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Paeoniaceae
Tree Peony
Paeonia suffruticosa
Wealth, honor, royalty, prosperity.
- Family
- Paeoniaceae
- Genus
- Paeonia
- Native to
- China
- Bloom season
- Late Spring
- Type
- Deciduous woody shrub
- Height
- 1.2–2 m
- Sunlight
- Part shade
- Soil
- Rich, well-drained, slightly alkaline
- Water
- Moderate
- Hardiness
- 4–9
- Lifespan
- Extremely long-lived; some over 200 years
Did you know
- Tree peony has been cultivated in China for over 1,500 years and is regarded as the unofficial 'king of flowers' — the imperial flower of the Tang and Song dynasties.
- Unlike herbaceous peonies that die back to the ground each year, tree peonies have permanent woody stems that gradually grow into small shrubs.
- The city of Luoyang in China hosts an annual tree peony festival every April that draws millions of visitors to see the centuries-old plants in bloom.
- Single flowers can be the size of a dinner plate — over 25 cm (10 inches) across in some heirloom varieties.
- Some Japanese tree peony cultivars have been propagated by grafting from the same original plant for over 400 years.
Color meanings
Pink
Romance and good fortune
Red
Wealth and prestige
Yellow
Imperial status