Paeonia x suffruticosa The Best Inkstone - Tree peony

Tree peony 'The Best Inkstone' (Mo Run Jue Lun) is a variety of Paeonia × suffruticosa whose large deep dark red flowers evoke the lustre of precious ink. A poetic nod to its Chinese name, which translates as "Unrivalled Shining Ink". Flowering in mid-spring, the bush attracts attention with its majestic habit and opulent flowering. This very hardy tree peony thrives in the sun in a somewhat substantial, but well-drained soil. It will live for many long years, becoming more majestic over time.

Paeonia × suffruticosa 'The Best Inkstone', also marketed as 'Exceptional Ebony’, belongs to the Paeoniaceae family. This cultivar originates from Chinese horticulture. Its Chinese name, "Mo Run Jue Lun", translates as "unrivalled shining ink". This variety is the result of complex hybridisations between several Chinese species of tree peonies, grouped under the botanical name Paeonia × suffruticosa, whose origin dates back to the mountainous regions of central China, particularly in Henan province.
This peony, 'The Best Inkstone', has a bushy, upright and well-structured habit. Its growth is slow: it takes several years to reach its mature dimensions. In open ground, it can reach on average 1.20 m in height and as much in width. Its semi-double to double flowers measure 15 to 20 cm in diameter. They are composed of broad, silky, slightly crinkled, deep purplish-red petals, with a velvety appearance. They emit a very light fragrance. At full bloom, the corolla opens to reveal a very dark centre adorned with golden-yellow stamens. Flowering occurs in the middle of the peony season, between April and May, or even early June, depending on the climate.  It lasts about 3 weeks. The foliage of the tree peony is deciduous, composed of large leaves deeply divided into lanceolate leaflets, dark green in summer, sometimes purplish at the bud burst period, turning yellow in autumn. The brown-grey, woody stems thicken and become hollow with age. After flowering, hairy follicle-shaped fruits may appear. They contain round, black seeds. A symbol of beauty and nobility in China, the tree peony is a cultural treasure, often depicted in the arts and celebrated at flower festivals. 

Tree peony 'The Best Inkstone' is a slow grower. Over the years, it will become a rather fantastic bush, laden with enormous flowers in spring. In the garden, this plant can be showcased as a standalone specimen. Plant it against a wall, in the foreground of a hedge or in a border, but always sheltered from the wind and in a very open position. It thrives in gardens of Asian inspiration, but also finds its place in more naturalistic scenes.  Its magnificent, large red flowers will be enhanced by the silvery foliage of the wormwood 'Powis Castle'. Pair it with Paeonia lutea, with single yellow flowers, '10 Lu Mu Ying Yu', with fragrant greenish-white flowers, and 'Lilac', pale pink with black markings.