Tree Peony

Growth habit

Shrub

Perennation

Long-lived polycarpic perennial

Native distribution

China

Source of plant

Seneca Hill Perennials

Description

Shrubs to 1.8 m tall. Roots attenuate toward tip. Turions absent. Stems gray or gray-brown, peeling off in flakes. Proximal leaves 2- or 3-pinnate, with (17-)19-33 leaflets; leaflets lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate and mostly entire, or ovate to ovate-orbicular and mostly lobed, 2-11 — 1.5-4.5cm, abaxially villous along veins, adaxially glabrous, base truncate to cuneate, apex acute or acuminate. Flowers solitary, terminal, single, 13--19 cm wide. Bracts 3, leaflike. Sepals 3, green, ovate-orbicular, 3-4 — 2-3cm, apex acute or caudate. Petals white with a large, dark purple spot at base. Filaments yellow; anthers yellow. Disc wholly enveloping carpels, pale yellow, leathery, apex dentate or lobed. Carpels 5(or 6), densely tomentose. Stigmas pale yellow. Follicles oblong, densely yellow tomentose. Fl. Apr--May, fr. Aug. 2n = 10*.

USDA Hardiness Zone

6