Micro-season: “The Tree Peony Flowers”

We have entered the micro-season of “The Tree Peony Flowers”, which is the third micro-season of the mini-season of Grain Rain. 

Each mini-season contains three micro-seasons. The micro-seasons contained within Grain Rain are:

• The First Reeds Grow (April 20 – April 24)
• The Frost Stops the Rice Grows (April 25 – April 29)
• The Tree Peony Flowers (April 30 – May 04)

These seasons were established in 1685 by Japanese astronomer Shibuka Shunkai and are specific to Japan. However, just because the calendar focuses on Japan doesn’t mean it isn’t applicable to others.  No matter where you live you can use these seasons as a starting point for your personal exploration of the world around you. 

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The Tree Peony

The Tree Peony is a deciduous woody shrub with large flowers.  The term “Tree Peony” can refer to any of the shrub-like species that make up the Moutan section of the Paeonia genus in the Paeoniaceae family.⁽¹⁾ A majority of the wild versions of the Moutan section have become extinct or endangered.⁽²⁾ However, there are several cultivated versions of this plant that are doing well.  One such plant is identified as Paeonia suffruticosa or the “King of Flowers”.⁽²⁾

The Paeonia suffruticosa is said to be much sturdier than their herbaceous peony cousins. Because it is a tree, it has the ability to survive the winter and has a longer life span.  The flowers on the Paeonia suffruitcose flowers are also known for their early and long-lasting flower blooms.⁽³⁾  

China’s National Flower

In 2019, after many years without a national flower, China conducted a nationwide poll to determine its floral symbol.  The “King of Flowers” won this vote with 79 percent of the 362,264 votes cast.  The other contenders in the context were the wintersweet with 12 percent and then the orchid with 2 percent.  The chrysanthemum, camellia, lotus, sweet-scented osmanthus, Chinese rose, azalea, and narcissus were all on the ballot but received less than 1 percent of the vote. ⁽⁴⁾

Medicinal Uses

The bark from the roots of Paeonia suffruticosa is known as Mu Dan Pi (MDP) or Moutan Cortex Radicis.  The bark has been used in traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years primarily as a treatment for autoimmune disorders. Research has shown that the bark’s “bioactive components exhibit anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and are widely used for the treatment of diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and neurological disorders”. Some of its benefits include reducing fever, “cooling the blood, improving liver function, and mildly invigorating the blood.”⁽³⁾  Mu Dan Pi is said to be at its best when it is thick, starchy, and fragrant.⁽⁵⁾

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Poems about the Peony

The peony is a popular and revered flower in China and Japan. It holds cultural significance as it symbolizes “honor, riches, and aristocracy as well as love, affection, and feminine beauty.”⁽⁵⁾ It also is a seasonal word that represents spring.

Below are a few poems about the peony from ancient China during the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-906) dynasties. Along with some haiku from the early haiku masters Yosa Buson, Kobayashi Issa, and Matsuo Basho.

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Poems from Qian Qi and Emperor Yang

“Spring River Flowers Moon Night” by Qian Qi (710-782)

The river is smooth and calm this evening,
The peony flowers bloom.
The moon floats on the current.
The tide carries the stars.

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“Peonies at Jixing Temple” by Emperor Yang (569-618)

Springtime radiance, gradually, gradually where does it go?
Again before a wine jar, we take up a goblet.
All day we’ve questioned the flowers, but the flowers do not speak.
For whom do they shed their petals and leaves, for whom do they bloom?

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Haiku from Buson, Issa, and Basho

About to bloom,
And exhale a rainbow,
The peony!
-Buson

In the stillness,
Between the arrival of guests,
The peonies.
-Buson

Dear, dear,
What a fat, happy face it has,
This peony!
-Issa

a bee
staggers out
of the peony
-Basho

This finally haiku by Basho is my favorite out of this collection. The thought of a bee staggering out of a flower drunk on sweet nectar is just wonderful. What a celebration of spring!

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Resources:

1. “Tree Peony”; Wikipedia
2. Zhou, Shi-Liang et al. “Multiple species of wild tree peonies gave rise to the ‘king of flowers’, Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews.” Proceedings. Biological sciences vol. 281,1797 (2014): 20141687. doi:10.1098/rspb.2014.1687
3. “Paeonia × suffruticosa“; Wikipedia
4. Yang Wanli; “China selects peony as national flower”: China Daily
5. “Mu Dan Pi”; Jade Institute: Waybackback Machine Internet Archive
6. Peony poems were all found on The Cricket Hill Garden website.  Cricket Hill Garden is a family-owned plant nursery in Connecticut that sells many varieties of peony.

Want to support our work? Visit the Naturalist Weekly bookstore and browse our curated lists of books of poetry and haiku. Or pick up a gift card that can be used throughout the store.  

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