Chinese: Chi Shao Yao.
Region: Europe, central Asia.
Habitat: coniferous woods, rocky hillsides amongst shrubs; dry steppe grassland; forest margins and clearings; prefers deep rich soil, neutral or slightly alkaline; quite well in sun or light shade; intolerant of waterlogged or too dry soil; lime tolerant; very cold resistant.
Use: ornamental; root, dried and cooked, with protein food; young shoots, cooked, as food.
BotanyHerb; perennial; 50 cm high; easily growing plant; long-lived; inhibiting nearby plants, especially legumes.
Root: intolerant of root disturbance.
Flower: only having one flower on a stem.
Pollination: by insects; self-fertile.
TaxonomyClosely related to
Paeonia veitchii.