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By Kymberly Taylor
Spring River Flowers Moon Night
The river is smooth and calm this evening,
The peony flowers bloom.
The moon floats on the current.
The tide carries the stars.
— Qian Qi (Tang Dynasty [618–907])
In the dark grey days of January, just thinking about the cloud-like blossoms of the peony Paeonia lactiflora brings light. Native to China since at least 1,000 B.C., the luscious peony has often appeared in traditional art and poetry. Grown in the gardens of the Sui and Tang emperors, the peony was called “The King of Flowers,” a symbol of status, nobility, and feminine beauty.
Not many people in America know that its roots are as powerful as its beauty. Over 3,000 years ago, the Chinese first cultivated the peony as an herb, using its roots to detoxify the liver, improve gut health, and reduce inflammation. Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine believe that powerful chemical compounds in the peony root help balance the body’s yin and qi energies.
The peony’s elegance and healing powers are legendary, but what about the ants that often traverse its tightly furled buds? When I lived in Indiana, I watched hundreds swarm across their surfaces—with a touch of horror! Little did I know that small wars were taking place on the peony’s pastel fields. Peonies have nectaries on their sepals, which are the green, leaf-like structures that cover the flower bud. As buds swell, the sepals become coated in nectar, which attracts ants and other insects. Ants, however, claim the peony for their own, stationing guards to repel predators swooping in for a snack. The ants attack by stinging, biting, or spraying invaders with formic acid and tossing them off the plant, according to the University of Missouri’s Division of Integrated Pest Management.
This special relationship between peonies and ants is called biological mutualism, in which two organisms of different species benefit from the activity of one another. Once the peony flowers in late spring, ants move on to find food elsewhere. So, if you see ants on your peonies, there is no need to spray them with a pesticide or hose them off.
Luckily, peonies are very easy to grow, are disease-resistant, and do well in Maryland. ‘Gay Paree’ is one of the most floriferous peonies and the American Peony Society’s 2023 Gold Medal Award Winner; a mature plant will produce in excess of 50 flowers during the late mid-season bloom period.
If you look closely, you’ll see something enchanting: vibrant cerise pink guard petals surround a dense cluster of suffused cream petaloids. In the center, a tuft of petaloids matches the exact hues found in the guard petals.
All peonies are exceptional, though, no matter which cultivar you choose. Experience the allure and complex fragrance of The King of Flowers, kept alive by the lowly yet helpful ant. We must not forget to thank them!
1. Plant in spring in full sun in fertile, rich, well-drained soil.
2. Dig a hole about two feet in diameter and work in a little compost.
3. Plant roots with the eyes covered only one to two inches deep. If you plant too deep, the plant will come up but will not bloom well, if at all.
4. Try to plant peonies in a spot where they can live for years. Experienced gardeners note they seem to resent being moved.
Peonies date back to 1000 B.C. and were first cultivated as medicinal herbs. By the eighth century, they had reached Japan, which became a major producer of the peony. Discovered by explorers, they did not reach Europe and North America until the mid-1800s.
© Annapolis Home Magazine
Vol. 15, No. 1 2024