Paeonia obovata aka Chinese Peony

Paeonia obovata is a woodland peony in the Paeoniaceae family. It grows wild in temperate parts of eastern Asia. Its range includes China, the Russian Far East, Korea and Japan. It grows in woods and mountain thickets. In China, it occurs in broad-leaved, mixed and conifer forests. This herbaceous perennial forms a compact clump, not a woody shrub.

Garden plants often reach 1.5–2 feet [0.46–0.61 metres] tall. Missouri Botanical Garden gives a spread of 2 feet [0.61 metres]. RHS lists broader height and spread ranges, reaching 3.3 feet [1 metre]. The leaves divide into large, oval or egg-shaped leaflets. They have a slight grey-green tint and form groups of three. The foliage lasts through summer and into early autumn. Frost then kills the growth above ground.

The single flowers form cups about 3 inches across. Their petals range from white to pink or rose-purple. Yellow stamens fill the centre, and the flowers have a light scent. Bloom starts in mid-spring, with May to June reported in Chicago. Each plant flowers for about seven to ten days. The blooms need no stakes or other support. Seed pods follow the flowers and split open in late summer. These expose glossy black seeds and add interest after bloom.

Grow this peony in rich soil that drains well. Keep the soil moist, but avoid waterlogged ground. It suits partial shade, though RHS also recommends full sun. It accepts sandy, loamy, clay and chalk soils. Soil may be acid, neutral or alkaline. Chicago lists USDA zones 5–7; RHS rates it H6. Plants can live for years without division or disturbance. Cut dead foliage to ground level in autumn to reduce disease risk. Raise new plants from seed or divide established clumps in autumn.

Use it in woodland gardens, shaded borders or low edging. Its leaves also work beside hostas and other shade plants. Flowers attract butterflies, and sources report resistance to deer and rabbits. RHS lists eelworms, swift moth caterpillars and several fungal diseases. These include honey fungus, leaf blotch and peony wilt. Plants For A Future records no edible uses. It reports medicinal uses for the root, not food uses. Its hazard record says none are known, but other evidence flags harm. RHS identifies skin irritation in dogs and cats; its extracted record also flags human toxicity.