Peonies made to bloom anytime

LUOYANG, Henan: Chinese scientists say they can now make peonies - a flower symbolic of prosperity in imperial times - bloom at will.

Researchers in Louyang, the "City of Peonies", announced yesterday that they can make the naturally seasonal flowers bloom any day of the year.

"There can be blooming peonies at any festival, whether it's National Day in October or the Spring Festival," Ma Zhuohua, vice-director of the Luoyang Peony Research Institute in Henan province, said.