AS THE KING OF FLOWERS IN CHINA, peonies are both an auspicious symbol representing wealth, honour, and prosperity and widely adored for their beauty. For centuries, peony shrubs were carefully cultivated in imperial gardens and admired inside private domestic space, where they were held in beautifully decorated vases. They also grow in North America and Europe, and they bloom in gardens across Edmonton and on the University of Alberta campus from late spring to early summer. Much like in China, peonies in Canada are treasured for their beauty and variety.

Throughout dynastic China, aristocrats and wealthy merchants appreciated the symbolism and beauty of peony blossoms. The ephemerality of peony blossoms led to a desire to preserve the fleeting beauty in paintings, textiles and other material objects. During the Qing dynasty (1644–1912), artisans capitalized on this popularity, using peony designs to adorn luxurious silk textiles used for garments and furnishings.