What is the difference between peony and tree peony flowers?
Do you know this? The differences between peony and tree peony flowers and the different green plant flower cultivation content for distinguishing peonies and tree peonies are introduced comprehensively below.
Tree peonies have always been ranked first in the eyes of the public, while peonies are ranked second. These two flowers look very similar, and there was no difference between them a long time ago. The distinction was later made, with one being called the "tree peony" and the other the "herbaceous peony". Over time, the two flowers became more clearly distinguished, with one being called the "tree peony" and the other the "peony". Li Shizhen referred to the tree peony as the "king" and the peony as the "minister" in his Compendium of Materia Medica. Therefore, this conclusion has been passed down in people's hearts and has continued to this day.
The saying "tree peony as king, peony as minister" indicates that there are indeed differences between the two flowers. Although they look very similar and few people can distinguish them, what are the differences between tree peonies and peonies?
1. Different blooming times
Tree peonies bloom earlier than peonies by about half a month to one month. The shape of the flowers is almost indistinguishable after they bloom, but they can be distinguished by the blooming time. Tree peonies bloom in late April, while peonies bloom around mid-May.
2. Different leaves
Both tree peonies and peonies have three leaves at the top of the stem. However, the leaves of peonies are always split to the base, and the veins of peony leaves are purple-red. When the leaves first start to grow, they are also purple-red, and later turn green. Tree peonies also have three small leaves at the front, but each small leaf is divided at the front, resembling a duck's web. The leaves of tree peonies are green and lack luster.
What is the difference between peony and tree peony flowers?
3. Different stems
The stems of tree peonies are woody and robust, and after the leaves fall, the above-ground parts are still not very similar, making them a type of woody plant. The stems of tree peonies become gray-brown with age. If you see branches that are gray-brown, you can judge that they are old branches. If the stems are green, you can determine that they are new branches. Therefore, tree peonies are known as "wood peonies".
When peonies first start to sprout, the stems are red. If you find the stems of peonies are red, you can determine that they are new stems. If the stems are green, they are old stems. At the end of autumn and before winter arrives, peonies will shed their leaves. When winter comes, some of the peony leaves will wither, but the underground rhizomes will not die. In the spring of the following year, they can still sprout and grow. The height of peonies does not exceed one meter, and they are as fragile as if they had no bones, so some people also call them "boneless flowers".
The above is the full content of the differences between peonies and tree peonies and how to distinguish between them. Green plant enthusiasts may refer to this for reference.