Delavay's tree peony
Paeonia delavayi, family Paeoniaceae
In its own language: 滇牡丹
A woody peony from China with flowers in red, yellow, or other shades
Delavay's tree peony is a low, woody shrub native to southwestern China, found in places like Yunnan, Sichuan, and southeast Tibet. Its nodding flowers, which can be red, yellow, or other colors, bloom in late spring and are grown both for gardens and for traditional medicine.
- Native to Yunnan, Sichuan, and southeast Tibet in China
- Flowers may be red, yellow, orange, purple, or white
- Blooms in late spring, from mid-May to mid-June
- Spreads mainly by underground stems, not seeds
- Listed as endangered in China due to root harvesting
What does Delavay's tree peony look like?
Delavay's tree peony is a small, leaf-shedding shrub that grows from about 25 cm to nearly 1.8 meters tall. Its leaves are finely divided into many narrow segments, giving them a delicate look. The flowers droop and come in a range of colors—deep reds, yellows, oranges, purples, and sometimes even white or greenish shades. Each flower can have a mix of colors, and the center is filled with many stamens. The plant has a light scent, especially when the disk at the base of the flower produces nectar.
Where does Delavay's tree peony come from?
This peony is found only in southwestern China, especially in Yunnan, Sichuan, and the southeast part of Tibet. It grows in forests with spruce or pine and oak, as well as on grassy slopes at high elevations, between 2,000 and 3,600 meters. The plant spreads mainly by underground stems, forming large clumps. It was first described by European botanists in the late 1800s, and its scientific name honors a French missionary who collected plants in China.
When and how Delavay's tree peony blooms
Delavay's tree peony blooms from mid-May to mid-June. It prefers deep, well-drained soil that is neutral or slightly alkaline, and does best in sun or partial shade. The plant is usually grown from divisions, since it rarely sets seed. In gardens, it is often placed in sheltered spots to protect its branches and flowers from wind. Good drainage is important to avoid root problems.
How Delavay's tree peony is used
People grow this peony for its showy flowers in gardens, and in China, it is also cultivated for use in traditional medicine. The roots are sometimes harvested for this purpose. Its wide range of flower colors makes it popular with gardeners and plant breeders. In the wild, it is considered at risk due to overharvesting for medicinal use.
Kinds of Delavay's tree peony
The species is highly variable, with differences in flower color, leaf shape, and other features across its range. Formerly, plants with yellow or white flowers and those with narrow leaves were given separate names, but now they are all treated as one species. Some hybrids, such as the Itoh peonies, were developed by crossing this species with others, resulting in new garden varieties.
What Delavay's tree peony means
Delavay's tree peony is valued in China for both its beauty and its use in traditional remedies. Its endangered status is recognized in Chinese conservation lists, mainly because of root collection for medicine. In horticulture, it has played a key role in breeding new peony varieties, especially those with yellow flowers.
Questions people ask about Delavay's tree peony
Where does Delavay's tree peony come from?
It is native to southwestern China, especially the provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan, and the southeast part of Tibet, where it grows in forests and on mountain slopes.
What colors do the flowers have?
The flowers can be red, yellow, orange, purple, white, or even have a mix of these colors. Some have spots or margins in a different shade.
How is Delavay's tree peony used?
It is grown in gardens for its attractive flowers and is also cultivated in China for traditional medicine, where the roots are used.
Why is it considered endangered?
The species is at risk mainly because its roots are dug up for medicinal use. If this is not managed, local populations could decline.
What role does it play in peony breeding?
Delavay's tree peony has been important in creating new garden peonies, especially those with yellow flowers, through hybridization.
Good reading and sources
- How to grow tree peonies / RHS Growing GuideRoyal Horticultural Society, Article
- USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Paeonia delavayi on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Paeonia delavayi", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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