English: Moutan.
Region: east Asia, China to the Himalayas.
Habitat: scrub in mountains; cliffs at elevations around 300 metres; sub-alpine meadows and scrub; mountain steppe; altitude 2500 to 3500 metres; prefers deep rich soil, neutral or slightly alkaline; doing well in sun or light shade, prefers part shade; intolerant of waterlogged or too dry soil; lime tolerant; frost tolerant; prefers long hot summers; subject to fungi, honey fungus.
Use: ornamental; Chinese medicine; flowers, cooked or parboiled and sweetened for a teatime delicacy; stems as firewood.
BotanyShrub; deciduous; 2 m tall; young branches are brittle and very subject to wind damage; grows slow.
Root: strongly resents root disturbance.
Pollination: by insects; self-fertile.