bashfulness, compassion, indignation, shame, a happy life, good health, a happy marriage, AND prosperity.

Are peonies mentioned in the Bible? ›

Biblical Meaning of Peony

While not explicitly mentioned, the peony's enduring beauty can be seen as a reflection of God's boundless creativity and the intricate tapestry of creation. It reminds us to seek beauty in all things, to appreciate the small wonders that grace our lives.

What does the peony symbolize in love? ›

Pink peonies are commonly used in wedding bouquets as they symbolise lasting love, good fortune and prosperity. They can also depict love at first sight. FLOWERS SPEAK A THOUSAND WORDS. These days most of us don't think very deeply about the specific meaning of flowers when deciding what flower to pick.

What goddess is associated with peonies? ›

In the second, the nymph Paeonia attracts the attention of the god Apollo—and the ire of the goddess Aphrophdite, who promptly turned Paeonia into a flower out of jealousy. As a result of these two stories, the peony is associated with notions of healing and attraction.

Who is the goddess of peony? ›

Bai Mudan (白牡丹; literally White Peony), also romanized as Pai Mu-tan, is a character from Chinese mythology. She is described as the most beautiful courtesan in the city of Luoyang and a reincarnation of the Peony fairy.

What god is associated with peony? ›

Peony-Peony

It is believed that Peony is named after Paeon (also known as Paean), a healing deity, who had healed Hades' and Ares' wounds. The related flower myth says that Paeon was a student of Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing.

What is the Greek myth of the peony? ›

Greek myth says that Paeon was transformed into a peony by Zeus as a protection against the wrath of his teacher. In this way, peonies have a protective symbology and are part of a larger story about healing and medicine. A single stem of a yellow peony shown in full bloom.

How was the peony brought to America? ›

Introducing Peony to America

For the first several decades in the 19th century, the French led the world in the introduction of new peony varieties. Nearly all of them were derived from Paeonia lactiflora. American florists saw opportunity and began importing plants from France and, later on, from England.

When did peonies come to America? ›

In the 19th century, the peonies were introduced into European and American gardens, and today it is one of the most attractive and rewarding plants in all continents [4]. According to life form, peonies are divided into tree (woody) and herbaceous species.

How did the peony become the state flower? ›

The peony (Paeonia) was adopted as the state flower by the 1957 General Assembly (Indiana Code 1-2-7). From 1931 to 1957 the zinnia was the state flower. The peony blooms the last of May and early June in various shades of red and pink and also in white; it occurs in single and double forms.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Catherine Tremblay

Last Updated:

Views: 5840

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Catherine Tremblay

Birthday: 1999-09-23

Address: Suite 461 73643 Sherril Loaf, Dickinsonland, AZ 47941-2379

Phone: +2678139151039

Job: International Administration Supervisor

Hobby: Dowsing, Snowboarding, Rowing, Beekeeping, Calligraphy, Shooting, Air sports

Introduction: My name is Catherine Tremblay, I am a precious, perfect, tasty, enthusiastic, inexpensive, vast, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.