Peonies are popular Mother's Day flowers

In China, the peony is known as the «queen of flowers» due to its great beauty. It stands for spring and the approaching summer and, with its lush petals, is a symbol of fertility. In Chinese paintings, it also symbolizes peace. At the end of the Qing dynasty, the peony was even named China's national flower.

The peony is also the symbol of the city of Luoyang, as it has been cultivated there for more than a thousand years. Every year from April 10 to May 10, you can marvel at countless peonies at the Peony Festival. The most beautiful peonies from 700 different species can be admired in parks, squares and even on the streets during this time. Every year, the festival attracts almost 44 million visitors who combine their tour of Luoyang with the enjoyment of the fragrant flowers.

There is a legend surrounding the peonies of Luoyang. It is said that during a cold winter, the Chinese Empress Wu Zetian demanded that the flowers in her garden bloom during the night so that she could admire them when she woke up. The next morning, all the flowers had complied with her order ... except the peonies. They had decided to wait for spring. Enraged, the empress banished all the peonies in the country to the city of Luoyang, where they finally blossomed proudly in spring, creating a beautiful sea of flowers. Since then, Luoyang has been the capital of the peony and organizes the festival dedicated to it every year.

Peonies stand for strength of character, happiness, and a long marriage. But there are also some surprising facts. Examples:

• Do not be disappointed if the peonies only have golf ball-sized flowers on delivery. They will be up to three times larger when they bloom.
• If you want the buds to open quickly, simply place them in a sunny, warm room. If, on the other hand, you want to prolong the vase life of peonies, place them in a cool place - especially at night - and avoid direct sunlight. Also shorten the stems daily and change the water.
• Peony plants can last for decades.

And another thing: one peony flower produces 3.6 million pollen, a record among flowering plants.

You can find more exciting topics about peonies HERE .