History

At the end of the 18th Century the first Tree Peonies, in China called Moutan, arrived in Europe. The German doctor Andreas Cleyer (1634 -1697/1698) was one of the first European who saw a blooming Tree Peony in Asia. He worked for the Dutch "Vereenigden Oostindischen Compagnie" in Batavia (Djakarta) where he was responsible for the pharmacy in the fort of the company. He explored the native medicine plants in order to become independent of the expensive Dutch medicines. Two times, 1682 - 1683 and 1685 - 1686, he managed the factory of the company in Nagasaki (Japan). In 1683 he wrote the letter to Sebbastian Scheffer, doctor in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, in which he described a blooming Tree Peony as the first European:

Paeonia Moutan, The Moutan, or Chinese Tree-Peony

Chinese Tree Peony, publishd in "The Botanical Magazine; or, Flower-Garden" by Curtis, 1808 Foto: W. Good

The Moutan, though cultivated in China about fourteen hundred years, is considered in that ancient empire, according to the missionaries, as rather of modern introduction. The Chinese writers seem to differ in their accounts with regard to its origin, some attributing it to a particular process of culture, by which the common Peony has been converted into this magnificent shrub, sometimes attaining, as it is said, in the province of Lo-Yang , the soil and climate of which is particularly favourable, the heigth of eight or ten feet; whilst others, perhaps with more probability, say it was first discovered growing among the mountains in Northern China, whence it was brought into the Southern provinces, and cultivated with the same rage as Tulips have been in Euope, and with a similar effect of producing numerous varieties, some of which, from their beauty and rarity, have been known to sell in China for a hundred ounces of gold. Nothwithstanding the Chinese Florists differ from the European, in rejecting all variegated flowers, considering such as contrary to nature, they enumerate two hundred and forty species, as they are called, many of them of exquisite beauty and delightful fragrance.

Thunberg, as well as Loureiro, as is evident by his having given as synonyms both the Saku-Jaku and Botan of Kaempfer, considered this plant to be the same species with the Paeonia officinalis of Linnaeus, which is likewise cultivated in China, and much used there in medicine.

The Paeonia papaveracea of Andrews we suspect may be a mere variety of the Moutan with white flowers spotted with crimson; and that the singular union of six capsules into a globular seed-vessel with six cells, is an accidental sporting of nature. If this structure of the fruit be natural, it will afford not a specific but a generic distinction.

For the introduction of this valuable acquisition to our gardens, we are indepted to Sir Joseph Banks, who instructed several persons trading to Canton, to inquire for the Moutan, the name by which it is known in China; in consequence of which numerous specimens were sent to this country, most of them however perished in the voyage. Since that time several varieties have been imported in a growing state, but we have not seen any that were remarkable for the fragrance of their flowers.

Sir Joseph Banks (1743 - 1820), president of the Royal Society from 1778 to 1820 , introduced 1787 the first Tree Peony in England. This Tree Peony was planted out in Kew Gardens. Foto: W. Good

Propagated in China by seeds, the only way to obtain new varieties, also by parting the roots, by layers and cuttings, and they generally inoculate the buds of different varieties upon the several branches of the same root. When the time of flowering approaches, they carefully remove all superfluous buds, and protect those that are left from the scorching heat of the sun. It is sufficiently hardy to bear the cold of our climate, but to have it bloom well it is necessary to protect it by a glass frame. The finest specimen we have seen, and from which our drawing was taken, is at Mr. Greville's, at Paddington, where it is planted in the ground, and has a glazed building erected over it without flues. This plant bears a profusion of blossoms; it does not rise very high, but divides into several branches near the ground, and, spreading in a circular form, measures about nine yards in circumference.

Flowers in May and June, and sometimes with us perfects its seeds in September and October. Introduced about the year 1794.

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