General Description/History

Long renowned for their large, often perfumed flowers, peonies have been prized for centuries by flower lovers. Flowers have several rings of petals, depending on the variety, with some looking like large ruffled garden roses. Single forms have 5 or more petals, and the fluffy yellow flower centre is clearly visible, while all you can see in double forms are ruffled petals. Flower colour ranges from pure white to pink and peach to clear red and dark maroon. Yellow forms are very rare, and there are no blue varieties – yet. Some forms, particularly double pinks, have a beautiful fragrance.

Flowering season is short – usually 6 weeks or so in late spring.

Peonies are grown in the field. Supplies come mostly from Victoria, NSW and Qld.

What to look for

• Buy when the petals are starting to open and buds have clear colour;
• Green buds will not last as long as coloured buds and fully open flowers will last about half as long as coloured buds;
• Avoid bunches with fully open flowers with torn or creased flowers.

Flower Care

1. Keep cool at all times.
2. Strip leaves from the lower half of each stem and wash stem ends thoroughly.
3. Recut at least 2 cm off each stem and place in water immediately.
4. Do not bash or split stems.
5. Always use a preservative as this will help buds to open and maintain open flowers.
6. Replace vase water with fresh preservative every day.

Interesting Facts about this Flower

Peonies have been cultivated for over 2,000 years, mostly for their medicinal qualities. The peony is a traditional floral symbol of China and in 1903 it was declared the national flower, even though it is no longer officially recognised as such by the ruling party. Peony motifs, particularly bright red ones, can be found on Chinese silks and in wood carvings. The common thread is that the flower always denotes luxury and indulgence. The Japanese protect the earliest peony blooms from the snow by covering them with individual small thatched shelters. Some geishas used to wear special peony colours.

Botanical Name: Paeonia lactiflora

Common Names: Peony

Stem Length: 30 to 70 cm

Country of Origin: China

Available Colours: Orange, Red, White, Yellow

Season: Spring

Availability: October,November