MAY: Peonies

Swiss Miss
May 4, 2023
2 min read

Updated: May 16, 2023

Of the genus Paeonia. The name goes back to the Greek physician Paian, who is said to have healed the wounded god of the dead Hades, with the help of peonies. It is called Pfingstrosen in German because it blooms during Pfingsten or Pentecost.

But I prefer its Chinese name - the IMPERIAL ROSE! Legend has it, that only the Emperor (or his gardeners) were allowed to grow it. That was probably the colour yellow. The Chinese word for yellow ‘huang’ sounds like the word for royal and was chosen as the exclusive color for the Imperial household that in 1903, the Qing dynasty declared the peony as the national flower.

While I’ve often heard people say that the peony is from China, out of the 33 known species, only the woody species Paeonia moutan does. Two herbaceous species are found in the West of North America. The Paeonia brownii between southern British Columbia and the Sierra Nevada in California and eastward to Wyoming and Utah. While the Paeonia californica is limited to the coastal mountains of Southern and Central California.

White Phoenix Tree Peony but buds are pink.

I have 4 types in my garden and they start blooming in late March. The tree peony White Phoenix (Feng Dan Bai) starts off my season. It’s at the back of the house, south facing and gets a lot of sun. The buds have a slight pink tinge but open completely white. The petals close up at dusk or when overcast. The White Phoenix are followed by the full double petal massive Purple Phoenix. Then the appropriately named pink ‘Joy of Longevity’. My peony season finale is the synchronized bloom of the 4 elegant yellow tree peonies called Delavay (Dian Mu Dan) in the front garden.

Herbaceous Purple Phoenix and 'Joy of Longevity'

I am over the moon when it’s peony season! While discouraged from cutting the blooms in the garden, I would buy them from the supermarket– not 1 but 2 bundles. I loved watching them start as dark bulbous buds and opening into a lighter but massive flamboyant blooms. Nothing shy about a peony! They bloom for only seven to 10 days and appeals to my go-big-or-go-home ethos. You can see why the peony signify wealth and prosperity in China. See photo of my purchase last week – on Day 2 and Day 4, where the colour starts to fade, but still beautiful.

Like the Greek physician Paian, the peony root has been used in traditional medicine in Korea, China and Japan. The peony petals are also edible and are parboiled and sweetened as a tea-time delicacy. The petals may be added to salads or to punches and lemonades.

With its central role in Chinese culture, the peony has been painted and illustrated by many of its famous artist.