Chinese scientists say they make peonies, symbol of wealth, bloom at will

LUOYANG. April 13. KAZINFORM It's taken more than 1,000 years, but the Chinese now say they can make peonies -- a symbol of prosperity in imperial times -- bloom at will, Kazinform refers to Xinhua.

Scientists here in the "city of peonies" said Monday that they can bring the plants into full bloom any day of the year. "There will be blooming peonies at any festival, whether it's the national [founding day] holiday in October or the Spring Festival" that marks the end of winter under the lunar calendar, said Ma Zhuohua, vice director of the Luoyang Peony Research Institute in the central Henan Province. Ma's institute boasts the country's largest peony gene bank. "We are also able to extend the flowering time, normally three to five days, to nearly a month," Ma said. The capital of China under 13 imperial dynasties, Luoyang produces the country's best peony trees. The luxuriant blossoms were believed by ancient royalty to signal wealth, Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.chinaview.cn for full version.