Image to followAI-generated illustrationPaeonia officinalis
Paeonia officinalis
FamilyGenus: Paeonianative in Germany
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5
Species
interact
🔗
5
Interactions
documented
About this species
A classic herbaceous peony with large, showy blooms in late spring, Paeonia officinalis is an introduced garden favourite in Britain, thriving in partial shade and normal, fresh soil.
Ecological network
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PollinationFlower visit
Ecological significance
As an introduced, established garden plant, Paeonia officinalis has no recorded invasive impacts in Great Britain.
Annual cycle
In spring, new shoots emerge from the rootstock. Broad leaves develop, followed by large blooms in May and June. After flowering, the foliage remains through summer, dying back fully in autumn. The plant stays dormant underground through winter.
Standort & Merkmale
Light
Halbschatten
Moisture
Frisch (Mäßig feucht)
Soil
Mittelzehrer (Normaler Boden)
Flowering period
Mai – Jun
Soil reaction
Basisch / Kalkhold
Bioregion
Continental
Growth form
Krautige Pflanze
Woodiness
Nicht verholzt
Leaf type
Breitblättrig
Plant height
0.68 m
Morphological traits: TRY ID3 (CC BY 3.0) & TRY ID81 (CC BY)
Pflege & Anbau
Plant Paeonia officinalis in a semi-shaded spot with well-drained, normal garden soil. Water to keep the soil consistently fresh but not waterlogged, especially during dry spells. The plant is herbaceous and dies back in autumn; cut back old stems in late winter. No special feeding is necessary, though a light mulch in spring can help retain moisture. Flowers appear in May and June.
Scientific profile
Paeonia officinalis is a herbaceous perennial that reaches around 0.68 metres in height. Its broad leaves emerge in spring and the plant produces flowers in May and June. It prefers a half-shady position and grows best in fresh, moderately moist, normal soil. The species is not native to Great Britain but has become established here as a neophyte, having been introduced through horticulture. Its ecological indicator values suggest a preference for warm, moderately nutrient-rich conditions and low-disturbance sites, and its habitat is approximated as fresh, moderately nutrient-poor meadow.
Pollinators & visitors
3 Arten interagieren mit dieser Pflanze
Other flower visitors
2 other species visit the flowers
Coccinella septempunctataTurdus merula
Sources & data origin
•Interaktionsdaten via GloBI (CC-BY 4.0)
•FloraWeb / BfN
•EIVE 1.0 — Dengler et al. (2023), DOI: 10.3897/VCS.98324 (CC BY 4.0)
•GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — GBIF Secretariat (2024), DOI: 10.15468/39omei (CC BY 4.0)
•TRY Categorical Traits (ID3) — Kattge et al. (2012), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.3 (CC BY 3.0)
•TRY Global Spectrum (ID81) — Díaz et al. (2016/2021), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.81 (CC BY)
•Checklist Alien Plants Belgium — Verloove F (2023), Botanic Garden Meise (CC BY 4.0)
•Govaerts R et al. (2025) — World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) v14. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. DOI: 10.34885/xs7h-ze42 (CC BY 4.0)
All data is licensed under CC BY 4.0, CC0, or compatible terms. Attribution according to license conditions. Full source overview →