Peonies: History, Types & Growing These Heirloom Perennials

Cultivated 1,500–4,000 years in the Far East, peonies carry rich symbolism: prosperity (Japan), "most beautiful" (China). Greek myth links them to physician Paeon. By 77 AD, Pliny documented 20 medicinal uses. Charlemagne called them "friend of physicians, praise of cooks." Shakespeare referenced them in The Taming of the Shrew (1603).

Garden vs. Tree Peonies

• Garden peonies (Paeonia lactiflora or P. officinalis) – 20–36″, single/semi-double/double/Japanese/anemone blooms in spring.
• Tree peonies (P. suffruticosa) – Shrub-like, many flowers on woody stems.

Growing Success

Cool climates, full sun (southern cultivars exist). Plant fall before first freeze. Well-drained soil, pH 6.0–7.0, amended with compost or rotted manure. Space 3–4 ft. Planting depth critical—too deep prevents blooming. Fertilize spring only after 2–3″ growth or post-bloom.

Low-maintenance, long-lived, spectacular—peonies reward patience with decades of blooms.