Peony – Paeonia
Symbolism: Peonies generally symbolize love, honour, happiness, wealth, romance, and beauty. Different colours can have other meanings:
- White: shyness, and apology
- Red: passion and love
- Yellow: new beginnings and fresh starts
Description: Peonies have large, glossy, much-divided leaves and produce large single and double flowers in various colours, including white, pink, yellow, red, burgundy, rose, salmon, and maroon. Their round and full flowers feature a dense cluster of small, ruffled petals reaching outward.
Named after: The peony is named after Paeon (also spelled Paean), a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. According to one version of the story, Paeon, the healer of the gods, used a peony to treat a wound for Zeus. When Asclepius became jealous of his pupil, Zeus saved Paeon by turning him into a peony flower.
Latin/Scientific name: Paeonia
Native to: North America, Europe, and Asia
Flowering period: Late spring and early summer
Vase life: 5 days
Popular use in floral arrangements or bouquets: Peonies are elegant and long-lasting, making them perfect as a romantic focal point in arrangements and bouquets. They also mix well with other flowers with a soft, romantic look.
When in stock in our shops: May and June. You can sign up for our Peony alert email, and we'll let you know as soon as we receive our first bunch of these timeless beauties in our stores.