Are peonies and Chinese peonies the same flower? Learn how to tell the difference between the two

It is well known that tree peonies bloom in April and Chinese peonies in May, but many people still cannot tell tree peonies and Chinese peonies apart, because after they bloom they are extremely similar in both form and leaves. But as the saying goes "the tree peony is first, the Chinese peony is second"; people in ancient times liked to call the tree peony the true national beauty and the Chinese peony the minister of flowers. So, when you see them at the flower market, how can you recognize tree peonies and Chinese peonies at a glance? Read on to see the differences.

First, looking at the flower shape and root system: after a tree peony blooms, its petals are numerous and layered, the flower shape as a whole is larger, and the flower colors are rich, so the form appears fuller. At the same time, the tree peony is a perennial woody plant, and its root system is more developed than that of the Chinese peony, so it is also used in traditional Chinese medicine; this medicinal material is called "danpi". The tree peony's blooming period is in spring, from April to May. As for the Chinese peony flower, after it blooms its form is slightly flatter, the flower as a whole is smaller, the petals are fewer, and the colors are relatively uniform. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with slender rhizomes and is not used as a medicinal material. It mainly blooms at the turn of spring and summer, from May to June.

Then, distinguish tree peonies and Chinese peonies by their leaves and branches. The tree peony's leaves are pinnately compound, with serrated edges, and the leaflets at the top are larger. The leaf surface has no glossy sheen, and the color is more yellowish than that of the Chinese peony. The leaf shape looks like a human palm, and because the tree peony is a woody plant, the color of its branches is more woody. By contrast, the Chinese peony's branches are fresh tender green, its leaves are biternate compound leaves, the leaflet edges are relatively smooth or have only a few serrations, the leaves are emerald green with a glossy sheen, and the shape of the three leaflets at the end looks like a heart shape.

Finally, you can also distinguish them by the early form of the flower buds, because the tree peony's flowers are large, so its buds appear larger, and the petals also open more easily. If you look at their growth form on a mountain, the tree peony, being a shrub, has a developed root system and the plant usually reaches 1-2 m. The Chinese peony is originally a herbaceous plant, and the plant is usually 0.5-1 m tall.
In summary, tree peonies and Chinese peonies are common flowers on the market. If you judge which is which only from a single flower or a single leaf, it is indeed rather difficult to tell them apart. It is best to combine the above methods for a comprehensive judgment.