Peony colors come in several varieties
A detailed introduction about the number of peony colors and their meanings in green plant care experiences, let's take a look together!
Peony is known as the "king of flowers" and has been cultivated in China for thousands of years. Its flowers are rich in color and graceful in shape, making it a treasure in garden appreciation and also rich in profound cultural connotations. From a botanical perspective, peony colors are mainly divided into nine major color systems, including red, pink, white, yellow, green, purple, black, blue, and mixed colors. These colors are not only gifts of nature but are also closely connected with auspicious symbols in Chinese traditional culture.
### I. Classification and characteristics of peony colors1. Red series - Red peonies are the most widely planted variety, with representative varieties such as "Luoyang Red" and "Zhuangyuan Red". Their flower colors range from cinnabar red to garnet red, with thick petals and flower diameters that can reach over 20 centimeters. This type of peony was listed as a court treasure in the Tang Dynasty, with records in " Kaiyuan Tianbao Yishi" stating that Emperor Xuanzong had red peonies transplanted to the Chenxiang Pavilion for Yang Guifei to enjoy.2. Pink series - Varieties like "Zhao Fen" and "Fen Zhong Guan" have delicate colors like a girl's cheeks and flower shapes that are mostly lotus or crown types. Wang Xiangjin of the Ming Dynasty described pink peonies in "Qun Fang Pu" as "colors like morning glow", and due to their gentle and elegant temperament, they are often used in courtyard landscaping.3. White series - Varieties like "Xue Bie Ta" and "Bai Yu Bing" have crystal clear petals with occasional light green stains in the center. Lu You of the Song Dynasty once wrote a poem, "White clothes fear being stained by dust in the capital," using white peonies to symbolize a noble character. They have developed nectar glands and a fresh fragrance, making them a top choice for making peony flower tea.4. Yellow series - Traditional yellow peonies are mostly native varieties like "Large Flowered Yellow Peony", while modern hybrid varieties like "Jin Ge" and "Hai Huang" have brighter colors. Yellow was a royal color during the feudal period, so yellow peonies were long listed as tribute items, with records in "Qing Yi Lu" stating that the Later Shu royal family specifically established a "Peony Garden" to cultivate this color.5. Green series - Varieties like "Dou Lu" and "Lu Mu Yin Yu" display a rare blue-green color, often with purple红斑纹 at the base of the petals. Due to their unique color and late blooming period, they were called "hermits in flowers" in the Qing Dynasty's "Flower Mirror". Modern research has found that their green color comes from the abnormal retention of chlorophyll in the petals.6. Purple series - Varieties like "Wei Zi" and "Shou An Hong" have petals with a velvet sheen and are traditional expensive varieties. Ouyang Xiu of the Northern Song Dynasty recorded in "Luoyang Peony Chronicles" that the purple peonies cultivated by the Wei family had "correct colors and high charm", with a single plant worth a thousand pieces of gold.7. Black series - Actually deep purple near black varieties, such as "Guan Shi Mo Yu" and "Hei Hua Kui". Yao Sui of the Yuan Dynasty described them in "Peony Chronicles" as having "a lacquer-like luster". They require special soil pH for cultivation, and there are fewer than twenty anciently cultivated black peonies remaining.8. Blue series - There are no pure blue peonies in nature, with existing varieties like "Lan Tian Yu" and "Qing Kong" actually being light purple with a blue tinge. In 2015, Japan successfully cultivated a true blue peony through gene editing, but it has not yet been commercialized on a large scale.9. Mixed color series - Varieties like "Er Qiao" and "Dao Jin" can bloom with two colors or a single flower with gradient stripes. This trait comes from uneven distribution of anthocyanin in the petals, with the "Bo Zhou Peony History" of the Ming Dynasty recording that mixed color peonies once inspired literary figures to compete in writing poems.
### II. The cultural connotation system of peony colors1. Red: A totem of wealth and prosperity - Red peonies have represented the "national color" since the Tang Dynasty, with records in "Yang Tai Zhen 外传" stating that Emperor Xuanzong presented red peonies in a gold plate to An Lushan, symbolizing power and favor. Folk wedding decorations often use red peony patterns, symbolizing "happy and wealthy" lives, with the "Peony Phoenix Pattern" in Suzhou embroidery being a typical example.2. White: Projection of noble character - Literary figures often compare themselves to white peonies, with Bai Juyi's poem "White Peony" saying "white flowers, no one loves them", actually promoting integrity and self-restraint. White peonies are often planted in Buddhist temples, taking their "dust-free" meaning and together with lotus flowers as symbols of purity.3. Yellow: A mirror of royal authority - During the Ming and Qing dynasties, yellow peonies were forbidden for commoners to plant, as seen in the "Qianlong Emperor Admiring Peonies" painting where yellow varieties dominate the center of the image. Yellow peony roots left over from the Qing Dynasty are still preserved in the Ning Shou Palace Garden of the Forbidden City, with carbon dating showing they are over 300 years old.4. Pink: A carrier of romantic love - In "Peony Pavilion", the image of Du Liniang holding a pink peony binds the flower color with youthful love. Modern research shows that the phenylethyl alcohol emitted by pink peonies can induce pleasure, which interestingly corresponds with literary descriptions of "love that knows not where it begins".5. Purple: A symbol of knowledge and status - Officials above the third rank in ancient times wore purple, so purple peonies were called "official flowers". During the Song Dynasty科举放榜, those who passed the exam wore purple peonies, a custom recorded in detail in "Tong Kuang Meng Hua Lu".6. Black: A metaphor for mysterious power - Folk traditions in Shanxi still retain the custom of divining with black peony petals, while the "Yun Bi Qi Zhen" of Daoism regards black peonies as spiritual objects that communicate with heaven and earth. Modern botanists have found that black peonies have seven times the anthocyanin content of common varieties.
### III. Modern application value of peony colors1. Urban landscape design - The Beijing Olympic Park used nine-color peonies for zoned planting, achieving a sequential blooming of colors through flowering control. The main venue of the Hangzhou G20 Summit divided functional areas using peony color systems, with red for the welcome area and white for the meditation space.2. Cultural and creative development - The Forbidden City Cultural Creativity launched a set of "Twelve Colors of Peony" traditional pigment sets, restoring the dyeing techniques recorded in " Emperor Huizong's Peony谱". The Henan Museum used spectral analysis technology to restore the original peony colors on the tri-colored figurines from the Tang Dynasty.3. Extension of the aromatic industry - Shandong Heze established the world's first peony anthocyanin extraction base, with natural dyes from red petals valued at 800 yuan/gram. A Japanese research team isolated "peony alcohol" from white peonies, proving its whitening effect is three times that of arbutin. This color system, which combines the works of nature and the essence of humanity, has made peonies a cultural symbol that spans thousands of years. From a scientific perspective, its coloring mechanism involves the complex interaction of 23 pigments such as anthocyanins and carotenoids; from a cultural dimension, each color is a vivid carrier of the emotional code of the Chinese people. When we see the nine-color sea of flowers in the Luoyang Peony Garden, we are actually witnessing a three-dimensional spectrum of Chinese civilization.
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