What are the differences between peony (herbaceous peony) and tree peony? A quick guide to telling them apart

1. The origins of the two

Both belong to the family Ranunculaceae and also to the genus Paeonia, so they inevitably share many similarities and are even very easy to confuse. In fact, in ancient times these two plants were not distinguished. Later, the terms "tree herbaceous peony" and "grass herbaceous peony" appeared. After that, "tree herbaceous peony" became what we now call the tree peony, and "grass herbaceous peony" is what we now regard as the herbaceous peony. There are records about them in the Compendium of Materia Medica.

2. Main differences

(1) The former is an herbaceous plant, a tuberous-rooted perennial type. The latter is a woody plant, specifically a deciduous shrub.

(2) Their stems are also different. The stem of the first plant is herbaceous, and when a certain season arrives and the leaves fall, its above-ground parts die back. The stem of the second plant is woody. After the leaves fall, its above-ground parts can remain alive.

(3) Their leaves also differ. The former's leaves are relatively narrow, and both sides are deep green. The latter's leaves are relatively broad, green on the upper side and slightly yellowish on the underside.

(4) Their flowers are also different. The former's flower diameter is around 15 cm, while the latter's is around 20 cm.

(5) Their flowering periods also differ. The former blooms in late spring and early summer, while the latter blooms around March, that is, in early spring.