Building Worldwide Peony Co-operation
About Us
New Zealand Paeonia International
Was imagined and born in 2020, during New Zealand’s second and most severe COVID-19 lockdown.
At the time, our garden was full of peonies—but no one was allowed to visit. We couldn’t welcome people in, and we couldn’t cut flowers to share beyond our gates. At the same time, many in our city were feeling anxious and low. This followed a significant earthquake that had already damaged much of the city and shaken the community’s sense of wellbeing.
A Bilingual, Cross-Cultural Community
Out of this moment came a simple but hopeful idea: to share the joy of peonies online. A Facebook group was created so people could see, enjoy, and take comfort in these beautiful flowers. What began as a way to lift spirits quickly grew into something much more.
When lockdowns eased, New Zealand Paeonia International became a formal club. From the beginning, it was bilingual, welcoming both English and Chinese speakers. This was intentional. The peony is China’s most beloved flower, deeply woven into its art, history, and symbolism, and many members already shared a strong cultural connection to it. Peonies became a bridge—between languages, cultures, and people—offering beauty and hope during a difficult season.
Despite ongoing COVID restrictions, we held our first cut-flower peony show the following year. It was a remarkable success. In November 2021, hundreds of people passed through the show, enjoying the flowers and discovering peonies for the first time. Many joined the club as a result.
Since then, our activities have included:
Peony sales and educational events
Guest speakers, including a specialist from Dunedin who presented in Chinese with an interpreter
Demonstrations of advanced peony grafting techniques
An exhibition of exquisite silk peony paintings
Ran flower shows with judging and prizes, including
Floral arrangements by local florists, showcasing the their versatility with Peonies in their design
Visitors were able to take home information, learn from experts, and see what is possible with this extraordinary plant.
Shows, Learning, and Growth
Michele, our founder, has attended two American Peony Society Conventions in the United States, gaining experience in judging, show organisation, and learning Peony history, commercialisation and science. She has also travelled extensively to major Peony regions in China — including as far west as Gansu — as well as Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, and Eastern Europe, researching Peony breeding and hybridising practices.
These journeys inform our work, increase our usefulness, deepen our knowledge, and shape our vision for the future.
Looking Beyond New Zealand
New Zealand PAEONIA International exists to celebrate Peonies, to educate, assist and to connect people — across cultures and across borders. What began in isolation has grown into a thriving community, and we look forward to expanding our reach even further in the years ahead.