Peonies have an ancient history dating back over 2000 years and were widely grown and used for their medicinal properties. Peonies, which are herbaceous perennials from the genus Paeonia, are Native to Asia and the national flower of China. Peonies were named in honour of Paeon, the Greek physician of the gods.
Peonies are admired for their lush, highly fragrant blossoms which come in a variety of stunning rich and delicate pastel colours shielding the central stamens. Lustrous dark green foliage turns to burgundy in just a week of full sun and compliments the blossoms which burst into bloom in mid-May to early June.
Peonies will tolerate a cooler climate but prefer full sun in well drained soil and can also be grown successfully in large containers with sufficient room for their large roots. Peonies are resilient flowering plants that need little maintenance and can survive through harsh winter months. Once established in a garden, Peonies bloom each Spring for many years.
Peonies are classified by type which is characterised by the number of petals and the extent to which the stamens are petal-like. The flowers vary from single, semi-double and double flowers through to Chinese double, Japanese, anemone and fernleaf. The large, exquisite Chinese double flowered species are delightfully fragrant and range in colour from white and many shades of pink, through to vibrant reds. In contrast, the fern-leaf Peony with its fine, delicate foliage are dwarf sized and are one of the earliest Peonies to bloom.
Peonies make excellent cut flowers, are ideal in Spring arrangements and make a stunning addition to a Wedding Bouquet.
Peonies are cultivated as either herbaceous shrubs or trees. The herbaceous shrub are typically between 2-4 feet with a bushy oval uniform shape and many blooms such as Paeonia Lactiflora, a native of Siberia, the Chinese peony with large, opulent flowers. While the tree variety can grow up to 6 feet high and have a more woody appearance such as Paeonia Suffruticosa.
Since ancient times, Peonies have been regarded as the symbol of wealth, luck and happiness and represent elegance and dignity.The Chinese refer to Peonies as the King of Flowers and Peonies are often featured in children’s fairytales as protective homes for garden fairies.
We are now stocking these lovely flowers at The Cracked Pot Flower Boutique so pop in and take a look around, we can deliver locally and around London.