Peony Varieties in Luoyang

The peony varieties in Luoyang include Zhao Pink, Wei Purple, Yao Yellow, Luoyang Red, Royal Yellow and Bean Green.

1. Zhao Pink

Cultivated by Zhao Mengjian, the owner of Sangli Garden, a peony family in Caozhou in the Qing Dynasty, the peony is named after the pink color of its flowers. It is the youngest of the four famous varieties with various flower shapes, strong plant growth, large flower volume, and pleasant fragrance, and in 2002, the city of Luoyang organized a costume Yu opera "Peony Soul", which directly took "Zhao Pink" as the name of the main character, eulogizing the peony's "wealth and honor are not to be lusted after; poverty and lowliness are not to be shifted; might and power are not to be removed; the power is not to be changed; the power is not to be changed; the power is not to be changed; and the power is not to be changed. The spirit of the peony is "rich and noble, poor and lowly can't be moved, and the mighty can't be bent".

2. Wei Zi

Wei Renbo's family in Luoyang in the period of the Five Dynasties was one of the more famous peony varieties. The plant is medium-high and beautiful; it grows strongly and has many branches. The flowers are large, and the length of the flowering period is relatively plentiful, and it is known as the Queen of Flowers. Ouyang Xiu's "Records of Peony in Luoyang" recorded: "The Wei family flower, a thousand-leaf fleshy red flower, came out of the family of Wei Xiang (Ren Pu). The first woodcutter saw it in Shou'an Mountain and hacked it to sell it to Wei's family. Qian Sigong said: 'People say peony flower king, now Yao Huang really can be the king, and Wei flower is also after'".

3. Yao Huang

First appeared in the Northern Song Dynasty. Ouyang Xiu's "Records of Peonies in Luoyang" recorded that "Yao Huang is a yellow flower with a thousand leaves, which comes out of Yao's family. This flower has been in existence for less than ten years now. The plant is erect, with thin, hard branches and short, thick branches. Crown-shaped flowers, buds rounded tip-shaped, yellowish flowers. The flowers are full-bodied, radiant, and elegant.

Legend has it that during the Northern Song Dynasty, the Yao family of Baimapo Village in Mangshan cultivated a kind of yellow peony, which bloomed in goose-yellow, milky-yellow, eight inches in size, and had a refreshing aroma, so the people scrambled to see it, and it was a moment of emptying alleys for 10,000 people. After the imperial court heard about it, the Yao family was specially ordered to pay tribute to "Yao Huang", and the Son of Heaven praised it by saying, "It is really the first one in the world!" Cover the yellow color is expensive. Since then, people will be "flower king" reputation.

4. Luoyang Red

Originated in the Tang Dynasty, it is the only peony variety named after Luoyang. It is commonly known as Jiao Bone Peony. Luoyang red grows more strongly and has a high rate of flower formation. Its flowers are red, leaves are green, the plant is large, and the flavor is fragrant. The plant is tall, delicately branched, with purplish-red flowers and round-tipped buds.

Legend has it that Wu Zetian traveled to the upper garden in winter and made all the flowers bloom, and all the flowers opened one after another, but only the peony did not comply. Wu Zetian was furious, so she ordered the peony to be burnt and discarded the burnt peony in the gully of Mangshan Mountain in Luoyang. However, the burnt peony was nourished by the soil and water of Mangshan Mountain and was miraculously reborn. People appreciated the pride of this flower and called it a gentleman among flowers.

5. Yellow Peony

Originally from the Five Dynasties period, it was called so because its color was like the color of the king's robe. When it blooms, it appears light yellow, and after it ripens, it becomes yellowish white, and the diameter of its flowers in full bloom is usually around 15 centimeters, with wide, wavy petals; the color of the flowers is yellowish, and the stamens are golden yellow.

Connie Niu of the Qing Dynasty wrote in "Goblet - Peony": "The yellow of the royal coat, commonly known as the yellow of the old, is very white at dawn, and turns into light yellow at noon, which is lovely. It is also called "imperial yellow". Song Qin Guan's "Spring Words" No. 3: "The light-colored yellow should be good in, for who also sent last year's branch."

6, bean green

From the Song Dynasty, an Ou Xin family name and name, also known as "Ou Jia Bi". It is the only pure green treasure. When it first blooms, it is green, and when it blooms, the color fades, and the color of the flower becomes white in the sunlight, which is refreshingly elegant and unique, and it has a kind of beauty that is otherworldly.

Zhang Bangji of the Song Dynasty wrote in Mozhuang Manglu: "The Luoyang florist Xuanhezhong cultivated white peonies such as Jade Thousand Leaves, One Hundred and Fifty, and Yulouchun under their roots, and in the following year the flowers were made turquoise in color, and the name was Ou Jiabi." Ou Jia Bi is the ancient name of bean green.