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Peony

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description Peony Overview

Peonies are flowering plants in the genus Paeonia, encompassing roughly 30 species native to Asia, Europe, and Western North America. They are popular garden perennials and important cut flowers, recognized for their large, often fragrant, spherical blooms that appear in late spring to early summer. Available in shades of pink, red, white, and yellow, peonies are categorized into herbaceous types, which die back to the ground each winter, and tree peonies, which maintain a woody stem. Historically, their roots have been utilized in traditional Chinese medicine.

help Peony FAQ

Is the peony officially China's national flower?

The tree peony is widely treated as a national floral symbol and has repeatedly led public preference polls in China. However, descriptions of it as the legally designated national flower should be treated cautiously because the formal status has remained debated.

What is the difference between tree peonies and herbaceous peonies?

Tree peonies, including Paeonia suffruticosa hybrids, keep woody stems above ground through winter. Herbaceous peonies such as Paeonia lactiflora die back to the soil each year and regrow in spring.

Why is Luoyang famous for peonies?

Luoyang has cultivated tree peonies for centuries and celebrates them with a major spring festival. The flower became associated with wealth, honor, and imperial culture during the Tang period.

Were peonies used in traditional Chinese medicine?

Yes. Preparations from peony roots appear in traditional Chinese medicine, including bai shao from white peony root and mu dan pi from tree-peony root bark.

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