12 Surprising Facts about Peonies. Anyone Loving These Flowers Should Definitely Know Them!

Peonies are already in bloom. If you grow them in your garden, you can enjoy their wonderful appearance and amazing smell. For everyone who loves the flowers as much as we do, we have collected a few interesting facts concerning this plant.

#1 Peony is the only species in the peony family. There are 35 varieties of it all over the world

#2 When Marco Polo came across them, he said they were ‘roses the size of a cabbage’

#3 Their natural habitat is Asia Minor, south-west Europe and a part of North America

#4 It was the Chinese who farmed the most wonderful varieties of peonies. They began to grow these flowers 1,500 years ago

#5 The nectar of peonies attracts ants

#6 Peonies come in a variety of colors. Only recently has the blue one been added to this amazing collection

#7 Depending on the geographical location, peonies can live up to 100 years

#8 The Coral Charm Peony flowers fade as they wither and change their color from coral-pink to beige

#9 In Middle Ages peony was shown as a rose without thorns. It was regarded as the symbol of Holy Mary – that is why it was also referred to as blessed rose or Pentecost rose. This is because the flowers bloom in May, which is often associated as the month of Holy Virgin

#10 Peonies are a symbol of happiness, harmony and faithfulness in marriage. That is why many brides want to have their wedding bouquets made of these flowers

#11 While in many countries it is rose that is considered to be the queen of flowers, in China or Indiana (USA) it is peony

#12 Peony was believed to cure asthma, epilepsy and headaches. In fact one variety of peony has got some healing properties, including diuretic, tranquilizing and antispasmodics