Paeonia japonica
(Makino.)Miyabe.&Takeda.
Paeoniaceae
The Temperate Database is in the process of being updated, with new records being added and old ones being checked and brought up to date where necessary. This record has not yet been checked and updated.
Common Name: Yama-Shakuyaku
General Information
Paeonia japonica is a
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
58- Title
- Flora of Japan. (English translation)
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ohwi. G.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution
- Year
- 1965
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
,
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Range
E. Asia - Japan.
Habitat
Thickets and open deciduous woods in mountains, C. and S. Japan[
58- Title
- Flora of Japan. (English translation)
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ohwi. G.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution
- Year
- 1965
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
].
Properties
Edibility Rating | |
Medicinal Rating | |
Habit | Perennial |
Height | 0.45 m |
Pollinators | Insects |
Self-fertile | Yes |
Cultivation Details
Requires a deep rich soil, preferably neutral or slightly alkaline[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
], doing quite well in sun or light shade[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
,
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Plants are tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions, but will not survive if the soil becomes waterlogged or is too dry[
250- Title
- The Gardener's Guide to Growing Peonies.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Page. M.
- Publisher
- David & Charles. Newton Abbot.
- Year
- 1997
- ISBN
- 0 7153 0531 X
- Description
- A nice little book on the genus, giving information on their cultivation and a little info on plant uses.
]. This species is lime tolerant[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Plants grown on sandy soils tend to produce more leaves and less flowers, whilst those growing on clay take longer to become established but produce better blooms[
250- Title
- The Gardener's Guide to Growing Peonies.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Page. M.
- Publisher
- David & Charles. Newton Abbot.
- Year
- 1997
- ISBN
- 0 7153 0531 X
- Description
- A nice little book on the genus, giving information on their cultivation and a little info on plant uses.
].
Closely related to P. obovata, this species is not easily cultivated in Britain and tends to be a poor doer here[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Plants offered under this name in British nurseries are often P. suffruticosa 'Japanese'[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Some botanists now treat this plant as no more than a form of P. lactiflora[
250- Title
- The Gardener's Guide to Growing Peonies.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Page. M.
- Publisher
- David & Charles. Newton Abbot.
- Year
- 1997
- ISBN
- 0 7153 0531 X
- Description
- A nice little book on the genus, giving information on their cultivation and a little info on plant uses.
].
A very long-lived plant, specimens can survive in the garden for at least 50 years[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[
233- Title
- Perennial Garden Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Thomas. G. S.
- Publisher
- J. M. Dent & Sons, London.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0 460 86048 8
- Description
- A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
].
A very greedy plant inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[
54- Title
- How to Enjoy your Weeds.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hatfield. A. W.
- Publisher
- Frederick Muller Ltd
- Year
- 1977
- ISBN
- 0-584-10141-4
- Description
- Interesting reading.
].
Strongly resents root disturbance, taking some time to recover after being divided[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
].
Peony species are usually self-fertile, though they will also hybridise with other species if these flower nearby at the same time[
250- Title
- The Gardener's Guide to Growing Peonies.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Page. M.
- Publisher
- David & Charles. Newton Abbot.
- Year
- 1997
- ISBN
- 0 7153 0531 X
- Description
- A nice little book on the genus, giving information on their cultivation and a little info on plant uses.
].
Plants take 4 - 5 years to flower from seed[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. They generally breed true from seed[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
].
Edible Uses
Flowers[
177- Title
- Plants for Human Consumption.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunkel. G.
- Publisher
- Koeltz Scientific Books
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 3874292169
- Description
- An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
]. No further details are given.
Young leaves - cooked[
177- Title
- Plants for Human Consumption.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunkel. G.
- Publisher
- Koeltz Scientific Books
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 3874292169
- Description
- An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
].
Root - chewed[
177- Title
- Plants for Human Consumption.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunkel. G.
- Publisher
- Koeltz Scientific Books
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 3874292169
- Description
- An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
].
Medicinal
The root is analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, diuretic, febrifuge and sedative[
174- Title
- Atlas of Medicinal Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kariyone. T.
- Publisher
- Nihon Rinshosha; Osaka
- Year
- 1973
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A good Japanese herbal.
].
A tea made from the dried crushed petals of various peony species has been used as a cough remedy, and as a treatment for haemorrhoids and varicose veins[
250- Title
- The Gardener's Guide to Growing Peonies.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Page. M.
- Publisher
- David & Charles. Newton Abbot.
- Year
- 1997
- ISBN
- 0 7153 0531 X
- Description
- A nice little book on the genus, giving information on their cultivation and a little info on plant uses.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[
250- Title
- The Gardener's Guide to Growing Peonies.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Page. M.
- Publisher
- David & Charles. Newton Abbot.
- Year
- 1997
- ISBN
- 0 7153 0531 X
- Description
- A nice little book on the genus, giving information on their cultivation and a little info on plant uses.
]. When sown fresh, the seed produces a root about 6 weeks after sowing with shoots formed in the spring[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Stored seed is much slower, it should be sown as soon as possible in a cold frame but may take 18 months or more to germinate[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. The roots are very sensitive to disturbance, so many growers allow the seedlings to remain in their pots for 2 growing seasons before potting them up. This allows a better root system to develop that is more resilient to disturbance[
250- Title
- The Gardener's Guide to Growing Peonies.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Page. M.
- Publisher
- David & Charles. Newton Abbot.
- Year
- 1997
- ISBN
- 0 7153 0531 X
- Description
- A nice little book on the genus, giving information on their cultivation and a little info on plant uses.
]. If following this practice, make sure you sow the seed thinly, and give regular liquid feeds in the growing season to ensure the plants are well fed. We usually prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle, and then grow them on in a cold frame for at least two growing seasons before planting them out when they are in growth in the spring[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Division with great care in spring or autumn. Each portion must have a leaf bud. If the lifted root is stood in shade for several hours it becomes less brittle and easier to divide[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Divisions that have several buds will usually flower in the second year, but those that only have one or two buds will take a number of years before they have grown sufficiently to flower[
250- Title
- The Gardener's Guide to Growing Peonies.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Page. M.
- Publisher
- David & Charles. Newton Abbot.
- Year
- 1997
- ISBN
- 0 7153 0531 X
- Description
- A nice little book on the genus, giving information on their cultivation and a little info on plant uses.
].
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