common garden peony

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• garden peony
• white peony
• common garden peony

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Paeonia lactiflora f. nuda
• Paeonia humei
• Paeonia albiflora
• Paeonia albiflora var. edulis
• Paeonia albiflora var. fragrans
• Paeonia albiflora f. hirta
• Paeonia albiflora var. humei
• Paeonia albiflora f. nuda
• Paeonia albiflora f. pilifera
• Paeonia albiflora f. pilosella
• Paeonia albiflora var. pottsii
• Paeonia albiflora var. pubescens
• Paeonia albiflora var. purpurea
• Paeonia albiflora var. spontanea
• Paeonia albiflora var. trichocarpa
• Paeonia albiflora var. whitleyi
• Paeonia yui
• Paeonia whitleyi
• Paeonia makoya
• Paeonia lactiflora var. hirta
• Paeonia lactiflora f. pilosella
• Paeonia lactiflora var. trichocarpa
• Paeonia lactiflora var. villosa
• Paeonia fragrans
• Paeonia edulis
• Paeonia edulis var. reevesiana
• Paeonia edulis var. sinensis
• Paeonia sinensis
• Paeonia reevesiana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is situated in the order Saxifragales and the family Paeoniaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Paeonia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented in Denmark and Finland. The species can also be found growing within the territories of Sweden and Great Britain. Moving toward the center of the continent, it extends into Middle Europe. Specifically, its range includes the geographic area of Czechia-Slovakia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Paeonia lactiflora is characterized by its preference for specific montane environments, primarily thriving in stony places. This species occupies a distinct vertical niche within its landscape, with an elevational range that spans from a minimum of 1000 m AMSL to a maximum of 2300 m AMSL. On average, the plant is found at a mean elevation of 1650 m AMSL, where the terrain and geological composition provide the necessary substrate for its growth.

Elevational range max:

2300 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1650 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1000 m AMSL

Habitat :

stony places

Life history

The life history of Paeonia lactiflora is characterized by its status as a perennial herb, meaning it lives for many years and follows a recurring growth cycle through successive seasons. As a perennial, the plant does not complete its life cycle in a single year like an annual or a two-year cycle like a biennial; instead, it establishes a robust, fleshy root system that stores energy to support regrowth each spring. The life cycle typically begins with the emergence of new shoots from the underground rhizomes as temperatures rise. These shoots develop into lush, compound foliage and eventually produce large, showy flowers that facilitate sexual reproduction through pollination. Following flowering, the plant produces seeds that can germinate to form new individuals, while the parent plant enters a period of senescence in the autumn, retreating into a dormant state to survive winter conditions. This cyclical pattern of vigorous seasonal growth, flowering, and dormancy allows the plant to persist in its habitat over an extended lifespan.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Paeonia lactiflora is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This plant is a self-supporting species, meaning it does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it grows as an independent organism rather than a parasite. It is a terrestrial plant, lacking aquatic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.4 m to a maximum of 1 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.55 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.55 m

Plant height min:

0.4 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Paeonia lactiflora is fundamentally characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy common to most temperate woody and herbaceous perennials where carbon fixation occurs via the enzyme Rubisco within the mesophyll cells. This C3 mechanism involves the direct fixation of atmospheric CO2 into a three-carbon compound, which dictates the plant's specific adaptations to moisture availability and temperature fluctuations. The plant's physiological processes are heavily influenced by seasonal cycles, exhibiting distinct periods of dormancy and active growth. During the vegetative phase, the plant manages high rates of transpiration and nutrient uptake through its extensive root system, which serves as the primary site for the biosynthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites, most notably monoterpene glycosides like paeoniflorin. The metabolic flux within the plant is tightly regulated by photoperiodism and vernalization requirements, ensuring that resource allocation for both biomass production and the synthesis of bioactive compounds is synchronized with optimal environmental conditions.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Paeonia lactiflora is characterized by its bisexual floral structure, facilitating sexual reproduction through both male and female organs within the same flower. The flowering period typically commences in May and extends through June. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit with specific morphological dimensions; the fruit length typically ranges from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 3 cm, with an average length of 2.75 cm. Similarly, the fruit width varies from a minimum of 1.2 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm, maintaining a mean width of approximately 1.35 cm.

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit length max:

3 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.75 cm

Fruit length min:

2.5 cm

Fruit width max:

1.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.35 cm

Fruit width min:

1.2 cm

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Paeonia lactiflora has 5 reported plant parts identified across 34 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, flower, leaf, fruit, stem.

Root

1. Archives of pharmacal research
2. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
3. Frontiers in plant science
4. Zhong xi yi jie he xue bao = Journal of Chinese integrative medicine
5. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Flower

1. Journal of chromatographic science
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Leaf

1. Journal of chromatographic science
2. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Fruit

1. Journal of natural products

Stem

1. Journal of chromatographic science

Chemicals

Paeonia lactiflora has 182 reported phytochemicals identified across 34 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Paeoniflorin, Albiflorin, Gallic acid, Benzoylpaeoniflorin, PAEONOL.

Paeoniflorin

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC plant biology
3. Frontiers in plant science
4. Journal of chromatography. A
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Albiflorin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in plant science
3. Journal of chromatography. A
4. Journal of natural medicines
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gallic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archives of pharmacal research
3. Frontiers in plant science
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Benzoylpaeoniflorin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Chinese journal of natural medicines
4. Journal of chromatographic science
5. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

PAEONOL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in plant science
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. Journal of natural medicines
5. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

benzoic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in plant science
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Journal of natural medicines

CATECHIN

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Journal of chromatographic science
3. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
4. Journal of separation science
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Flavonoids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. ChemistryOpen
4. PloS one
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

METHYL GALLATE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archives of pharmacal research
3. Journal of separation science
4. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Oxypaeoniflorin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in plant science
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Journal of separation science
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Activities

Paeonia lactiflora has 426 reported activities identified across 34 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Neuroprotective, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antidiabetic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Current drug discovery technologies
5. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Current drug discovery technologies
4. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Current drug discovery technologies

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of natural products

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current drug discovery technologies
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Anticonvulsant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antilithic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antimicrobial

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Current drug discovery technologies

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Medicinal Uses

Paeonia lactiflora has 65 reported medicinal uses identified across 34 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include depression, anti-allergic, Parkinson's disease, antioxidant, apoptosis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations