WHAT IS A PEONY? 
For the benefit of those who may not know, a Peony is bo- 
tanically a plant and its flower of the ranunculaceous genus, 
Paeonia. For most of us, it is a hardy perennial, or small 
shrub, (tree peony) whose beauty and usefulness in the garden 
is second to none. 
The natural order of plants to which it belongs, (Ranuncu- 
lacea from ranunculus, a little frog), includes the buttercup 
(the type), anemone, monkshood, larkspur and others, whose 
flowers are often yellow, which color is conspicuous by its 
absence in the common peony, though it is found in three or 
four species, not so well known. 
The name is derived from Paeon, a mythical physician, 
into which flower he was turned by the god Pluto, to escape 
death at the hands of his teacher, the physician, Aesculapius, 
who was jealous of his healing powers. 
It was placed by the ancients among the wonders of the 
vegetable creation, possessing the power to relieve headaches, 
cure convulsions, prevent nightmares and remove obstructions 
from the liver. Planted by the door steps it kept away evil 
spirits. A small piece of root worn around the neck preserved 
the wearer from all kinds of enchantments. It should never 
be dug in the daytime or a green woodpecker would peck out 
the eyes of the digger. So goes the legend. 
Its many species are found widely scattered through the 
Northern Hemisphere, though no wild form is native to East- 
ern North America. The following list of the various species, 
giving their color and geographical distribution, is taken from 
the latest book on the subject, ‘“A Study of the Genus Pae- 
onia,”’ by F. C. Stern, published by the Royal Horticultural 
Society of England in 1946. 
The genus is divided into three sections: 
First: MOUTAN, embracing the tree peony species which 
are: 
Suffructicosa, (syn.: moutan, arborea), white to rose pink, 
with a magenta blotch, edged red at the base of the petals, 
Northwest China and Tibet. 
Delavayi, dark red; lutea, yellow, and its variety lutea Lud- 
lowii, only recently discovered, large, yellow. 
Potanini, deep maroon red and its variety, trollioides, yel- 
low, all native of China and Tibet. 
Second: ONAEPIA, having its petals and sepals the same 
length, composed of the only two species native to America; 
Brownii, dark maroon, mountainous sections, California to 
Washington; and californica, purplish, Southern California 
up to 4,000 feet elevation. 
Third: PAEON, which includes all herbaceous species found 
in Europe, Africa, and Asia. This section is further divided 
into two subsections, twelve groups and about 39 different 
species. Here will be mentioned only the most prominent 
species with their color and distribution; Mlokosewitschi, yel- 
low; Wittmanniana, yellowish and its variety, macrophylla 
yellowish, all natives of the region between the Black and 
Caspian Seas; Cambessedesii, deep rose; and Russu, rose, 
Western Mediterranean islands; mascula, red-rose, from Eng- 
land to Russia and south to Asia Minor; daurica, rose red, 
Crimea, Asia Minor, Caucasus; obovata, white to rose purple, 
Siberia, Manchuria, China, Japan; and its variety Willmottiae, 
white China; japonica, white, Japan; arietina, red, Italy, 
Greece, Asia Minor; Broteri rose, Spain, Portugal, coriacea, 
rose, Spain, Morocco, Algeria; lactiflora, (syn: albiflora), 
white, Siberia, Manchuria, Mongolia, China, Tibet; emodi, 
wh., India, tallest of all; peregrina, red, The Balkans and 
its variety lobata, vermilion; officinalis, red, Southern Europe; 
Clusii, white, Crete: humilis, red, Spain and France; mollis, 
red, white, gardens only; tenuifolia (fern leaf), deep crim- 
son, Bulgaria, Caucasus; anomala, crimson, Russia, Central 
Asia; Veitchii, magenta, China, and its variety Woodwardii, 
magenta, Western China. 
All species have only one flower to a stem except lactiflora, 
emodi and Veitchii and their varieties. The flowers are always 
single. 
The tree peony found its way into the gardens of the 
Chinese aristocracy hundreds of years ago. It was later 
brought into Japan and about 150 years ago, Europe re- 
ceived it from the Orient. 
The tree peony is a shrubby counterpart of the familiar 
herbaceous perennial and is distinguished principally by its 
woody stems. The branches do not die back to the ground in 
Winter as do the herbaceous types. It puts forth its buds in 
the Autumn and thus develops somewhat faster in the Spring. 
By the time it is several years old, it is capable of blooming 
in great profusion. Tree peonies usually are taller than the 
herbaceous kinds and have larger flowers—which are pro- 
duced two or three weeks earlier. The plant may grow to a 
height of 4-5 feet and may become 3-4 feet in diameter. 
Grafted varieties will occasionally exceed this size but seed- 
lings have been known to grow larger. 
A tree peony is a striking plant and should be given a place 
of honour. So placed, a single specimen may become the focal 
point in an intimate garden. A group of them is spectacular 
and when backed by Lilacs, is unbelievably beautiful. Land- 
scape architects have recently recognized in the tree peony, 
an excellent small shrub for their planning. 
At the present time, three distinct groups of tree peonies 
can be distinguished: the European, the Japanese and the 
Lutea hybrids. Though the European and the Japanese types 
are from the same ancestry (Paeonia Suffruticosa), they are 
quite different in appearance. The European tree peonies are 
usually very double and have broad foliage; the Japanese 
types have single or semi-double blooms and the leaves are 
much finer and thinner than the European. Also, the Japan- 
ese tree peonies usually have in their centers, a beautiful 
cushion or circle of yellow stamens. The Lutea hybrids are 
the product of crossing Paeonia lutea with P. Suffruticosa. 
These are difficult to propagate and are rare. 
The colors of both the European and the Japanese tree 
peonies range from pure white through pale pink, rose, cherry, 
violet, salmon and cerise, to deepest red. The Japanese have 
a much broader color range than the European types. Lutea 
hybrids display colors and shades all their own. Yellows rang- 
ing from clear tones to orange tints, vie with combinations 
of yellow and red for the viewer’s attention. Some of these 
are unsurpassed even by the Rose. In the Japanese tree 
peonies, there are clear whites, pinks, salmons, reds, purples 
and maroons that cannot be described in words. Their Jap- 
anese names may come close to it. The refreshing daintiness 
of the semi-doubles and the airiness and sparkle of the full 
double blooms of any of the tree peonies defy description. 
Tree peonies begin to flower in the New York area about 
May 15th to May 20th. The Lutea hybrids open latest, about 
