'LU MOUNTAIN PURPLE SMOKE' 香炉紫烟 Tree Peony (Paeonia x suffruticosa 'xiang lu zi yan/lu mountain purple smoke')

NEW FOR FALL 2024. GROWN and IMPORTED directly from HEZE, SHANDONG, CHINA!

香炉紫烟. Xiang Lu Zi Yan. Lu Mountain Purple Smoke.

The Shandong region of China has been cultivating mudan (tree peonies) for over three thousand years! Champlain Peony Company is pleased to present this lovely 'King of Flowers' from China's ancient peony capital in very limited edition.

Mudan 'Xiang Lu Zi Yan', or 'Lu Mountain Purple Smoke' sports a dark rose-purple, fully-double crown-form blossom at the terminus of every branch. This large-sized blossom is a completely filled ball of ruffled petals each with a dark-purple flare that brings brooding visual depth. Spectacular in sunny gardens and holds its own in a partially shaded garden where it comes off as nearly black! Vigorous spreading growth habit. Mid-season. An excellent cultivar. Only a very few plants are available AND you will not be finding this cultivar in your neighbors garden anytime soon...unless they beat you to this beauty! (Chen, D.Z., pre-1985).

USDA Zones 4-8 would be very successful zones for this peony. It can tolerate somewhat warmer areas than most other peonies. Where they are grown in Shandong, China is similar to the American interior mid-Atlantic and mid-western regions with cold, dry winters and hot, humid summers. Typical winter low temps are in the teens Fahrenheit with dips into single digits and with summer temps often exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It will likely thrive in our more Southern growing zones if attention is paid to afternoon shade and deep mulching to keep the ground cool and moist.

Bare roots are available for shipping in late-fall and winter only. Tree peonies are sold by the branch number and not by the 'eye' as herbaceous and intersectional peonies. Tree peonies are also excellent choices for container grown specimens on your patios and decks. 

Zones 4-8

Grafted bare root trees with 3 or more 12"-18" branches.

We do not ship potted peonies.