PAEONIA SUFFRUTICOSA seeds peony Tree pink
LATIN NAME: Paeonia suffruticosa
COMMON NAME: Tree Peony, Moutan Peony, Mudan
The tree peony is the king of Chinese flowers, and it has been cultivated for its beauty for more than a thousand years. It grows as a woody, deciduous shrub, reaching a metre and a half or more, with handsome, deeply cut leaves and, in late spring, enormous, sumptuous flowers in white, pink, red, purple and yellow, some single, some full and ruffled, often twenty centimetres across. The flowers have a rich, sweet fragrance, and the whole plant has an air of quiet magnificence. In China it is known as mudan, the flower of wealth and honour, and it has been grown in the imperial gardens and courtyards of China for millennia, both for its beauty and for the bark of its roots, which is used in traditional medicine.
The tree peony belongs to the peony family, Paeoniaceae, and it is a group of hybrids, cultivated in China for centuries. It is native to China, where it has been bred and prized since ancient times, and it is now grown in gardens across the world.
Positive & Encouraging Seed Germination Guide
Growing a tree peony from seed is a patient and very rewarding project. The seeds ripen in late summer and are best sown fresh, since they germinate best that way, and they need a period of warmth followed by cold, so sow them in pots of free-draining compost and leave them outdoors through winter, or follow a warm-and-cold cycle in a propagator. Germination can be slow and uneven, with seedlings appearing over many months, so be patient. Grow the young plants on in pots for a couple of years, giving them sun, shelter and good drainage, then plant them out in a sunny, sheltered spot. A seed-raised tree peony will eventually reward you with magnificent flowers, a plant for a lifetime.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
The tree peony has a distinguished and modern record in both horticultural and pharmaceutical research. Because it has been cultivated in China for more than a thousand years, it has been studied in the history of horticulture, and the breeding of its many magnificent cultivars has long been a subject of study. In traditional medicine, the bark of the root, known as mudan pi, has been used for centuries, and modern researchers have studied its chemistry, identifying a range of compounds, including paeonol, which has been studied for its biological activity and its potential health benefits. The tree peony has also been studied in plant breeding and genetics, since its hybrids and cultivars are of great interest to breeders. For a flower of such beauty and such deep tradition, the tree peony has a rich record of research.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Ecologically, the tree peony is a generous shrub of the garden. Its magnificent flowers feed bees and other pollinators in late spring, and as a cultivated plant it has been treasured in the gardens of China for more than a thousand years.
Its economic value is considerable. It is one of the most beloved ornamental shrubs in the world, grown in gardens for its magnificent flowers, and the bark of the root is a valued traditional medicine in China, used for centuries and still studied for its chemistry. For a grower, the tree peony is a plant of great beauty and value, and for a gardener it brings the king of flowers, a magnificent bloom that has been loved for a thousand years.
Uses: Medicinal. Edible. Watch. Landscape
The Tree Peony (Paeonia suffruticosa) is one of the most glorious shrubs known. It's huge, silky flowers have the same general shape as that of herbaceous Peonies. Their range of color runs from pure white through pinks and reds into lavender and yellow, with shades that are unknown in their herbaceous kin. Their exquisite blooms are born on a 4–5ft frame, above which as many as 50 flowers may be carried on a mature plant.
