Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews (Paeoniaceae) Moutan, Tree Paeony
Native of Gansu and probably also N. Sichuan and Shaanxi, growing in scrub in the mountains, flowering in May. The form shown here, 'Joseph Rock', was introduced by Rock from a lamasery garden in S.W. Gansu and said to have been brought from the Min Shan, a limestone range, in the same area that the wild moutan was seen by Farrer and Purdom, about 65 km N.E. of Wudu. Deciduous spreading shrub to 2 m high, and more across. Flowers c. 12 cm across, in early summer. Rich well-drained soil, and good on chalk; warm position. Hardy to -20°C. Many cultivars are known, and have been grown in China since the 4th century and in Japan and Bhutan. Most have double or semi-double flowers in shades of deep red to pink or white, up to 30 cm across.

Photographs:
Paeonia suffruticosa cultivar in Beijing
Paeonia suffruticosa dark red cultivar
Paeonia suffruticosa 'Joseph Rock' at Kew
Paeonia suffruticosa cultivar, cross section