Green peony is a rare and precious green variety in the peony family.
Green peony broadly refers to peony varieties whose flowers are celadon green or greenish white, a relatively uncommon color range in the peony family, with Dou Lu (Bean Green) being the most renowned among the traditional famous cultivars. Peonies are deciduous shrubs of the genus Paeonia, with a long history of cultivation in our country; because their flowers are elegantly colored and scarce in number, green peonies have always been regarded as treasures.
Green peonies are mostly double-flowered, with full blooms and clearly defined layers; when they first open they are a fresh celadon green, and as they reach full bloom they gradually turn pale yellow-green to nearly white, remaining crisp and pleasing throughout. They generally belong to the late-flowering type, opening somewhat later than ordinary varieties, and often become the finishing highlight of the later part of the peony blooming season. Because green traits are difficult to breed, the number of finished flowers is relatively limited and their ornamental value is high.
For cultivating green peonies, choose a site with higher ground, good drainage and ample light, and a loose, fertile neutral or slightly alkaline sandy loam soil is best. Peonies have fleshy roots and fear waterlogging, so drainage must be attended to during the rainy season; for routine watering, just water when the soil is dry and let it dry between waterings. After flowering, promptly cut off the spent flowers to reduce nutrient consumption; in autumn, apply fully rotted organic fertilizer to lay the foundation for flowering the following year.
It is worth mentioning that among orchids there are also varieties or names referred to as green peony, mostly seen in orchid species such as Cymbidium goeringii, Cymbidium faberi and Cymbidium lianpan, so named because their petals are emerald green, plump and resemble peonies. Whichever category of plant they belong to, these names all reflect growers' fondness for the elegant temperament of green-toned flowers.
