Peony
Paeonia lactiflora
Native to East Asia and introduced to the West in the 18th Century, Peonies are long-lived perennials with showy heads that makes an excellent cut flower.
Both European and Asian peonies have been cultivated since ancient times. Those native to central China and Siberia (P. lactiflora) were first introduced to the West in 1784 and breeding with the European Peony took place in France and Britain. Because peonies are such long-lived plants, many nineteenth-century cultivars are still available. Thomas Jefferson noted "Piony" in a list of hardy perennials as early as 1771. Mid- to late-nineteenth-century cultivars are grown here.
In Bloom at Monticello is made possible by support from The Richard D. and Carolyn W. Jacques Foundation.
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Heirloom Seeds and Plants from the Monticello collection
Plant history in your gardens with seeds and plants from Monticello and the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants.
