# Peony (*Paeonia lactiflora*)

Peonies are fluffy, colorful flowers that bloom in late spring! They are loved for their big, beautiful blooms.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Gardens and flower beds
- **Also known as:** Chinese Peony, Common Peony, Garden Peony

![Peony](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424270/objects/4909.jpg)

## Appearance

The Peony has large, often fragrant blooms with many layers of petals, ranging from crisp white and soft pink to vibrant red and deep purple, sometimes with yellow accents. Its lush, deep green foliage provides a beautiful contrast to the showy flowers, making it easily distinguishable.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Saxifragales
- **Family:** Paeoniaceae
- **Genus:** Paeonia

## Interesting facts

- Ancient China considered peonies the 'King of Flowers'!
- Different peony varieties can smell like roses, citrus, or even cloves!
- Peonies can symbolize good fortune and happy marriage.
- Some peonies change color as their flowers mature!

## Special abilities

- **Pollinator Beacon:** Peony produces large, colorful, and often fragrant flowers to attract insects like bees, helping it reproduce effectively.
- **Ant Guardian:** Peony buds produce sweet nectar attracting ants, which may help protect the plant from chewing pests.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 60-100 cm
- **Spread:** 60-90 cm
- **Flower Size:** 10-20 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen, aiding reproduction.
- **Symbiotic with:** [Black garden ant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-garden-ant) (*Formica fusca*) — Attracted to nectar on buds, potentially deterring pests.
- **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — May browse on leaves and buds in wild areas.

## Traits

- [Perennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/perennial): Perennial plants live for more than two years, typically returning to grow and bloom each year from their roots.
- [Herbaceous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbaceous): Herbaceous plants are non-woody plants with soft stems that typically die back to the ground at the end of the growing season.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Peony?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Peony?

60-100 cm

### How wide does Peony spread?

60-90 cm

### How big are the flowers on Peony?

10-20 cm

### When does Peony bloom?

Late spring to early summer

### Is Peony edible?

No

### Is Peony toxic?

Mild

### What is Peony's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Botanischer Garten Christiansberg](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/de-0392-botanischer-garten-christiansberg) — Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, DE · Park
- [Arboretum Ellerhoop](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arboretum-ellerhoop) — Schleswig-Holstein, DE · Park
- [Volkspark Potsdam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/volkspark-potsdam) — Brandenburg, DE · Park

[View all places to see Peony](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/peony)

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Peony: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/peony)