Paeonia suffruticosa

Paeonia suffruticosa, the moutan or tree peony, is a species of peony native to China. Paeonia suffruticosa is the plant’s botanical name. More commonly, the plant is referred as the tree peony. It is known as mudan (牡丹) in Chinese and is an important symbol in Chinese culture. It was first described and validly published by Henry Charles Andrews in 1804.

The flower component is its most attracting feature of the plant. Paeonia suffruticosa’s flower is very large in comparison with most other flower species. The size of the flower usually ranges from 6-12 inches cross. It is the flower component that is used to classify the plant’s cultivar, using characteristics such as the flower form and color. The epidermis of its roots is used in traditional Chinese medicine, called "mudanpi" (牡丹皮).

Paeonia suffruticosa is a cultivated plant. Even until today, there are still uncertainties regarding which wild plants the flower is derived from. The flower originates from China and its surrounding areas, possessing significant cultural meaning throughout Chinese history. Currently there are about 600 Chinese tree peony cultivars. Since its introduction abroad, a few unique cultivar groups have been bred in France, Britain, the United States, and some other countries. This species is less common in U.S, but it can generally be found in plant nurseries.

Paeonia suffruticosa, also known as the tree peony, originates from China. Sometimes, people refer to these tree peonies as “Chinese tree peonies.”

Paeonia suffruticosa belongs to the peony family. The most distinctive feature is that Paeonia suffruticosa is a bush or a tree, whereas most peonies are herbaceous. Despite their classification as trees, it is the flowers that attract people's attention. Peonies are generally slow to grow and have flowers that only last briefly and are fragile under weather conditions such as wind, rain or hot temperatures.

In comparison, Paeonia suffruticosa, as a tree, survives longer than the rest of the peonies. The woody stems of tree peonies allow the plant to survive in winter. In general, the plant is long-lived, and the flowers bloom longer in the early spring.