All of you Scorpios and Sagittariuses, are a bunch of lucky people as your birth month has two birth flowers, peonies, and chrysanthemums – and that’s a rare thing. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about peonies. If you want to know about chrysanthemums check out our article on birth flowers for the month- November, chrysanthemum edition. Another great thing about November is both the flowers are drop-dead gorgeous with a big fluffy head heavily blessed with petals and fragrance, what a treat!
Peonies
Meaning
Prosperity
Just how this beautiful flower blooms fully, it also wishes for you to bloom at your best thus has been given the meaning of prosperity and good luck. Other than that, its happy meanings include honor, love, good fortune, and riches. On the other hand, its sad meanings include bashfulness and sympathy, hence it is important to check the occasion and state your intention to the receiver. Furthermore, it is commonly sent as a gift to new couples, new parents, newly graduates, simply anyone who is standing at the beginning of a new life as a way to say best of luck.
Facts
- A very famous myth about peonies is that it is named after a Greek physician of gods, who was known as Paeon. He was the student of a Greek god of medicine, Aesculapius. He was so talented, and Aesculapius had a hint that Paeon will become better than him. The first time Paeon used peony roots to heal Pluto, Aesculapius got so jealous of his talent that he lost his composure and decided to kill him. In humble tries of saving Paeon, Pluto turned him into a Peony flower, something that people will adore till the end of the world. That is where its meaning “compassion” comes from.
- Another myth includes a beautiful nymph known as Paeonia. Her beauty attracted Pollo and eventually, he started flirting. When Paeonia saw Aphrodite watching them, she becomes bright red out of shyness. In a fuming rage, Aphrodite turns Pollo into red peony which is how it got the meaning of “bashfulness”. Interesting, isn’t it?
- The birth flower for the month- November, peonies, are native to China and are highly adored there ever since the Sui and Tang dynasties when they were planted in their Imperial palaces giving them the meaning of “nobility” and “wealth”. Even today, people in China often call it the “king of flowers”, as they should!
- Peonies are also famous for superstition as it is with myths. It is believed that if your garden has a fully bloomed bash of peonies, you will receive good luck. In the contrast, a ruined plant of peonies is a sign of disaster. The odd number of peony flowers is also a sign of incoming bad luck.
Benefits
- In ancient times, parts of peonies were used to treat over the twenties of disease and injuries, even the deadly ones like snake bites and epilepsy.
- In England, peonies were commonly worn as a necklace to children to help prevent toothache and seizures.
- Peonies are used to cure:
- Menstrual cramps
- Premenstrual syndrome
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Gout
- Fever
- Cough
- Osteoarthritis
- Respiratory tract illnesses
- Nerve pain
- Migraine
- Arthritis
- Liver disease
Season
Late Spring to Early Summer
How to Grow
Plant them during fall with a 3 to 4 feet distance 1-2 inches deep. The birth flower for the month- November, Peonies, thrives best in full sun, partial shade from strong winds with thorough watering. Plant them in humus-rich, fertile, deep, moist yet well-drained soil of neutral pH.
