Peony, Chinese Garden (Paeonia lactiflora), packet of 10 seeds
$4.95
Family: Peony (Paeoniaceae)
Hardy to Zones 4 to 8
(Chinese Peony, White Peony, Herbaceous Peony, Common Garden Peony, Bai-shao, Chi-shao) Herbaceous perennial. Native to China, Tibet and Japan. Plant tolerates full sun to part shade and will appreciate more shade in warmer zones. Growing to about 28 inches, the plant makes a bouquet of large, round, fragrant, cup-shaped blossoms that occur in the late spring. Despite its common name of “white peony,” that refers to the flower color of the wild plant, the colors of peony cultivars will range from red to pink to white. Traditional usage (TCM): menstrual irregularities, fibroid cysts, inflamed liver. There is good demand among practitioners of TCM for domestically produced organic peony root. White peony root (Bai-shou) is composed of the peeled, dried roots of the plant. Red peony root (Chi-shou) is composed of the roots with the root bark still intact. This plant likes full sun to part shade and well-drained garden soil. Sow seeds anytime in gallon pots, about an inch deep (the seeds are large). Sow about 10 seeds per pot. Germination is usually in the first spring after overwintering, but will sometimes take 2 years.* Patience. Grow out in the gallon pot for a year before individuating and transplanting up to larger containers, then eventually out to the garden. Space plants 2 feet apart.
10 seeds/pkt., open pollinated
**Seeds planted on 10/30/2019 germinated on 3/9/2021, a 494 day induction period. Photo in gallery. RAC
In stock
Question
kris10.ann.smith –
Hi Richo! How will these plants differ from the many garden variety peonies? Do the garden varieties have fewer medicinal qualities?
Thank you!
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Richo Cech –
hi, thanks for writing! Peony is very complex. See pages 296 to 297 of “Growing Plant Medicine.” Peony has been played with alot. hybrid peonies and select varietals are not medicinal herbs. luckily peony does tend to come true to type from seed so our OP’s are trustworthy. richo
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kris10.ann.smith –
That’s what I wondered! I’ll refer to the book (which is a real treasure trove, by the way). Thank you!
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Question
gehl.danielle –
Hi Richo, I came across a package of these seeds marked as “packed for 2018”. Do you think they are still viable?
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Richo Cech –
Hi, probably not, we change these out yearly because fresh is best. richo
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maxi –
Is this the same as the Chinese medicinal cultivar?
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maxi –
Is this lactiflora the same as the Chinese Medicinal Cultivar?
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Richo Cech –
yes
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Lizzie (verified owner) –
I planted these 10 seeds last spring in a gallon pot and put them in a shady corner of my yard. I barely remembered to even water them. I noticed this spring that three of the seeds have germinated and are beautiful! It does take patience but I’m very excited about them.
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