Peony, known as the "King of Flowers," has been praised by scholars and poets since ancient times. Its magnificent blooms and colorful diversity make it one of China's traditional famous flowers. What kind of plant does peony belong to? This article will reveal this mystery for you.
Peony's Plant ClassificationPeony, scientific name Paeonia suffruticosa, belongs to the Paeoniaceae (芍药科) family and the Paeonia (芍药属) genus. Paeoniaceae is an ancient plant family, whose members are mainly distributed in China, Japan, the Korean Peninsula, the Far East of Russia, and other places. Paeonia genus plants are diverse, including peony, tree peony, and grass peony, etc.
Peony is the most famous one in the Paeonia genus, with extremely high ornamental value. In plant taxonomy, peony is a deciduous shrub with large and beautiful flowers. The petals are layered and rich in color, including red, pink, white, yellow, and other colors.
Peony's Morphological CharacteristicsPeony plants are tall, with erect stems and alternate leaves that are odd-pinnate compound leaves. The flowers are solitary at the top of the branches, with a diameter of generally 10-30 centimeters. Peony petals are mostly double-layered, with wavy or wrinkled edges. The pistils are usually yellow, and the blooming period is generally from April to May, which is the season of warm spring and blooming flowers.
Peony's Ecological HabitsPeony prefers a warm and humid climate, is cold and drought resistant, and not picky about soil, but it thrives best in well-drained, fertile, and loose sandy soil. During growth, peony requires plenty of sunlight.
Peony's Cultural ValuePeony has a long history in China and is known as the "National Color and Fragrance." It symbolizes wealth, prosperity, and auspiciousness and is a traditional famous flower of the Chinese nation. Peony is widely used in Chinese folk art, garden construction, clothing, and other fields.
Peony's Medicinal ValuePeony not only has ornamental value but also medicinal value. The flowers, roots, and leaves of peony can all be used as medicine. They have the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and relieve pain. In clinical Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), peony is commonly used to treat falls and injuries, blood stasis pain, irregular menstruation, and other diseases.
Peony, as a traditional famous flower in China, not only has extremely high ornamental value but also contains rich cultural connotation and medicinal value. Understanding the plant classification, morphological characteristics, ecological habits, etc., of peony helps us better appreciate and inherit this beautiful flower.
References:
[1] Zhang Zhiwei, Yang Hongxia. Peony Cultivation Techniques [M]. Beijing: China Agricultural Press, 2010.
[2] Wang Yongli, Liu Yonggang. Biological Characteristics and Cultivation Techniques of Peony [J]. China Flower and Horticulture, 2015 (6): 26-28.
[3] China Peony and芍药 Association. Development Report on China's Peony and芍药 Industry [R]. Beijing: China Peony and芍药 Association, 2019.