Paeonia, 'Black Panther' hybrid tree peony

Notable characteristics: The fully double blooms are of the darkest, black-red and are very freely produced. The flowers are held above the foliage and out facing. The foliage is fine and delicately incised, like bamboo leaves or the brush strokes of Chinese calligraphy. This cultivar makes a fine specimen. 

Cultivar group, hybridizer and year introduced: Lutea hybrid, Saunders, 1948.

Growth habit and size at maturity (10 years old): Semi-spreading habit, grows to 3' tall and 3' wide. Forms a very attractive mounded shrub.

Flower form and size: Fully double blossoms to 6".

Flower fragrance: Spicy-sweet, slight.

Bloom time: Late season tree peony, blooms in our USDA zone 6a garden in the last week of May or first week of June.

Zone hardiness: Proven in USDA zones 4-9.

Plant size: 1 year old grafted tree peonies have 1 woody stem, with offshoot buds, and a graft root. The plant may or may not have some of its own roots already developed. This one may bloom its first spring in the ground, or will wait until the second spring.

Shipping time: Fall 2025