牡丹，别名洛阳花、谷雨花等。我国以牡丹为花王，芍药为花相。它高1一2米，老干可达3米。叶互生，二回三出羽状复叶。花单瓣至重瓣。一般各种花冠直径15一30厘米。花色有红、粉、黄、白、绿、紫等，花期四月上中旬。牡丹性宜凉爽，畏炎热，喜燥忌湿，原产我国西北，栽培历史久远。河南洛阳、山东荷泽都盛产牡丹。牡丹花丰姿绰绝，形大艳美，仪态万方，色香俱全，观赏价值极高，在我国传统古典园林广为栽培。

　　Peony

　　Peony is also named Luoyang Flower or Paeonia, which is revered as the king of flowers. Its common height isapproximately 1 to 2 meters and up to 3 meters with pinnately compound leaf, single or multilayered petals. In addition, thediameter of corolla range from 15 to 30 centimeters. Early to mid April every year is the best time for sightseeing peonies coming with varied colors including red, pink, yellow, white, green, purple etc., Originated from north-west China long time ago, cool and dry weather is favored by peony rather than hot and humid, which made Heze City (Shandong Province) and Luoyang City (Henan province) benign place for peony to grow. Owing to its high ornamental value, elegant and glamorous peonies are widely planted in most traditional gardens in China.

　　牡丹在国人乃至世界人的心目中占有很高地位，历代的许多文人墨客，社会名流，皇帝贵族无不喜欢牡丹。他们不仅爱花、赏花、宴花、结花、拜花，而且种花、插花、写花，与牡丹结下了不解之缘。

　　Peony occupies a high position in China and even in worldwide. Historical literatures, celebrities and royal nobles were all attracted by and were tightly bonded with peonies; they not only love andadmire them but also plant and praise them.

　　洛阳牡丹甲天下，得益于洛阳的山川形胜。而洛阳的山川形胜，托起了十三朝古都、六朝陪都，坐上了105位皇帝。君临天下，才有了让他们“养眼”的牡丹。武则天贬牡丹的故事广为流传。《事物纪原》载：武后诏游上苑，百花俱开，牡丹独迟，遂贬于洛阳，故洛阳牡丹冠天下。

　　The peony in Luoyang tops others in the world due to its topography, which supported Luoyang the capital of thirteen dynasties and alternate capital of six dynasties with 105 emperors throughout the history.  It is the imperial vermillion that nourishes peonies of Luoyang. The story of “Wu Zetian demote peony” has been widely spread in China. It is stated that all flowers apart from peonies were bloomed when Empress Wu sightsee the garden, so peonies that were demoted to Luoyang tops others in the world.

　　牡丹传说：传说唐后武则天在一个隆冬大雪纷飞的日子饮酒作诗。她乘酒兴醉笔写下诏书"明朝游上苑，火急报春知，花须连夜发，莫待晓风吹"。百花慑于此命，一夜之间绽开齐放，惟有牡丹抗旨不开。武则天勃然大怒，遂将牡丹贬至洛阳。刚强不屈的牡丹一到洛阳就昂首怒放，这更激怒了武后，便又下令烧死牡丹。枝干虽被烧焦，但到第二年春，牡丹反而开的更盛。因为这种牡丹在烈火中骨焦心刚，矢志不移，人们赞它为“焦骨牡丹”。后来经过洛阳人的精心培育，花儿更红更艳了，所以后人起名叫“洛阳红”。

　　The Myth of Peony

　　It is said that Empress Wu were drinking and versifying in a snowy day in winter. While she was drunk, she proclaimed that all flowers have to bloom the next day to welcome her sightsee the garden. Due to fearing of her power, all flowers in the garden obeyed her proclamation apart from peonies. Empress Wu were infuriated and ordered to demote peonies to Luoyang. However, unyielding and doughty peonies bloomed even more luxuriant after transplanted to Luoyang, which enraged her even worse and gave rise to another proclamation to burn them out.  The next spring, though branches were charred, flowers blossomed even lusher. After that, people named these flowers “burned peonies” as impressed by its fortitude. The red peonies are also known as “Luoyang Red” as they grow redder and more exuberant in Luoyang City.