peony (redirected from peonies)

peony (pē`ənē), any plant of the genus Paeonia of the family Ranunculaceae (buttercup family, although placed in the order Dilleniales as a separate family, the Paeoniaceae, by many modern botanists), mostly Eurasian species popular as garden and florists' flowers. Herbaceous peonies (most varieties of P. lactiflora)—formerly and still sometimes called piney—are hardy, bushy perennials that die back each year. The large, usually spring-blooming, single or double flowers commonly range in shades from red to white. Tree peonies (P. suffruticosa) have a somewhat woody, persistent base and are usually taller than the herbaceous, with more abundant and larger blossoms; they often are very long-lived but are less common in cultivation. Both kinds of peony have long been venerated in their native China and Japan. The peony was formerly regarded as both ornamental and medicinal—the roots were used to prevent convulsions. P. brownii is a species of small peony, not horticulturally important, that is native to the West Coast of North America. Peony is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Ranunculales, family Ranunculaceae.

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peony

Any of about 33 species of flowering plants in the genus Paeonia, sole genus of the family Paenoiaceae, found in Europe, Asia, and western North America and known for their large, showy blossoms. Herbaceous peonies are perennials that grow to about 3 ft (1 m). Their annual stems bear large, glossy, much-divided leaves and produce large single and double flowers of white, pink, rose, and deep crimson. Tree peonies are shrubs about 4–6 ft (1.2–1.8 m) high with permanent rootstocks and woody stems that bear flowers varying in colour from white to lilac, violet, and red.

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peony, paeony

1. any of various ranunculaceous shrubs and plants of the genus Paeonia, of Eurasia and North America, having large pink, red, white, or yellow flowers

2. the flower of any of these plants

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peony

of Indiana. [Flower Symbolism: Golenpaul, 631]

See : Flower, State

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peony

symbol of shyness and timidity. [Flower Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 176]

See : Timidity