Chinese Mudan have a wide ecological adaptability so that their cultivation is easy and conveniently managed.     They can be grown both in gardens and in pots in all parts of China.

1.Selection of Appropriate Cultivars and Sites

    Chinese peonies are classified as temperate plants. They tend to thrive in cool,dry and sunny places. The best  choice for their cultivation is a dry and airy site on higher ground,with lateral shading,good drainage and deep porous fertile soil.Uncultivated or sticky or saline earth and poor drainage are best avoided.The ideal soil for planting in pots is also loose,fertile,well-aerated and well-drained.

2.Planting

    Autumn is the best season for planting peonies,because it helps early development of new roots and thus early recovery of plant vitality for normal growth in the next spring.If possible,planting should be carried out promptly after division.Finally the plants are thoroughly watered.

3.Irrigation and Feeding

      Although Chinese peonies thrive in a dry environment they do not grow well without moisture.The principle of watering is to keep soil moist but not too wet and definitely not flooded.

      Ideally,fertiliser is applied three times per year. We suggest that you feed peonies when soil thaws and shoots germinate;after flowers fade;and with irrigation before winter and freezing begin.

4.Pruning

    Pruning and trimming affects plant growth,flower quality,visual effect and life span.The timely elimination of dry,sick or pest-damaged branches and of redundant branches and buds can maintain the dynamic balance between the parts of the plant above ground and below ground,and the even distribution of branches.

(1).Selection and Maintenance of Stems and  Branches.

    After peonies are planted out,many new shoots appear at the collar in the first year of growth.When they develop to 10cm in the second year,those that grow healthy and are evenly distributed are kept to provide new stems and branches,and the others removed,to ensure and elegant shape.In later years,one or two new shoots are left every one or two years so that the plant becomes larger and gradually fuller as desired.

(2).Utilisation of New Shoots

    To develop flowers of huge size and bright colour,bud thinning should be carried out at the same time as pruning.Only one healthy and strong shoot is kept on each branches.Adventitious buds on old branches should be completely removed to concentrate nutrient for the flowers.On vigorous varieties more buds can be retained to increase the number of flowers and to prolong the flowering period.In addition,faded flowers where the seed is not required should be removed.The dried tips of branches should be removed before winter or in early spring.

    The earliest recorded use of Mudan(peony) in medicine can be found in Shen Nong's Herbal Classic.The part of the plant for medicinal use is the bark of the root system,called Danpi or cortex Mudan.Danpi contains several medical components,the important one being paeonoside(C₉H₁₀O₃).It functions as an antibiotic to diminish inflam-mation,as a tranquilliser 、analgesic、antispastic and hypotensor.As an important Chinese herbal medicine,a great quantity is produced every year to meet demand in China and abroad.If you are interested in Danpi,please email us.