The 31st annual Peony Festival opened in Luoyang on April 1st 2013. This ancient city, located in the center of Henan province, about 500 miles southwest of Beijing, served as the capital of China during many dynasties. At Cricket Hill Garden, we have imported some of our tree peony stock from Luoyang since the late 1980s, and have benefited enormously from the willingness of growers there to share their expertise in the cultivation of these spectacular plants. We hear from our friends there that the weather has cooperated this year and that the natural bloom of peonies in the field will be from April 10th to 25th. In 1999, 2000, 2005 and 2008 we were extremely fortunate to be able to see the tree peonies in full bloom in Luoyang. We hope that you will enjoy the pictures of our trips there and that it serves as a tantalizing preview of the peony bloom to come closer to home.
Though this year only marks the 31st anniversary of the modern Peony Festival in Luoyang, tree peonies have been grown there for over 1400 years. Tradition tells us that peonies first arrived in Luoyang in the Tang Dynasty during the reign of Empress Wu (690-705 CE). Remembered even today as a mercurial ruler, she is said to have ordered all of the flowers to bloom for her birthday. The tree peonies alone disobeyed her edict, and for that offense were banished from the splendors of the Imperial Gardens in capital Chang’an (modern Xian). As punishment, the tree peonies were exiled to Luoyang. There, in continued defiance of the imperial will, they flourished. Improved breeding and cultivation techniques over hundreds of years led to the development of hybrids in the multitude of colors and shapes that are still grown today.
In the Song Dynasty, about a hundred and fifty years after Empress Wu banished the tree peonies to Luoyang, the scholar and official Ouyang Xiu wrote a treatise on the unsurpassed beauty of the peonies there. His Tree Peonies of Luoyang deals extensively with the methods of cultivation of the merits of named cultivars grown there.
Ouyang writes that “in the spring all the residents of [Luoyang], whether high-ranking or lowly, wear them in their hair. Even laborers carrying things through the street on poles do this. When the flowers first blossom, gentlemen and commoners alike rush to go view them.” We easily recognize this infatuation with the flowers. Each spring, the peonies cast this irresistible allure on all who behold them.
Ouyang Xiu describes in his treatise Luoyang as a city in the grips of peony mania, where intoxicated residents were willing to pay exorbitant prices for highly prized cultivars. Today tree peonies are still known in Luoyang as ‘bai liang jin’ or ‘one hundred ounces of gold,’ the price for the most sought after varieties during the height of the peony mania of the Tang dynasty. Unwitting out-of-towners, unfamiliar with peony growing, but also under their spell of their blossoms, paid enormous sums of money for dead plants which had their roots boiled. This was done to ensure that Luoyang would continue to have a monopoly on the beauty of these flowers.
The people of Luoyang no longer so jealously guard their peonies, which are rightly, still held in such high regard. Many of the classic varieties of Chinese tree peonies originate from Luoyang. Perhaps most famous is ‘Luoyang Red’, one of our all time favorite varieties. Today, the main boulevard of downtown Luoyang is planted with spectacular specimens of ‘Luoyang Red’. We take great pride in the fact it also flourishes in our garden as well as in those of hundreds of our customers in America.
Over the next few weeks as the tree peony bloom begins in China, we will be posting new pictures of various gardens and sites of peony cultivation there, so be sure to check back soon.
Thank u 4 the info on Luoyang. I am an American living in Wuhan, Hubei, China & I consider the tree peony the ’emperor’ of all flowers. I will definitely b making the trip 2 Luoyang, after receiving your email. I will b here 3 yrs, but I look forward to planting your ‘mu dan’ when I return 2 the USA. BTW, great photos & captions from the Luoyang Gardens.
Thank you for the gorgeous pictures. It inspires me to grow bigger and better blooms
The personal help and information given by the Furmans has been invaluable in making good decisions as a new avid peony grower in South Carolina.
It’s an exciting, successful adventure when guided by Cricket Hill.
To visit their gardens is a MUST this spring.
Oh, yes1 THEIR ROOTS ARE ALWAYS VERY HARDY AND VERY GENEROUS.
They are a unique company in their offerings!!!
I am an avid gardenerand have just recently trying my hand with tree peonies. This is my second year and they are just babies. Can’t wait to see them fully grown. I am 87 years old. Do you think I will make it?
Of course you will! You can expect most varieties to bloom by their 4th or 5th year. I would recommend that you fertilize well to maximize growth.
I have a beautiful Peony garden in Connecticut, but have recently moved to Shanghai, China, so I will start another Peony garden here too!
Sounds great, more peonies make the world a better and more beautiful place!
i am new into gardening,,,,but i some how new i had to have peonies to make my garden complete,,,love the pictures,,,
Thanks for keeping me on our mailing list. I am just starting gardening in Bishop, eastern CA, and since I lived for 60+ years near LA, this is all new to me here and the high desert climate is a BIG challenge. I’m going to try peonies – I’ve seen some herbaceous types growing here – do you think tree peonies might make it too? We are officially zone 8, zone 11 Sunset Gardening guide, and our climate is very dry. Any suggestions? Thanks so much. I really love your site. Makes my day to look at the pictures of these beautiful flowers.
You should do well with both tree and herbaceous peonies in your climate. Planting season would be best around late October or whenever it cools down.
I live 30 min north of Washington, DC. The 4 different tree peonies (Kao, pink, light pink & white) I got from you are thriving in my yard, their blooms are gorgeous. Also kudos to you for replacing without charge the one who did not survive the first year! Now I am anxious to add the LuoYang Reds. Please reserve one for me.