Chinese peony

It is 50–70 cm (20–28 in) tall and broad, with 9-lobed leaves 20–40 cm (8–16 in) long. The flower buds appear in late spring (May in the Northern Hemisphere). They are large and round, opening into fragrant, cup- or bowl-shaped flowers 8–16 cm (3–6 in) in diameter, with 5–10 white, pink, or crimson petals and yellow stamens. The plant attracts butterflies. Its habitats include dry open stony slopes, riverbanks and sparse woodland edges.

Paeonia lactiflora became a popular still life subject for Impressionist artists in the late 19th century.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir featured Peonies in multiple paintings from the 1870s through the 1890s. The Independent wrote of his fondness for the flower that: "They had been introduced into the horticultural world of Paris in the 1860s, so there was still something of the exotic about them, and Renoir paints them rather solemnly and majestically." Vincent van Gogh painted "Vase with Peonies", "Bowl with Peonies and Roses" and "Vase with cornflowers and poppies, peonies and chrysanthemums", all in 1886. Claude Monet painted "Vase of Peonies" in 1882. Édouard Manet cultivated peonies in his garden and painted them frequently. The Impressionist artist Frédéric Bazille painted "Young Woman with Peonies" in 1870 as a tribute to his friend Manet, knowing his fondness for the flower.