English: Tree peony.
Region: east Asia, west China to Tibet.
Habitat: woodland edges and mountain slopes; prefers deep rich soil, neutral or slightly alkaline; doing well in sun or light shade, prefers part shade; intolerant of waterlogged or too dry soil; lime tolerant; frost tolerant; prefers long hot summers; subject to fungi, honey fungus.
Use: flowers, cooked or parboiled and sweetened for a teatime delicacy.
BotanyShrub; deciduous; 60 cm tall; suckering; young branches are brittle and very subject to wind damage; grows slow.
Root: strongly resents root disturbance.
Pollination: by insects; self-fertile.
TaxonomyClosely related to
Paeonia delavayi.