The Peony flower is a favourite for many, either for its fluffy petals, its gorgeous scent, or its charming colour. If you’d like to learn more about these elegant springtime blooms, we’ve gathered everything you need to know about Peonies, from their origin, the Peony’s flower meaning, symbolism, and more.
PEONY FLOWER COLOURS, MEANING & GIFTING OCCASION
White Peony Meaning
- Shame
- Shyness
- Bashfulness
When To Gift White Peony
- As an apology
Pink Peony Meaning
- Good luck
- Prosperity
- Love at first sight
When To Gift Pink Peony
- Valentine’s Day
- Weddings andanniversaries
Yellow Peony Meaning
- New beginnings
When To Gift Yellow Peony
- Chinese New Year
- New Year
- Housewarmings
Red Peony Meaning
- Love and romance
- Respect
- Honour
When To Gift Red Peony
IMPORTANT GIFTING NOTES FOR PEONY
Peony For Gifting: Do's
- Not all Peonies have a scent! Some varieties are known to have that signature Peony aroma, while other varieties do not have a fragrance. The Japanese and Double Flowering are among the best for those with raging allergies!
- Graceful, sophisticated, and elegant, Peonies encapsulate the 12th anniversary perfectly, the perfect gift for your parents and/or close friends.
Peony For Gifting: Don'ts
- The roots, flowers, and seeds of Peonies are toxic. If ingested, it may cause nausea, diarrhea, skin irritation, tremors, or an accelerated heartbeat. Keep out of reach of children and pets!
- Gifting an odd number of blooms is considered bad luck.
PEONY FLOWER CARE 101
Basic Care Steps For Cut Peony
- Before placing your Peonies in the vase, trim off 3 to 5cm off each flower stem diagonally. Make sure to remove any leaves that may fall below the waterline of your vase as well, as leaves in water may breed bacteria.
- Make sure your vase is sparkling clean before filling it with lukewarm water for your Peonies to drink up.
- Need more tips? Read our Flower Care Guide!
Additional Pro-Tips for Peony Flower Care
- An unbloomed Peony bulb is usually the size of a golf ball, and can open and bloom up to three times in size. Don’t fret if your Peonies arrive as small bulbs, they will bloom within a few days!
- Peonies are quite high maintenance. When it comes to picking out the perfect spot for them, keep them out of the direct sunlight to prevent them from wilting!
PEONY: A HISTORY
According to Greek mythology, Paeon (the physician to the gods) extracted a milky liquid from a Peony root and cured Plato. Although this may seem like an achievement worth celebrating, Paeon’s teacher was instead jealous of Paeon potentially outsmarting him. He subsequently threatened to kill Paeon, and Zeus ended up saving Paeon by turning him into the beautiful Peony flower.
The other origin story of the Peony name goes back to another Greek myth. In this story, Apollo was caught flirting with a beautiful nymph named Paeonia, behind Aphrodite’s back. This led Aphrodite to be upset and he subsequently turned Paeonia into a Peony flower.
PEONY VARIETIES
Full-Double Peonies
- Layered petals
- No centre
- Comes in a variety of colours
Japanese Peonies
- Layered petals
- Large centre
- Comes in a variety of colours
Single Peonies
- Single row of petals
- Wide centre
- Comes in a variety of colours
