A History of Peony Cultivation

The peony stands among humanity’s oldest cultivated ornamental plants, with a history spanning over two millennia. Its journey from wild mountain slopes to carefully tended gardens reflects changing aesthetics, horticultural innovation, and cultural exchange across continents.

Ancient Chinese Origins

Peony cultivation began in China during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE), though the plants grew wild in the mountains of northwestern China for millennia before human intervention. Initially valued for medicinal properties rather than beauty, the roots of tree peonies (Paeonia suffruticosa) were used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various ailments.

The transformation of peonies into ornamental plants occurred during the Sui Dynasty (581-618 CE) and accelerated dramatically during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE). The imperial capital of Luoyang became the epicenter of peony cultivation, where wealthy nobles competed to grow the most spectacular blooms. The flowers became symbols of wealth, honor, and prosperity. Emperor Xuanzong’s famous concubine Yang Guifei was particularly associated with peonies, cementing their status as symbols of feminine beauty and refinement.

By the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE), peony cultivation had become highly sophisticated. Gardeners developed numerous cultivars through careful selection, with records describing hundreds of distinct varieties. The scholar Ouyang Xiu wrote detailed treatises on peony cultivation, documenting growing techniques, variety characteristics, and classification systems. Peonies were grown not only in palace gardens but also in temples and private estates throughout China.

Herbaceous Peonies in Europe

While tree peonies dominated Chinese horticulture, herbaceous peonies (Paeonia lactiflora and related species) had their own ancient history in Europe and the Mediterranean. The ancient Greeks and Romans knew peonies primarily as medicinal plants, named after Paeon, physician to the gods in Greek mythology. Pliny the Elder and Dioscorides documented their therapeutic uses in the first century CE.

During the medieval period, European peonies were cultivated in monastery gardens primarily for their medicinal value. The common red peony grew in physic gardens across Europe, though it received little attention as an ornamental plant. This would change dramatically in the centuries to come.

The Age of Exchange

The 18th and 19th centuries marked a revolutionary period for peony cultivation as East met West. European plant hunters began introducing Chinese tree peonies to Western gardens. Sir Joseph Banks brought the first tree peony to England in 1787, though it died shortly after arrival. More successful introductions followed in the early 1800s, and European gardeners marveled at the enormous, elaborately formed flowers so different from their native herbaceous species.

Simultaneously, Chinese herbaceous peonies (Paeonia lactiflora) reached Europe, offering superior flowers to native European species. These Chinese varieties featured larger blooms, more petals, and a wider color range. European nurserymen recognized their potential and began hybridization programs.

The most significant breakthrough came in France during the 1850s. Victor Lemoine and other French hybridizers crossed Chinese herbaceous peonies with European species, creating an entirely new generation of garden peonies. These hybrids combined the best qualities of both lineages: hardiness, vigorous growth, and spectacular double flowers in shades of white, pink, and red.

Japanese Refinement

Japan developed its own distinct peony tradition after receiving both herbaceous and tree peonies from China around the 8th century. Japanese growers initially followed Chinese aesthetic preferences but gradually developed their own style emphasizing simplicity and natural form. Rather than the elaborate double flowers prized in China, Japanese cultivators often preferred single and semi-double blooms that revealed the flowers’ centers.

Japanese tree peony cultivation reached sophisticated heights during the Edo period (1603-1868). Growers in regions like Shimane Prefecture became famous for particular varieties, and peony viewing became a refined cultural activity similar to cherry blossom appreciation. When Japan opened to Western trade in the mid-19th century, Japanese peony varieties flowed to Europe and America, adding new genetic diversity to Western breeding programs.

American Innovation

Peony cultivation in North America began modestly in colonial gardens but exploded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The American Peony Society, founded in 1903, promoted the flower’s cultivation and established standards for registration and judging.

American breeders made remarkable contributions to peony development. Professor A.P. Saunders at Hamilton College conducted groundbreaking work in interspecific hybridization during the 1930s-1950s, crossing different peony species to create entirely new forms. His work opened possibilities for coral, yellow, and orange tones previously unavailable in garden peonies. Other notable American breeders like Lyman Glasscock, William Krekler, and Don Hollingsworth continued expanding the peony palette and form throughout the 20th century.

The Midwest, particularly Illinois, Indiana, and Kansas, became centers of American peony breeding. The climate suited peonies perfectly, and commercial growers established nurseries that shipped plants nationwide and internationally.

Modern Developments

Contemporary peony cultivation reflects global collaboration and scientific advancement. Modern breeders use chromosome manipulation, embryo rescue, and other techniques to achieve crosses impossible through traditional methods. The development of intersectional or Itoh peonies in the 1960s-1990s exemplifies this innovation. These hybrids between herbaceous and tree peonies combine tree peony flower forms and colors with herbaceous peony growth habits.

Chinese growers have reclaimed prominence in commercial peony production, particularly for cut flowers. The city of Luoyang, after its ancient glory, has reinvented itself as a modern peony capital with vast growing fields and an annual peony festival attracting millions of visitors. Chinese breeders continue developing new varieties, often emphasizing characteristics valued in Asian markets.

Research into peony genetics, biochemistry, and cultivation techniques continues at universities and botanical gardens worldwide. Scientists study everything from optimal growing conditions to the genetic basis of flower color, advancing both ornamental cultivation and potential pharmaceutical applications.

Cultural Persistence

Throughout this long history, peonies have maintained their cultural significance. In China, they remain the “king of flowers,” symbols of prosperity and good fortune. Western gardeners treasure them as quintessential cottage garden plants and memorial flowers often planted in cemeteries for their longevity and returning beauty.

The peony’s cultivation history demonstrates humanity’s enduring desire to capture and enhance natural beauty. From Tang Dynasty palace gardens to suburban American yards, these remarkable plants have inspired devotion, sparked innovation, and connected cultures across vast distances and centuries. Today’s gardeners who plant peonies participate in a tradition stretching back over two thousand years, cultivating living links to ancient aesthetics and horticultural wisdom.