Chinese Moutan

In this section we list tree peonies bred and named in China. The war between Japan and China dealt a severe blow to the cultivation of Moutan. During the first three decades of this century many varieties of Moutan were imported into Japan from China and of these twelve remain in cultivation today. These are the first plants listed here, from Shushako to Shijoro. There exist in China today varieties which resemble these plants but the names have been altered, After the war many varieties were raised from seed and given names. The Chinese Moutan listed here are those expected to be on sale in Japan in the near future.

		Shushako	Full double, the stem bending under the weight of the flower. Medium size. Midseason. Broad leaflets. Spreading growth.
		Enyoshin	Fewer petals than the average Moutan. Medium size. Midseason. Broad leaflets. Spreading growth
		Reine Elisabeth	Large flower. Early midseason. Broad rounded leaflets. Bred in Europe a century ago. It has the characteristics of Chinese Moutan, so we include it here.
		Juro	Medium size. Early midseason. leaflets Spreading growth.
		Shijo	After full bloom The upper parts of the petals show fading. Medium size. Midseason. Broad leaflets. Spreading growth.
		Ryokukocho	Large size A strong stem holds the flower upright. The pistil forms petaloids which are pale green. Midseason. Broad wavy leaflets.
		Gyokka	Medium size. Midseason. Leaflets of this Chinese Moutan are not broad but are waved. Spreading growth.
		Meijino-homare	Tips of the centre petals sometimes pale green. Medium size. Midseason. Leaflets with rounded tips. Spreading growth.
		Yoboku	Medium size. Early rnidseason. Leaflets are not broad as compared with average Moutan.
		Hakuho	Reddish purple flares at the base of petals. Medium size. Midseason. Broad rounded leaflets. Spreading growth.
		Tameko	Tips of ihe centre petals sometimes pale green Medium size. Midseason. Spreading growth.
		Shijoro	On opening the flower is palest pink turning white after full bloom. Tips of the centre petals sometimes pale green. Medium size. Midseason. Broad wavy leaflets.
		Zhuang Yuan Hong	Medium size. Midseason. Spreading growth.
		Huo Lian Jin Dan	Stamens intermingled with the central petals. Medium size. Midseason. Spreading growth.
		Jing Luo Bao Zhu	Medium size. Early midseason. Spreading growth
		Da Hu Hong	A short stem hold the flower uprighi. Medium size. Early midseason.
		Si He Lian	Reddish purple flares at the base of petals. Medium size Early. Blooms held upright. Rather narrow leaflets. Tall.
		Jiu Zui Jan Fei	Large size. Early midseason. Flower held upright. Rather narrow leaflets. Tall.
		Jin Fen Yin Lin	Tips of the centre petals sometimes pale green. Medium size. Midseason. Spreading growth.
		Zhao Fen	The lower photograph show a single flower and full-double flowers on the same plant. This is characteristic of Zhaofen. Large size. Early Spreading growth.
		Da Zong Zi	Botan colour. A short stem holds the semi-double flower upright. Medium size. Early.
		Jia Ge Jin Zi	Slightly lighter than Botan colour. Large size. Midseason. Spreading growth.
		Shou An Hong	Slightly lighter than Botan colour. A few stamens mix with the inside petals. Medium size. Midseason.
		Zi Lan Kui	Medium size. Midseason. Spreading growth.
		Zhu Sha Lei	Medium size. Early. Short stems hold the semi-double flowers upright.
		Ping Shi Yan	Medium size. Midseason. Spreading growth.
		Lan Tian Yu	Stamens mixed with the inner petals. Medium size. Early midseason. Spreading growth.
		Mo Sa Jin	Dark Purplish-red. The inside petals have small gold tips sporadically These appear to be vestiges of stamens. Small size. Midseason. Small plant.
		Wu Long Peng Shen	Slightly dark colour of purplish red. Creamy white tips to centre petals. Medium size. Midseasson.
		Bai Yu	Large size. A few stamens remain but the pistil is not fully developed. Midseason.
		Kun Shan Ye Guan	Tips of centre petals sometimes pale green. Medium size. Late midseason.
		Xian He Bai	Medium size. Early midseason. Blooms held upright. Narrow leaflets.
		Yao Huang	Creamy white. Stamens scattered amongst the inner petals, giving the flower a yellow appearance than the petal colour. A strong stem holds the flower upright. Medium size. Late midseason.
		Dou Lu	Bud has difficulty opening, when the tips of the pale green petals containing chlorophyll are visible. After full bloom the colour is nearly white with reddish purple flares at the base of the petals. Medium size. Late midseason. Weak growth, small plant.
		Jiao Rong San Bian	Bud has difficulty opening, showing pale green tips of pelals. The open flower is palest pink turning white after full bloom. Medium size. Late midseason.
		Er Qiao	Variegated flowers do not appear every year and the variegation has no fixed form. Medium size. Midseason. Blooms held upright Narrow leaflets. Tall.
		Er Qiao