For the Love of Peonies
I remember the first time I laid eyes on a peony. It was at a local décor shop. The owner kept a large bucket of peonies by the counter, which he sold by the stem. The flowers came from the florist next door as a gesture of neighbourly solidarity.
Mesmerized, I was unable to take my eyes off the large, fluffy petals. I had never seen anything so light and delicate or so gracious and lovely. They had an air of innocence that rivalled my own youthful naïveté. Forever etched in my memory, I have never escaped the attraction to something so beautiful. Years later, peonies are still my favourite flower.
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Known as the “Queen of the Garden,” peonies were originally cultivated in Asia, then grown in Europe and Western North America. Peonies bloom around the same time as lilacs, between April and June, according to climate and variety.
There are over 6,500 varieties of early-season, mid-season and late-season bloomers. Colours range from white to various shades of pink, coral, yellow, and more rarely, purple.
They’re perennials, returning annually once planted, and can live for a hundred years. Lavishly large and voluminous, the plant produces lush greenery, with flowers reaching 10 inches in width. Planted in September or October, and spaced several feet apart, it may take the plant up to three years before growing generously sized flowers.
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Presumably named after Paeon, the Greek god of medicine and healing, peonies symbolize compassion. In Greek mythology, Paeon healed Pluto by extracting the milky liquid from the root of the peony plant. Paeon’s teacher, Asclepius, became so jealous of his student’s abilities, even threatening him, moving Pluto to turn his friend into a peony flower as an act of compassion, thereby saving him from harm and allowing him to live eternally.
Peonies also represent bashfulness. The exceptionally beautiful Greek nymph, Paeonia, caught the eye of Apollo, who was enthralled by her splendour. While they flirted, Paeonia saw Aphrodite watching them, causing the nymph to blush bashfully. Angered, Aphrodite transformed her partner’s love interest into a peony.
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Thriving in sunny areas and releasing sweet and rosy notes, so many unerringly associate the delicate bloom with gentility and soft romance. Peonies add a touch of elegance to any room or garden, offering a bouquet of grace to anyone who has the pleasure of admiring their opulent petals.
TEXT BY FATIMA RIZZO