Paeonia officinalis subsp. banatica

Herbaceous species with fusiform tuberous roots dormant in winter.

Hairless, glossy green, deeply palmate-partite leaves divided into 9 lobes which are in turn deeply incised. Single flowers at the apex of long floral scapes exceeding the leaves, with a diameter of about 10 cm, made up of 6-10 glossy purple petals. Flowering occurs between April and May. 

Species of south-eastern Europe, it grows in decidous broad-leaves forests and pine forests and mountain medows.

In autumn the aerial vegetation dries up and the plant remains dormant throughout the winter through hibernating buds which are found immediately below the ground. These gems will be the only ones that will develop and the plant will not produce new ones throughout the growing season, for this reason you must be very careful not to break them.

Hardy.

1 potted plant.