Everyone who enjoys bouquets must enjoy the peony flower. The peony flower comes in various colors with its beautiful petals that become a great addition to a flower arrangement. Generally, you will enjoy the bloom from April to June, with its coral type to appear first, and then the pink ones will follow during the summer.
So, what makes the peony flower become everyone's favorite? There are many reasons why this flower is so special to everyone. It is not a surprise if the flower is used as a special gift for a loved one.
The peony flower has a long history since thousand years ago. In some cultures, this flower has a special place due to certain reasons. For example, in Greek mythology, the name itself is derived from the word.
According to Greek mythology, there was a physician of the gods named Paeon who made a teacher angry. The name of the teacher was Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing. He extracted a milk liquid from the root of a peony to cure Pluto. This stirred anger that Asclepius threatened to kill Paeon due to his jealousy. Luckily, Zeus saved him and turned him into a beautiful flower, which is later called a peony.
Another name that is also linked to the flower is the nymph called Paeonia, whose beauty attracted the attention of Apollo. Her beauty made Aphrodite jealous, which led her to turn Paeonia into a peony. This story then made people in the Victorian age associate it with poor luck.
Speaking of origin, the peony flower has been cultivated since 1000 BC in China. By the 8th century, the flower spread to Japan, which became one of the largest peony producers. The popularity of the peony itself then spread to a bigger scale, and the people in the East often used this flower for medical properties. It is believed that its roots and seeds can treat headaches and asthma. It also relieves the pain during childbirth.
There are at least 40 species of peonies spread in the world, originating from Asia, Europe, and North America. However, the majority of peony plants now are hybrids.
In its native environment, the peony flower is often found around areas with rich soil. You can find the flower around rocky slopes, forest edges, and even grasslands. The flower itself can survive in cold or warm climates. However, the type of peonies, of course, will be different.
If you live in a warmer place, you can choose a variety that can grow in warmer conditions, and vice versa. The key is to mimic its natural habitat and pay attention to the species or varieties.
The peony flowers generally have a big diameter of around 25 cm. It has a bowl shape that comes in various colors except the color of blue. Typically, the flower will start to bloom during the spring to early summer, and it can do self-pollination.
The flower has beautiful, multi-layered petals, making it look fluffy and almost resembling roses, but it is more dense compared to the roses.
In terms of fragrance, it varies from variety to variety. Some species like Festiva Maxima and Duchesse de Nemours have fragrance resembling rose-like scents. Meanwhile, the other peonies have a lemony fragrance and almost no scent at all.
Just like the typical flowers, the peony flower also has a huge variety of meanings depending on the culture and personal relationship with the flower.
The flower symbolizes bashfulness when we refer to the Greek myth of Paeonia. Meanwhile, in China and Japan, the flower is also called the "king of flowers" and is often used in important holidays, for example, during the Lunar New Year. Besides, Chinese people often associate this flower with a symbol of wealth due to its long relationship with the emperors in the past. Meanwhile, in Japan, the flower represents honour, bravery, and also good fortune.
The flower has a beautiful meaning in many cultures. Therefore, if you want to buy some gifts, such as a bouquet, this won't go wrong as it represents bravery, good fortune, and honour.
When it comes to color, of course, the peony flower has a lot of meaning, for example:
The best thing about this flower is that it lacks maintenance as long as you plant the flowers that mimic the natural habitat. You can start planting the peonies during the fall, and it should be settled into place about 6 weeks. You can also plant this flower in the spring.
This flower is easy to maintain and even resistant to mild neglect. Just make sure you fertilize and pay attention to how you should water the flower properly, as this flower doesn’t like prolonged watering.
If you have someone who enjoys the beauty of peony flowers, you probably want to take a look at our shop, Athaya Florist. We are the leading florist shop that can help you create the most beautiful gift for your partner.
We have huge flower choices that you can choose and customize based on your needs and occasions. Our designs are endless, whether you need them for a personal event or a formal one. You can add your personal touch easily. For more information, contact our team!
