The History of Peonies

Peonies are native to Asia, Europe, and western North America. Peonies were first bred in the imperial courts of China during the Tang Dynasty in the 7th century BCE. At one point in history, the blooms were even considered the national flower of China. Peonies spread to Japan in the early 11th century and then to England and France in the 18th century. The flowers began to gain popularity in the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Peonies got their name from Greek mythology; specifically, they are named for Paeon (Paean), who was a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. In one version of the story, Paeon, the healer of the gods, used a peony to treat Zeus’ wound. Another version holds that after Asclepius became murderously jealous Paeon, Zeus saved him by turning him into a peony flower. There are over 6,500 varieties of peonies in the world today and the blooms are particularly popular for weddings. Most cut peonies are produced in the Netherlands, but Alaska is an up-and-coming source of peonies due to the longer, colder growing season the area provides. Peonies are also the state flower of Indiana and are often grown in yards because they are both beautiful and long-lived. Today, peonies are among the most popular flowers in the world.