1. Yao Huang – King of Flowers
Features: Initially pale yellow, turning golden yellow in full bloom; full, crown-like flower shape; delicate fragrance.
History: Cultivated by Yao Chong's family in Luoyang during the Song Dynasty, it was hailed as the "King of Flowers," symbolizing nobility.
Rarity: Purebred Yao Huang has unstable yellow genes, resulting in few old plants; it is considered a "living fossil" in the peony world.
2. Wei Zi – Queen of Flowers
Features: Double-petaled purplish-red flowers; long blooming period and abundant blooms; full shape resembling a lotus or a crown.
History: Cultivated by Wei Renbo's family in Luoyang during the Five Dynasties period, it was known as one of the "Two Perfections of Peonies" along with Yao Huang; in ancient times, only wealthy families could cultivate it. Status: Due to its elegant and luxurious appearance, it was called the "Queen of Flowers." Purebred varieties are now rare; most are hybrids and improved versions.
3. Zhao Fen – Delicate Beauty
Features: Pale pink petals resembling a young girl's face; diverse flower shapes (crown type, lotus type); pleasant fragrance.
History: Cultivated in the Zhao Family Garden of Heze during the Qing Dynasty, formerly known as "Tongzi Mian" (Child's Face), it is often imitated in the market due to its long growth cycle.
Characteristics: Vigorous plant, capable of producing multiple flowers per plant, suitable for garden ornamental purposes.
4. Dou Lü – A Green Rare
Features: The only pure yellow-green peony, initially greenish-blue, gradually turning pea-green, with petals as thin and translucent as gauze.
Rarity: Difficult to cultivate due to temperature sensitivity, a late-blooming variety, and extremely rare globally.
Anecdote: Cultivated by the Ou family during the Song Dynasty, also known as "Ou Jia Bi" (Ou Family Jade), resembling an unripe soybean, fresh and refined.
5. Er Qiao – A Legendary Two-Colored Variety
Features: Can produce purple-red and pink-white bicolor flowers on the same plant or branch, even with both colors coexisting on a single flower.
Naming: Derived from the Three Kingdoms beauties "Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao," the colors are strikingly contrasting, prone to mutation, requiring artificial selection for stability.
Ornamental Value: A representative of multi-colored peonies, known in ancient times as "Luoyang Brocade," now a prized horticultural variety.
6. Luoyang Red – New Flower Queen
Characteristics: A vibrant purplish-red variety with abundant blooms; a single plant can produce hundreds of flowers. It is lush with flowers and leaves and possesses strong vitality.
Status: A representative variety of Luoyang. Although common, the original older varieties have a darker flower color and a noble velvety texture.
Alternative Names: Also known as "Purple Two Qiaos," it has become a mainstay variety in modern landscaping due to its strong resistance.
7. Imperial Yellow – Royal Yellow Robe
Characteristics: Flower color resembles the pale yellow to yellowish-white of ancient imperial robes; the flower shape is full and elegant.
Rarity: The yellow gene is unstable; hybrids fade, purebreds require strict protection. It was once worth a fortune in the Qing Dynasty.
Symbolism: Represents authority and nobility; an exclusive flower of the ancient imperial family.
8. Azure Dragon Lying in Ink Pool – Mysterious Ink Charm
Characteristics: The outer layer of dark purple petals encases a green pistil, resembling an azure dragon lying in an ink pool, creating a strong color contrast. Cultivation Difficulty: Low propagation rate, requires 5-6 years to flower; most existing specimens are held in botanical gardens.
Flower Shape: Crown-shaped or laurel-shaped, with curled petals, creating a striking visual impact.
9. Snow Tower – Pure and Immaculate
Features: Pure white crown-shaped flowers, petals layered like a snow tower, initially slightly greenish, turning a lustrous white like jade when fully open.
History: Originally named "Jade Tower Spring," recorded in the Song Dynasty, symbolizing purity and elegance.
Uses: Suitable for garden landscaping, its beauty enhanced by the contrast with green foliage.
10. Drunken Yang Guifei – Charming and Drunk
Features: Pinkish-purple flowers gradually turn pink at the top, with soft, drooping branches, resembling a slightly tipsy beauty.
Legend: Inspired by Yang Guifei's drunken state, the drooping flowers and sparse foliage create a unique posture.
Flower Shape: Lotus-shaped or laurel-shaped; its "drunken" appearance requires close observation.
