Peony History Timeline

100 Years of Bloom

1829

The first of the only two peony species in North America is described: P. brownii (the other is P. californica.) Both species are native to the western United States, have very small flowers, go dormant in the summer, and are thus unused in ornamental horticulture. Genomic work at the UM Peony Garden (in press) has resolved the deep mystery of how they relate to any other peonies in the world.

1848

The first tree peonies exported from Japan come into bloom in the garden of Prince Frederic (Holland) and are not like any of the Chinese tree peonies known to that time. Peony mania deepens.

In world history: The Seneca Falls Convention marks a turning point for women’s rights in the United States.

1849

Dickson publishes his review of Peonies in Chinese and Japanese history

In world history: Gold Discovered in California

1851

Festiva Maxima (Bed 2) introduced

In world history: First Installment of Uncle Tom’s Cabin is published, also Moby Dick is published

1856

Duchesse de Nemours (Bed 1) introduced

1859

Duc de Wellington (Bed 19) introduced.

1861

Philomele (Bed 10) introduced

In world history: American Civil War Begins

1863

Tree peonies reach a popularity peak in European gardens and nurseries; herbaceous peonies slowly take over the popular imagination, especially in North America

In world history: Emancipation Proclamation ends formal slavery in the United States.

1865

Triomphe de l’Exposition de Lille introduced (Bed 27). It is not clear which Exposition is commemorated, but this is in the era of the first International Exhibtions, which became World Fairs by the 20th century.

In world history: American Civil War Ends

1868

The “Memorial Day Peony” was originally any of the forms of the then-widely grown European medicinal peony, P. officinalis. With the rapid spread of new selections of the ‘Chinese’ peony (P. lactiflora), many of which were extolled by Dr. Upjohn and his peers, the “peonies” of Memorial Day became any of the older historic varieties seen in the UM Peony Garden