Common Peony

Paeonia officinalis is a species of flowering plant in the Paeoniaceae family, native to mountainous areas of Southern Europe. It has been introduced to regions such as Ontario, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, and the United States. The species was first described in 1753 by Linnaeus. Historical discussions note that while Linnaeus did not directly cite Mattioli's plates, they have been used to infer the type specimens he had in mind. Early illustrations of the plant are documented in works by Stern and Stearn & Davis.