Perennial · Paeoniaceae family
Chinese peony
Paeonia lactiflora
In short a 10-second read
Chinese peony (perennial) grows to 0.45–0.75 m tall and 0.45–0.75 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average soil. It flowers in May–June; the flowers are white, pink or red. Hardy to −37 °C.
× spread 0.45–0.75 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average soil. Hardy to −37 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
average · watering: moderate
Soil: loamy, humus-rich, clay
Soil pH 6–7.5
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 2–5 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
May–June · white, pink or red
Pruning
deadhead spent flowers (as needed); cut back to the ground (September–November)
Planting
container plant: March–May, September–November
Winter protection
mulch the crown
Overwintering
In winter it needs protection.
Before the first frosts: mulch the crown.
- Mulch the crown
- Hardy to −37 °C
- Dies back in winter and regrows in spring
What to combine it with
Same needs, different flowering.
They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.
African Marigold
0.15–1.2 m
purple coneflower
0.9–1.2 m
orange coneflower
0.5–0.95 mReady-made Studio combinations that include Chinese peony
Peonies, columbines, masterwort and cranesbill — a romantic bed in…
Annual cosmos and zinnias with coneflower and peony — flowers for the…
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does Chinese peony flower?
In May–June; the flowers are white, pink or red.
Does Chinese peony tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does Chinese peony need?
At maturity 0.45–0.75 m wide and 0.45–0.75 m tall; recommended spacing 75 cm.
Does Chinese peony survive winter outdoors?
Yes, with protection: mulch the crown.
Where the data comes from
The data is indicative — we are still comparing it with further sources. Last checked 14 October 2026.
Show sources (16)
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Paeonia lactiflora
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Paeonia lactiflora
- GBIF Occurrence Search API — Paeonia lactiflora
- Wikidata (CC0) — Paeonia lactiflora
- RHS - Paeonia lactiflora
- RHS - How to grow perennial plants
- Perennials.com
- Perennials.com
- Beth Chatto's Plants & Gardens
- Beth Chatto's Plants & Gardens
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EU, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Denmark
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