paeonia suffruticosa

Its stems are woody and botanically it is derived from the species, Paeonia suffruticosa, which means "somewhat like a shrub."

Paeonia suffruticosa (Chinese tree peony)

In Japan Paeonia suffruticosa is called the "King of Flowers" and Paeonia lactiflora is called the "Prime Minister of Flowers."

It currently contains about 5,700 species with notable collections of Azalea, Camellia, Iris kaempferi, Paeonia suffruticosa, Paeonia lactiflora, and Selaginella tamariscina.

We rowed over the money I spent on plants, and we rowed because I refused to take a holiday when the Paeonia suffruticosa shook out its skirts to reveal its secret, bloody stains.