Is Peony the National Flower?
Every year, at the end of spring, the magnificent bloom of peonies always attracts national attention. This flower, which carries the aesthetics of thousand-year-old oriental culture, is always closely connected with national cultural memory. When people stop to admire it, they can't help but wonder: Has the peony been established as the national flower? And which city has an inseparable bond with it?
Controversy Over Peony as the National Flower
The Past and Present of a Millennium Candidate
Since the concept of national flower was first proposed in 1903 during the Qing Dynasty, the debate between peony and plum blossom has lasted for a hundred years. As one of the oldest ornamental flowers, archaeological discoveries confirm that peonies were cultivated as early as the Western Zhou Dynasty. In various national flower elections, peonies led with 62.7% public support, and their auspicious meaning of 'riches and honor in full bloom' and the cultural memory of the flourishing Tang Dynasty make it the most recognizable candidate.
Modern Standards for Establishing a National Flower
Contemporary national flower elections need to meet three core indicators: a history of inheritance of over a thousand years, cultural symbolism covering both north and south regions, and ecological adaptability across major climatic zones. Although peonies are widely cultivated in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, their adaptability in the Lingnan region still needs to be improved, which has become a key factor in its official coronation.
The Cultural Code of Luoyang Peony
The Flower Affairs Heritage of a Thirteen-Dynasty Ancient Capital
Since Emperor Yang of Sui built Xiyuan and planted peonies extensively, Luoyang and peonies have begun a millennium of affection. After establishing the city flower in 1982, the city has built a complete peony industry chain: a 32,000-mu planting base covers 9 color systems and over 1,200 varieties, with an annual output value exceeding 3 billion yuan. Through the combination of light-controlled greenhouses and open-field cultivation, it achieves a full-year (G-Y) system from the Spring Festival to the National Day.
Modern Technology Empowering Traditional Flowers
The Luoyang Academy of Agricultural Sciences has cultivated a new variety, 'Galaxy Jade Crown', capable of surviving at -15°C through space breeding technology. The peony seed oil extracted from the petals is rich in alpha-linolenic acid, and its antioxidant properties boost the beauty industry. The intelligent greenhouse uses an Internet of Things system to accurately control temperature and humidity, keeping the blooming error within ±2 days.
A Botanical Guide to Peonies
The Survival Wisdom of aWoody Flower
The peony plant stores nutrients in its woody stems, and its growth rhythm of 'spring growth and autumn storage' is quite distinctive. The waxy layer on the leaf surface reduces water evaporation, and the compound leaf structure enhances photosynthetic efficiency. The flesh root system, reaching 1.5 meters deep, endows it with drought and cold resistance.
The Chemical Code for Flower Color Formation
The pH value change in the cell sap of the petals creates a color miracle: anthocyanins show red in acidic conditions, purple in neutral, and blue in alkaline environments. Yellow varieties contain unique chalcone pigments, and color-changing 'Rainbow Feather Robe' new strains have been cultivated through gene editing technology.
From royal gardens to ordinary courtyard, peonies witness the changes in Chinese aesthetic tastes. When we see peony reliefs integrated with subway stations on the streets of Luoyang, or encounter the intertwining patterns on Tang Dynasty gold and silver wares in museums, we understand that this flower has gone beyond its botanical significance, becoming a spiritual totem flowing in the cultural bloodstream.