It’s Paeony Season!

What does that mean for those of us in Auckland, a short window of time to get out and buy or order online your beautiful Paeony flowers from Monday 9 oct we can't wait so you guy our range 

They are generally available from Mid-October to Late December and then they’re gone for another year.

 Buying Paeonies in tight bud is a good practice, you then have the pleasure of watching and enjoying the bloom opening, some varieties reaching 10 inches across, they will amaze fascinate, and intrigue you.

Some interesting facts and information about Paeony

If you love lots of petals and fragrances, peonies are the flower for you. Peony flowers carry a rich history of meaning, medicinal use, and myth, unfortunately, we peony lovers in Auckland can’t grow them very successfully in our gardens as they need the true cold of winter to keep them at their best.

Peonies represent romance and love and are considered a good omen for a happy marriage. They're also the traditional flower for the 12th wedding anniversary. Lucky for those married in The Paeony Season.

In China and Japan, they stand for strong and positive virtues, such as bravery, honour, respect, nobility, good fortune, and prosperity.

The peony is named after Paeon (also spelled Paean), who was a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. One version of the story goes that Paeon, known as the healer of the gods, used a peony to treat a wound for Zeus. When Asclepius became murderously jealous of his pupil, Zeus saved Paeon by turning him into a peony flower.

  Peonies have been around for a long time being native to Asia, Europe, and Western North America.

 Early in Chinese history, the peony was considered the national flower (although it's now officially the plum blossom). The Tang Dynasty of China began breeding peonies in the imperial courts in the 7th century BCE.

Their popularity spread to Japan in the early 11th century and to France and England in the 18th century.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, they began taking off in popularity in the U.S. The peony is the state flower of Indiana, receiving this honour in 1957.

Studies have shown that peony plants have immune-system and mood-boosting properties, and can be used to effectively treat inflammation, blood clots, and general pain. In fact, the roots and seeds of peonies have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to treat headaches, asthma, convulsions, liver disease, and several more ailments. Peonies also have been used in European herbal medicine as a remedy for bladder and kidney problems.

 Be a little careful, they look good enough to eat BUT peonies can cause gastrointestinal upset for both people and animals, such as cats and dogs, if consumed in large amounts, so don’t let your cat or dog chew the stems or roots, and probably don’t try your own homemade concoction.

Various varieties become available throughout the season so ring our store for more Paeony information on 09 8186556, we’ll be happy to help.