Species · GBIF taxon 3083486
Paeonia lactiflora
paeonia lactifloraAlso known as Chinese Peony, Garden Peony, White Peony, Common Garden Peony
Chinese peonies burst into spectacular bloom in late spring, flaunting massive, fragrant blossoms that range from pure white to deep pink and red. These hardy herbaceous perennials form lush, shrub-like mounds of glossy, deeply lobed foliage that remains attractive long after the flowers fade. Highly revered in traditional Asian culture and modern gardens alike, they can thrive in the same spot for decades with minimal intervention.
FloweringPerennialFragrant
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil Minerals
Predators
- Japanese Beetles
- Thrips
- Foliar Nematodes
ThreatsOver-collection of wild specimens and habitat degradation
HabitatsGrasslands, dry mountain slopes, and open forest margins
Life span50 years or more
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderSaxifragales
- FamilyPaeoniaceae
- GenusPaeonia
- Speciespaeonia lactiflora
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Contains paeonol, which is toxic to dogs and cats; keep pets from chewing the foliage or roots.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains the toxin paeonol, which causes vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy in dogs, cats, and horses.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for large, multi-petaled spring flowers and dense, divided green leaves on herbaceous stems.
- What to do
- Grow in areas inaccessible to curious pets and do not ingest any part of the plant.
Responsible observation
- Support heavy blooms: Stake the stems early in spring to prevent heavy double flowers from flopping.
- Watch for ants: Do not spray ants crawling on the buds, as they harmlessly feed on sugary nectar.
- Planting depth: Ensure the pink growth buds or eyes are buried no deeper than two inches.
Close Relative (c) Ljaž, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ljaž · cc-by
Close Relative George Chernilevsky / Public domain · cc0
Close Relative (c) Lena Struwe, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Lena Struwe · cc-by-sa
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