Paeonia lactiflora /piːˈoʊniːə/
Common name: Chinese peony · common garden peony · herbaceous peony
Paeonia lactiflora is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Paeoniaceae, native to central and eastern Asia, including northern China, Mongolia, Korea, and Siberia. It forms clumps of large, divided leaves and bears big, fragrant flowers, typically white or pink in the wild, in late spring to early summer. It is the parent of the vast majority of cultivated herbaceous peonies, with thousands of named cultivars grown in gardens worldwide.
Care summary
Sun
Full sun to light shade
Water
Moderate; keep evenly moist, avoid waterlogging
Soil
Rich, fertile, well-drained; neutral to slightly alkaline
Hardiness
Zones 3–8
Mature height
About 60–100 cm (2–3.5 ft)
Pet safe
No; toxic to cats and dogs if eaten
Difficulty
Moderate
Propagation
Propagate by division in early autumn. Lift an established clump, wash off the soil, and cut the root crown into sections, each with at least 3 to 5 dormant buds (eyes) and a good portion of root; replant with the eyes no more than 3-5 cm below the surface, as deeper planting inhibits flowering.
Fun facts
- It has been cultivated in China for well over a thousand years, both as an ornamental and in traditional medicine.
- The dried root, known as bai shao ("white peony root"), is one of the most widely used herbs in traditional Chinese medicine.
- Peonies are famous for ants crawling on their buds; the ants feed on nectar secreted by the buds but are not needed for the flowers to open.
- Established plants strongly dislike being moved and may sulk for a year or two after transplanting, but can live for many decades.