Paeonia californica
California peony
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Paeoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Paeonia californica (California peony) is a native California herb in the Paeoniaceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by southern distribution and larger petals (15-25 mm).
California peony is a native perennial found in southern Central Coast, southern Coastal Range, southern Coastal California, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in chaparral and coastal scrub habitats at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from January to May, this plant produces large burgundy to dark red flowers with petals 15 to 25 millimeters long. Growing with generally branched stems, the peony reaches a moderate height with divided green foliage. Its leaves feature primary divisions 3 to 9 centimeters long with ultimate segments that are wide-linear or oblong, creating a delicate and intricate leaf structure. The plant produces distinctive fruits 3 to 4 centimeters long, containing seeds approximately 16 millimeters in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated with no sympatric species. Distinguished by southern distribution and larger petals (15-25 mm).
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, coastal scrub
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside, Ventura, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Contra Costa, Humboldt
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Paeonia californica blooms Jan-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Rosa: Peonies have sepals that enlarge around fruit; roses have sepals that fall away or wither.; vs Delphinium: Peonies have radially symmetric flowers with persistent sepals; delphiniums have spurred, irregular flowers.; vs Camellia: Peonies are herbaceous wildflowers in mountains; camellias are evergreen woody shrubs in gardens.; vs Artemisia: Peonies have large colorful flowers with visible petals; sagebrush has tiny inconspicuous flowers in clusters.; vs Dahlia: Peonies have simple flowers with distinct petals; dahlias have composite flower heads with ray and disk flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Paeonia californica native to California?
Yes. Paeonia californica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Paeonia californica bloom?
Paeonia californica blooms Jan-May.
Where in California does Paeonia californica grow?
Paeonia californica occurs in San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside, Ventura, San Diego, Santa Barbara and other counties, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Paeonia californica belong to?
Paeonia californica is in the Paeoniaceae family, genus Paeonia.
What habitat does Paeonia californica grow in?
Paeonia californica grows in Chaparral, coastal scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.