Peony dominates in online poll to name China's national flower

The peony is dominating an online poll that asks people to pick China's national flower.

A peony. [Photo: IC]

The poll by the China Flower Association lists 10 candidates, including the peony, plum blossom, orchid, Chinese rose, and lotus. As of today, the peony accounts for 80 percent of the votes. The plum blossom is in second place with 12 percent, followed by the orchid in third place with 2.5 percent and the lotus with 1.9 percent.

The peony has been cultivated in China for more than 4,000 years, and is known in the country as being "the king of the flowers".

The poll to name the national flower is part of the celebrations for the upcoming 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.