The peony is one of the loveliest May flowers and a fragrant delight in the home. These romantic flowers have long been admired for their beauty and fragrance. Over 2,000 years ago, the Chinese crowned tree peonies the 'king of flowers'.

These gorgeous flowers come in every color of the rainbow except for a true blue. If you're choosing one for fragrance, you might prefer a pink variety - they're supposedly more fragrant than the darker colors.

It's hard to miss peonies; their lush, full blooms that are up to 10" across are unlike anything else in the garden. Their size and rich, romantic shape might explain the tradition of including peonies in wedding bouquets to bring prosperity and continuing romance to the new couple. Perhaps that's also why they're the traditional 12th anniversary flower.

In fact, peonies are so big that explorer Marco Polo supposedly called them "Roses as big as cabbages." You might think that such large flowers are delicate, but they definitely aren't! These plants prefer cold weather; herbaceous peonies won't bloom unless they experience at least 400 hours of 40 degrees or colder temperatures. Tree peonies are a little less cold hungry - they only need 100 to 300 hours in order to set buds. These beauties can also live for a century or more!

China's national flower is the tree peony, which they've cultivated for at least 2,500 years. This woody, deciduous shrub comes in a variety of flower shapes and many different colors, ranging from black, green, purple, and maroon to pink, yellow, and multi-colored. Herbaceous peonies die back to the ground every winter and produce fresh new growth in the spring. They also come in a variety of forms and colors.

In seventh century China, the Sui andT'ang Dynasties saw a rise in popularity of the peony. The flowers arrived in Japan in the eighth century, the Romans introduced them to England in 1200, and they arrived in America in the 1830s.

One reason for the widespread popularity of peonies (besides their beauty!), is their perceived medicinal uses. They were widely believed to relieve muscle spasms, cure headaches, help coughs, improve asthma, ease childbirth, relieve stomach problems, and eliminate bladder stones, among other problems.

In fact, written records from the first century in China and Greece praise the medicinal benefits of this plant! Herbal records from ancient Greece and Rome, as well as during the Middle Ages, continue the praise of the peony as a medicinal plant.

The peony even traces its name to an early 'physician'. It was named after Paean, physician to the Greek gods, who was credited with healing Hades after he was wounded by Hercules.

Today, peonies are renowned for beauty and fragrance more than medicine. They are the state flower of Indiana and a favorite subject of painters. If you love painting peonies, you're in esteemed company. Manet, Renoir, Gauguin, and Delacroix all painted peonies, too!

If you would enjoy the fragrance of peonies in your home this May, contact us.

Enchanted Florist

4416 Fairmont #104

Pasadena, TX 77504

(832)850-7677

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