Peonies are beautiful flowers with vibrant colors and a captivating fragrance. With their meaningful petals, they also carry messages that you want to convey.
Whether you’re looking for the best flowers to gift your loved ones or decorate your home, this guide will take you through everything you need to know about peonies: their meanings, origins, cultural significance, and uses.
How did the peony flower get its name?
The term “peony” comes from the name “Paeon” in Greek mythology.
He was the physician to the gods and was a student of Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing.
Paeon was able to heal Pluto when he was shot by Hercules with an arrow. Asclepius became jealous of him and threatened to kill him.
To protect Paeon, Zeus turned him into a beautiful peony flower.
What are the botanical origins of the peony flower?
Peony, scientifically known as Paeonia, is a genus of flowering plants with 33 known species that come from the Paeoniaceae family. Peonies originally come from Asia, Europe, and Western North America.
These plants are recognizable with their compound leaves that are deeply lobed and big fragrant flowers. Peonies come in different colors, such as white, pink, red, or yellow.
Do peony flowers require a lot of maintenance?
Peonies are low-maintenance plants and they don’t require much pruning.
Just be sure to trim away any dead stems or branches.
If you notice a stem that seems infected, be sure to trim it back before the disease spreads. If two branches rub against each other, remove the less attractive one.
Do peony flowers need shade or sun?
Peonies thrive in full sun with at least six hours of exposure per day. However, they can also tolerate some shade.
When do peony flowers bloom?
Peonies burst into bloom from late spring to early summer.
The flowering period of peonies is relatively short, which can last around 7–10 days.
What kind of soil do peony flowers prefer?
Peonies are not too picky when it comes to soil. However, they prefer well-draining soil with a slightly acidic composition, ideally ranging from a pH level of 6.5 to 7.0.
When is the best time to plant peony flower seeds?
Harvested peony seeds can be planted as soon as they are ripe.
However, the best time to do this is in the late summer or autumn.
They become dormant in the winter and sprout in the spring.
What do peony flowers mean?
Peonies mean love, romance, honor, happiness, compassion, good luck, prosperity, wealth, beauty, the bliss of a happy marriage, and even shyness.
These flowers are usually exchanged on special occasions to express goodwill, best wishes, and joy.
Peony is also the official flower for the 12th wedding anniversary. It is also one of the official birth flowers of November along with the chrysanthemum.
What do the colors of peony flowers mean?
White
White peonies symbolize beauty and are associated with feelings of remorse and bashfulness.
Recommended use: These flowers are a thoughtful choice when asking for forgiveness or expressing regret.
They also make stunning wedding flowers and fit well into bouquets and arrangements for a touch of regality.
Red
Red peonies represent passionate love and romance.
Recommended use: These flowers are ideal for romantic gestures such as wedding anniversaries.
They’re also great gifts when starting something new as a couple like buying a new house to symbolize hope for wealth and prosperity.
Pink
Pink peonies symbolize a happy marriage, honor, fortune, and good luck.
Recommended use: These flowers are perfect for gifting on Mother’s Day and 12th wedding anniversaries. They can also be included in wedding bouquets and decorations.
Yellow
Yellow peonies symbolize new beginnings and good fortune.
Recommended use: These flowers are ideal for housewarming gifts or when you want to wish someone good luck with a new job.
They’re also great for expressing gratitude at a retirement party or when you just want to share joy with someone special.
What did peony flowers symbolize in various historical periods?
What are the cultural associations of peony flowers?
What are the spiritual or religious meanings of peony flowers?
Christians who lived in the Middle Ages associated peonies with wealth, beauty, and health.
They used peony seeds and roots in herbal teas and medicines and even created hybrids because they believed that it would increase their healing power.
What are the uses of peony flowers?
Peonies are not just meaningful, beautiful flowers.
They can also be used in cooking, medicine, gardening, and landscaping.
Because of their captivating fragrance, peony flowers have also been used in perfumes, lotion, body wash, soaps, and even scented candles.
How can peony flowers be used in cooking?
Peony flowers have a similar taste to peaches and strawberries. Here’s how you can use them in cooking:
- Salads: Elevate the aesthetics and flavors of salads by adding fresh peony petals. Their delicate texture and mild taste provide an elegant and sweet touch to both green and fruit salads.
- Beverage infusions: Infuse teas, lemonades, or cocktails with the subtle essence of peony. The floral notes add a unique and refreshing twist to beverages which enhances your overall drinking experience.
- Syrups, sauces, and jams: Create fragrant culinary syrups or sauces by gently simmering peony petals with sugar or honey.
You can also infuse peony essence into homemade jams to transform spreads with their delightful floral undertones.
- Dessert decorations: Turn desserts into attractive creations by using peony petals as decoration.
Whether in cakes or other pastries, the vibrant colors and gentle flavors of peony flowers can add a special twist to these sweet treats.
- Ice cubes and frozen delights: Freeze peony petals into ice cubes for interestingly beautiful additions to beverages.
You can also explore making homemade peony-infused sorbets or ice creams for a yummy and unique frozen treat.
Can peony flowers be used for medicinal purposes?
Peonies have a long history of medicinal use.
Peony roots have been used to soothe the digestive tract and gastric pain. When applied to the skin, peony can also heal cracked skin, combat tissue aging, and alleviate skin rashes.
Women have also traditionally used peonies for various menstrual-related issues, including menstrual cramps, polycystic ovary syndrome, premenstrual syndrome, and to induce menstruation.
Peony has also been used to address respiratory tract issues such as cough and asthma.
How can peony flowers be used in gardening and landscaping?
Peony flowers can be great additions to gardens and landscapes for a burst of color and texture. Here’s how you can transform your outdoor spaces with these flowers:
- Charming borders and edging: Use peonies as garden borders and edging to map out pathways or separate different sections of your garden.
The structured form of their lush foliage and captivating blooms creates a defined border that adds a touch of sophistication to the overall garden design.
- Striking focal points: You may also use peonies as striking focal points in your landscape.
You can plant them in a cluster to draw attention and admiration for a captivating visual effect that enhances the overall garden design.
- Complementary flower pairing: Experiment with mixing peonies with other plants to create visually dynamic landscapes.
Pair them with complementary perennials or annuals such as lavender or delphiniums to achieve a pleasant and diverse garden composition.
- Pollinator attractors: Attract pollinators and create pollinator-friendly gardens by planting peonies.
These nectar-rich blooms become valuable food sources for bees and butterflies, which can then enhance the ecological balance of your garden.
