Peonies are extremely popular flowers, they can be seen almost on every second cottage site. The reason for such popularity is simple – these flowers are rather unpretentious in leaving, and at the same time they are very beautiful. Growing in lush bushes, they are able to decorate any garden, and the variety of species of peonies, which, by the way, grow well in our climate, makes them even more in demand.
Peony was named in honor of the hero of ancient traditions – the doctor Pean, who saved the gods from wounds received on the battlefield.
Peonies interested people over 2 thousand years ago. It is known that in China these flowers were in high esteem even before 200 BC.
Peonies “evading” and “medicinal” are used in medicine for the preparation of soothing infusions. Interestingly, up to the beginning of the XIX century peonies in general were used only as medicinal plants.
In the United States, the Association of Pioneers recently began to award prizes for the best peony for landscape design, that is, a competent jury assesses not only the beauty and quality of the flower, but also the ability to decorate the landscape.
Scientists formally allocate almost 4,5 thousand varieties of herbaceous peonies and over 500 varieties of tree-like pions.
According to the popular American proverb, nothing can please a woman so much as a bouquet of fresh peonies.
The diameter of the flowers of some varieties of pions is up to 25 centimeters.
Peony is considered a state flower in China and India. In addition, the peony is a symbol of the American state of Indiana.
A bouquet of peonies is accepted for the twelfth anniversary of the wedding.
Peonies are gaining popularity as flowers for wedding bouquets and decorating the venue of the ceremony, as they symbolize luck and a strong, happy marriage.
Peonies are long-living flowers that can decorate a flowerbed in the garden for almost a hundred years.
Nature and breeders created peonies of all possible colors and shades, except blue.
The famous traveler and discoverer Marco Polo called the peonies “roses, big, like cabbages”.
In the past, healers recommended peonies as a cure for headaches and asthma.
In their love for pions, Hollywood stars such as Hillary Duff, Gwyneth Paltrow and Drew Barrymore have repeatedly been recognized.
Biologists believe that peonies first appeared in Asia.
Peony is the only genus of the Pion family.
Experts in feng shui claim that peonies have magical powers.
In Europe, peonies came only in the VI century – these plants were used as a cure for epilepsy.
In the past, the Greeks considered peonies able to heal up to several dozen diseases, so for these flowers a place was necessarily allocated in the garden of any monastery.
Petals of the peony remain fresh for up to three weeks.
Peonies were brought to Russia by Emperor Peter I.
One peony bush can give from 50 to 100 buds, turning the garden into a beautiful flower garden. Such fertility can boast only a few flowering plants on the planet.
Some varieties of peonies in the past used as a seasoning for food.
Peony roots used to be often used as talismans, endowed with the ability to bring good luck.
In ancient China, the emperor Huansong, being a passionate admirer of gardening, introduced special positions of ministers of flowers. In particular, a young Chinese girl with a rabbit fur brush should look after the peonies, which should regularly clean the petals of flowers from dust.
