Peonies

Basic Info

The peony is a plowering plant in the family Paeonia that produces vibrant, but short-lived flowers. They are native to Europe, Asia, and the western Uniteds States.

This plant is known mostly for its use as an ornamental plant. Peonies are especially important in many Eastern cultures, having been used in medicines, and depicted heavily in antique Chinese art.

Importance to Family

For my family, and my father especially, it is a marvel to see those flowers bloom in late spring. There's only a 7-10 day window when they bloom, but we view them as some of the most beautiful flowers in our garden during that period. 

Importance in art and culture

This plant is known mostly for its use as an ornamental plant. Peonies are especially important in many Eastern cultures, having been used in medicines, and depicted heavily in antique Chinese art. Even the peony's name comes from Paeon, was a disciple of the Greek god of medicine, Ascleplus.

Varieties

Peonies come in many varieties. The ones important to many parts of chinese culture and art is the suffruticosa cultivar. Many, many other varieties have also been cultivated across the globe. The one that is seen in my family fotos are likely the "Sarah Bernhardt" variety grown in the Netherlands.

“Peony.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 Nov. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peony#Cultivars. Accessed 19 Dec. 2024.