Peony
(Paeonie)
Adopted on March 13,
1957.
The peony, Paeonia,
was adopted as the state
flower by the 1957 General
Assembly (Indiana Code
1-2-7).
Poets linked Indiana with
the blossom of the tulip
tree, or yellow poplar, as
early as 1870. But the
carnation was adopted as
Indiana's state flower on
March 15, 1913.
From 1931 to 1957 the
zinnia was the state flower.
In 1957, a bill to adopt the
blossom of the tulip tree
was submitted. But the
Senate substitute the
dogwood blossom!
Interestingly enough, the
Representative who proposed
the Peony as state flower
was a commercial peony
grower in his full time
employment. On March 13,
1957, the peony became
Indiana's fourth state
flower! The peony blooms the
last of May and early June
in various shades of red and
pink and also in white; it
occurs in single and double
forms. No particular variety
or color was designated by
the General Assembly. It is
cultivated widely throughout
the state and is extremely
popular for decorating
gravesites for Memorial Day.It blooms from late May
until early June. It grows
in various shades of red,
pink, and white.
Herbaceous (P.
lactiflora)
Most peonies available in
garden centers or nurseries
are hybrids of two major
classes--herbaceous peonies
or tree peonies. Just what
are their primary
differences?
They are mostly natives to
Asia Minor and Europe.
Almost all herbaceous
peonies are descendants of a
Chinese species known as P.
lactiflora. These hybrids
reach 2 to 3 feet in height,
having dark green divided
leaves that are shiny and
very showy. Peony foliage is
bold and striking, even in
the fall when it usually
embraces the reddish colors
of autumn.
Herbaceous peonies typically
bloom in late spring,
boasting exotic 3 to 6 inch
heavily scented blossoms.
The blossoms are ordinarily
very fragrant and may be
single, double or anemone
form (with broad, outer
petals and a pincushion-like
mound of central petals or
flowers - modified stamens).
Herbaceous peonies thrive in
USDA Zones 3 to 8, and bloom
profusely after a period of
cold winter chill.
Tree Peony (P.
suffruticosa)
These are cultivars of P.
suffruticosa and are natives
to Japan and China. and
descendants of P.
suffruticosa, a Chinese
shrub. This variety is an
open, somewhat woody
deciduous shrub that can
reach 6 feet in height. As
with herbaceous peonies,
tree peonies are long-lived
and resent being
transplanted, so you should
choose their locations with
care. Tree peonies are also
more hardy to cold than
their herbaceous relatives.
The blossoms of tree peonies
vary both in size and color,
depending on their
individual variety. P.
suffruticosa is the main
Tree Peony. It bears large,
single or double white
flowers blotched with
crimson in May and June.
Chapter 7. State Flower
and Tree
IC 1-2-7-1
Sec. 1. The tulip tree
(liriodendron tulipifera)
is hereby adopted and
designated as the
official state tree, and
the flower of the peony
(Paeonie) is hereby
adopted and designated
as the official state
flower of the state of
Indiana.
(Formerly: Acts 1931,
c.48, s.1; Acts 1957,
c.283, s.1.)
Taxonomic
Hierarchy
|
Kingdom |
Plantae --
Plants |
Subkingdom |
Tracheobionta --
Vascular plants |
Superdivision |
Spermatophyta --
Seed plants |
Division |
Magnoliophyta --
Flowering plants |
Class |
Magnoliopsida --
Dicotyledons |
Subclass |
Dilleniidae
– |
Order |
Dilleniales
– |
Family |
Paeoniaceae
– Peony family |
Genus |
Paeonia
L. – peony |
|