'BLACK PEARL' 紫黑红珠 Tree Peony (Paeonia x suffruticosa 'zi hei hong zhu/black pearl')

GROWN and IMPORTED directly from HEZE, SHANDONG, CHINA! 紫黑红珠; Zi Hei Hong Zhu; Black Pearl. 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 'Zi Hei Hong Zhu' or 'Black Pearl' sports a plum-purple, semi-double blossom at the terminus of every branch. This 6" to 7" blossom has multiple rows of crepe-like petals that surround a golden center of clustered stamen. Each petal has a darker purple flare that gives the appearance of a dark-eyed poppy. Exquisite and rare. 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