Can You Distinguish between Peonies And Peonies in Spring？

Can you distinguish between peonies and peonies in spring？

Although both Chinese herbaceous peony（Paeonia lactiflora）and peony belong to the family Paeoniaceae and genus Paeonia, there are significant differences between them, mainly manifested in the following aspects:

1.Plant morphology:Chinese herbaceous peony（Paeonia lactiflora） is a perennial herbaceous plant with a stem height between 40-70 centimeters and is relatively soft. Peony, on the other hand, is a perennial deciduous shrub with a stem height of up to 2 meters, which looks even taller and more elegant.

2.Leaf characteristics: The leaves of Chinese herbaceous peony（Paeonia lactiflora） are usually compound leaves with two or three leaves, the lower stem leaves are compound leaves with two or three leaves, and the upper stem leaves are compound leaves with three leaves. The small leaves are narrow ovate, elliptical or lanceolate. The leaves of peonies are usually composed of two or three compound leaves, but the color of the leaves is relatively light and they appear larger, giving a feeling of plump richness.

3.Flower characteristics: The flowers of Chinese herbaceous peony（Paeonia lactiflora）are usually small, with 9 to 13 petals. The petals are various colors, sometimes with deep purple patches at the base, and the maximum diameter does not exceed 11 centimeters. Peony has larger flowers, usually with 5 or double petals. The petals are colorful, and the shortest one has a diameter of 10 centimeters, giving it a more atmospheric and vibrant appearance.

4.Growth environment: Chinese herbaceous peony（Paeonia lactiflora）is distributed in China, North Korea, Japan, Mongolia, and Russia (Siberian region). In China, it is mainly distributed in Jiangsu, Northeast China, North China, Shaanxi, and southern Gansu. Peony is widely cultivated in China and has long been introduced to various parts of the world.

5.Economic value: Paeonia lactiflora not only has ornamental value, but its roots can also be used as medicine, known as "white peony", which has the effects of pain relief, spasmolysis, blood stasis removal, and meridian passage. The petals of peonies are large and fragrant, known as the "national beauty and heavenly fragrance", and their flowers are revered as the king of flowers, with rich cultural and painting works.