Peony root usually refers to the root of Paeonia lactiflora, a flowering perennial in the Paeoniaceae family native to parts of East Asia. The plant produces divided leaves and large showy flowers, while the root is the part traditionally harvested, dried, and used in herbal preparations.
In East Asian herbal traditions, peony root has long been included in decoctions and multi-herb formulas. Its garden popularity as an ornamental peony often means people know the flowers first, even though the root is the main part associated with traditional use.
