Peonies include about 30 species of tufted herbaceous perennials, shrubs and deciduous suffrutics, native to meadows, scrublands and rocky places in Europe, eastern Asia and north-western America. They are grown primarily for their large, showy, often fragrant, brightly coloured flowers and divided leaves. Leaves can range from dark green to silvery, bluish or grey-green. The flowers, generally erect and solitary, or grouped on a single stem, have 5 green sepals and 5-10 coloured petals. Flowering occurs mainly in early summer. Genus of 30 or more species of tufted herbaceous perennials and deciduous, sometimes suckling, shrubs and suffrutics (tree peonies) native to meadows, scrublands and rocky places in Europe, eastern Asia and north-western America. They are cultivated mainly for their large showy, brightly coloured, sometimes fragrant flowers and divided leaves. Peonies have more or less dark green leaves, sometimes silvery, bluish or grey-green; the flowers are usually erect and solitary or grouped on a single stem, each flower has 5 green sepals and 5-10 brightly coloured petals. Peonies mostly bloom in early summer.