What is the difference between peony (herbaceous peony) and tree peony? Eight tips to easily tell apart the two gems of the flower world

Herbaceous peony and tree peony look extremely similar, which leaves many people utterly confused, unable to tell which is the herbaceous peony and which is the tree peony, because they look like twin sisters with far too many similarities. So where exactly do herbaceous peony and tree peony differ? Here we have compiled the following:

1. A brief introduction to herbaceous peony and tree peony

Herbaceous peony: in some places it is called the parting grass; its petals are generally obovate, and its best blooming season is May to June, when you can go to the garden to admire the flowers. The flowers come in especially many colors; the common ones are red, white, pink, yellow and green. I remember as a child, a neighbor planted a herbaceous peony, and every summer it bloomed especially beautifully, and it could also be used as medicine.

Tree peony: many people know the tree peony, so there is no need to say much about it; it is often called China's national flower, though at present our country has not specifically designated which flower is the national flower. The tree peony has many varieties, and its flower colors are also very rich; the common flower colors are red, green and yellow. The flowers of the tree peony are especially fragrant, and from ancient times to the present it has been called national beauty and heavenly fragrance.

2. Where do herbaceous peony and tree peony differ? With these eight tips you can easily tell them apart!

1. Difference in growing environment

Herbaceous peony: it likes places with light, is very drought-tolerant, and needs relatively long sunshine to bloom; if there is not enough light, it is very hard for it to bloom.

Tree peony: it likes warm, dry and cool places, is very drought-tolerant and also cold-tolerant, and is very afraid of direct sun; this is exactly the opposite of the herbaceous peony, which is not afraid of direct sun, and the more it is exposed to the sun, the more beautiful its flowers are.

2. Difference in roots

Herbaceous peony: the root consists of three parts, the root crown, the tuberous roots and the fibrous roots, and the root can be used as medicinal material.

Tree peony: the roots are more developed, with a main root and lateral roots, and contain a woody core.

3. Difference in leaves and leaf shape

Herbaceous peony: the leaves are both pointed and fine, relatively narrow, generally green in color, with pointed tips, and cannot divide further.

Tree peony: the leaves are blue-green, relatively large when spread out, and the tips can often divide again.

4. Difference in flowers

Herbaceous peony: the flowers are one or several, terminal and axillary, and the flower shape is relatively small.

Tree peony: the flowers are borne at the tips of the flowering branches, and generally grow singly.

5. Difference in flower color

Herbaceous peony: the flower colors are relatively few; the common ones are red, white and yellow.

Tree peony: the flower colors include red, purple, white, black, yellow and many other series of colors.

6. Difference in blooming period

Herbaceous peony: it generally begins to bloom in mid-May.

Tree peony: it generally begins to bloom in April; with a gap of one month, after seeing the tree peony flowers you can see the herbaceous peony flowers.

7. Difference in branches

Herbaceous peony: it is a herbaceous plant, and its branches are relatively weak and soft; pinch them and they feel soft.

Tree peony: it is a woody plant, and its branches are relatively hard and rather sturdy.

8. Difference in temperament

Herbaceous peony: it does not have a noble character, and leans more toward being a soft, gentle girl.

Tree peony: it has a noble temperament; at a glance, it is the first thing that catches the eye, with an innate kingly aura.

3. Difference in the flower language of herbaceous peony and tree peony

Herbaceous peony: it represents friendship and love; in ancient times it expressed the reluctance to part and the inability to bear separation between lovers, and now it is called by us the flower of love.

Tree peony: wealth and honor, deep affection, completeness, auspiciousness, dignified elegance, national beauty and heavenly fragrance, and so on.

4. Difference in the producing areas of herbaceous peony and tree peony

Tree peony: China's four major tree peony producing areas are respectively Luoyang, Pengzhou, Heze and Bozhou.

Herbaceous peony: in China it is mainly distributed in Hunan, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Gansu, the Northeast and North China, and other places.

Summary: the above is the compilation of the differences between herbaceous peony and tree peony; we hope it helps you tell them apart in daily life.