The peony blooms in late spring and early summer, opening at just the right time around May.

The Chinese peony (Paeonia lactiflora) is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant. Its blooming season falls in late spring and early summer, generally opening one after another around May, which is why it is popularly called the flower god of May. It blooms later than the tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa), neatly extending the tree peony's viewing season, and the two flowers are often mentioned together.

The Chinese peony's flowers are large and full, with double-flowered varieties forming layer upon layer of petals, and their colors span many shades including red, pink, white and purple. The blooming period of a single plant is not very long; one flower can usually only be enjoyed for a few days, but if early-, mid- and late-blooming varieties are planted together, the overall viewing period can be stretched out considerably.

How early and how long the Chinese peony blooms depends on the variety, the climate and the care it receives. Ensuring sufficient light during the bud stage and supplementing with phosphorus and potassium fertilizer as appropriate will help the buds develop more fully; once the blooming season begins, avoiding scorching sun and rain exposure and keeping the plant in a cool, well-ventilated spot will also keep the flowers open a little longer.

Many people cannot tell the Chinese peony and the tree peony apart, but in fact the difference can be seen from their blooming seasons: the tree peony blooms first and the Chinese peony afterward, and the Chinese peony is herbaceous, with its above-ground parts withering in winter and sprouting again the following spring. After the flowers fade, promptly cut off the spent blooms and keep the leaves healthy to help the plant store up nutrients, which is very beneficial for next year's flowering. Cutting a few stems and placing them in a vase of water is also the most common way the Chinese peony is used.