Facts about Peonies

1. 06

   Peonies require a period of sustained cold temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 12-16 weeks to initiate flowering, a physiological requirement called vernalization that prevents blooming in warm climates.

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2. 05

   Double-flowered peonies, which can contain 100 or more petals, were so prized in Victorian England during the 1800s that single specimens sold for prices equivalent to luxury carriages.

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3. 04

   Peony roots can penetrate soil to depths of 3 feet or more, allowing these plants to access water reserves deep underground during droughts.

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4. 03

   Ancient Chinese emperors valued peonies so highly that during the Tang Dynasty they established imperial peony gardens containing over 6,000 cultivated varieties.

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5. 02

   The largest peony flower on record measured 10 inches in diameter, grown in Japan during the 1990s as part of competitive cultivar breeding programs.

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6. 01

   Certain peony varieties can live for over 100 years, with some documented specimens in China surviving for more than 300 years.

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