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Peony
Picture Source:California Cut Flower Commission
Popular Name:
Peony
Botanical Name and Pronunciation:
Paeonia lactiflora and Paeonia spp. (pay-OWN-ee-a lac-ti-FLOR-a)
Common Name(s):
Paeonia
Color(s):
white, pink, red, rose, salmon, maroon
Form and Size:
The leafy stems of peony are 18 – 24 inches long. There is one flower per stem with a 2 – 5 inch diameter and many petals.
Vase Life:
5 – 7 days, sometimes longer
Availability:
late-spring – early-summer
Care Instructions:
Remove any leaves at the bottom of the stem, cut under water and place in fresh water with flower food.
History and Usage:
A member of the Paeoniaceae (peony) family, peony originated in Asia. Part of its botanical name, Paeonia, is named after Paeon, the physician to the Greek gods before Apollo’s time. The myth says that Asclepias, the healing god, became very jealous of Paeon because he had the healing root. In order to save him, Zeus turned Paeon into the plant we now call the peony.
Points of Interest:
The peony is the only member of the Paeoniaceae family. It has no close relatives, though at one time it was thought to be a member of the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family.
