coral peony

Paeonia mascula is a wild peony species with a broad native distribution across southern Europe and the Middle East. It is characterized by its tall, herbaceous growth and showy red flowers. The plant is found in countries such as France, Spain, Italy, and Lebanon, as well as in parts of the UK where it has naturalized. The species was first described by Linnaeus and later reclassified by Mill. Typification of the species remains uncertain due to unresolved historical references. It is one of several peony species in the genus Paeonia, which belongs to the Paeoniaceae family.