About Paeonia corsica Sieber ex Tausch
Paeonia corsica Sieber ex Tausch, commonly known as the Corsican peony, is a diploid species with 2n=10. This is a perennial herbaceous photosynthetic plant that dies back to the ground each autumn and re-emerges above ground in spring. It produces flowers in April and May, and its fruits begin opening from August onwards. This species naturally occurs on Corsica and Sardinia, as well as in Greece, where it grows on the Ionian islands of Cephalonia, Lefkada and Zakynthos, and on the mainland in Aetolia-Acarnania. Its habitat includes pine-dominated and oak-dominated forests, maquis shrubland, and grassy areas, growing on a range of soils and bedrock types including limestone, granite, and metamorphic rock. It has only recently become available in limited quantities to home gardeners. It is valued as a relatively low-growing peony with shiny young foliage that has purple tints, and is considered well-suited for sunny rock gardens. Gardeners are advised to protect this species from excess moisture during the summer.
