Chinese Mudan flower over many years without a break, from a seedling aged 4-5 years to senescent plants aged over hundred years. In the various places in China, there are quite a few very old peonies still living.

In a normal year it takes 50-60 days from breaking of bud dormancy to flowering. This period varies between different cultivars. Those flowering early or with simpler flower forms take a shorter period, but late flower-in cultivars or those with higher rank flower forms take longer. The flowering period of different varieties is generally 3-10 days for individual flowers. The overall flowering period for a mature plant is about 25-30 days. The date flowering begins the length of the flowering period and flower quality depends on the variety, weather conditions and the cultivation environment. A warm winter affects some varieties that benefit from low temperature and results in poorer flowering, and is particularly harmful for plants being forced. An excessively cold winter can damage buds and thus affect flowering in the next spring. At flowering time, dry and hot winds or excessive rain shorten the flowering period and damage flowers.

• Flower Form

Different amounts of petals or different degrees of petaloidy define different forms within the divisions of flower forms. There are mainly 11 flower forms.

Single Form: 1 - 3 whorls of normal petals that are wide, large and flat with a wide-ovate, ovoid or obovate shape. Stamens normal and pistils normal and fertile.

Lotus Form: Large and neat petals in 4 - 5 slightly overlapping whorls forming the shape of a lotus flower. Stamens normal and pistils normal.

Chrysanthemum Form: 6 whorls and over. Petals gradually decreasing in size towards the center. Stamens normal or fewer and petaloid in the center of the flower; pistils normal.

Rose Form: Petals generally longer than in chrysanthemum form, becoming smaller from the outside towards the center. Most stamens disappeared. Pistils normal, slightly petaloid, reduced or completely disappeared.

Hundred Proliferate-Flower Form: Here the flower form has the appearance of top-bottom overlapping of two or more individual flowers of the Hundred petals sub-section. The Hundred petals sub-section includes Single Form, Lotus Form, Chrysanthemum Form, and Rose Form.

Golden Stamen Form: 2 - 3 whorled petals, large and straight. Bright golden stamens, large anthers and anther stalks. Pistil normal.

Anemone Form: 2 - 3 outer whorls of wide and straight petals. Stamens completely petaloid and have become narrow and straight petals. Pistils normal or reduced.

Golden Circle Form: 2 - 3 outer whorls of wide and large petals. Most stamens petaloid, but a whorl of normal stamens remains as a golden circle between the narrow interior petals and the wide outer petals. Pistils normal, or petaloid, or reduced.

Crown Form: Wide and expanded outer petals. Completely petaloid stamens usually with the appearance of becoming larger from outside to inside, sometimes mixed with a few narrow silk-like incompletely petaloid stamens. Pistils are petaloid, reduced or completely disappeared. The center of the flower is raised, forming a crown shape.

Globular Form: All stamens are highly petaloid with shapes and sizes similar to those of normal petals. Pistils petaloid or reduced. The whole flower resembles a Chinese artistic ball.

Crown Proliferate-Flower Form: Here there are various forms which have the appearance of two or more individual flowers of the Crown sub-section overlapped from top to bottom. The Crown sub-section includes Golden Stamen Form, Anemone Form, Golden-Circle Form, Crown Form, and Globular Form.

• Flower Colour

• Florescence

The three flowering periods of tree peony and herbaceous peony: early, mid-season and late are below, based on the flower chronology in the locations of Luoyang and the central section of China.

Florescence of tree peony: From early April to early May.

Early blossoming varieties: From early April to early mid-April.

Mid-season blossoming varieties: From mid-April to late April.

Late blossoming varieties: From the end of April to early May.

Florescence of herbaceous peony: From late April to late mid-May.

Early blossoming varieties: From late April to early May.

Mid-season blossoming varieties: From early May to early mid-May.

Late blossoming varieties: From early mid-May to late mid-May.

Florescence of a single flower varies between different varieties. The flowering period of different varieties is generally 5-10 days for individual flowers. The overall flowering period for a mature plant is about 25-30 days. The time of the flowering date, the length of the flowering period and flower quality depends on the variety, weather conditions and the cultivation environment. A worm spring advances flowering, while a cold spring delays it. A warm winter affects some varieties that benefit from low temperature and results in poorer flowering, and is particularly harmful for plants being forced. An excessively cold winter can damage buds and thus affect flowering in the next spring. At flowering time, dry and hot winds or excessive rain shorten the flowering period and damage flowering.

Tree peony blossom monthly in the man-made control conditions.

• Flower Fragrance

Most of varieties of tree peony or herbaceous peony have fragrance. The flower fragrance of peonies is divided into three types: delicate fragrance, moderate fragrance, and rich fragrance. The fragrance of a variety varies possibly as weather conditions and the cultivation environment.

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