Plant guide
Chinese peony
Paeonia lactiflora
Keep Chinese peony flowers and foliage away from cats that chew plants. Eating a large amount may cause vomiting or diarrhea, and veterinary references differ on the overall safety classification.
What this guide covers: Paeonia lactiflora only. Check the botanical name; a photo cannot establish the identity of your plant.
Photo:
Photo details
Paeonia lactiflora — Paeonia 'Auguste Dessert' (Lactiflora)
By Daderot
License: CC0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
Plant identity
- Scientific name
- Paeonia lactiflora
- Scope
- Species
- Family
- Not recorded
- Also known as
- No reviewed aliases available
Our practical recommendation
Your cat comes first.
Keep Chinese peony flowers and foliage away from cats that chew plants. Eating a large amount may cause vomiting or diarrhea, and veterinary references differ on the overall safety classification.
Explore reviewed non-toxic plants ↗Why the guidance differs
Pet Poison Helpline warns of digestive illness for Paeonia; VPIS lists Paeonia species as pet-safe. NC State identifies the Lactiflora group and the pictured cultivar. Preserve an unresolved caution guide. ASPCA Peony instead prints Paeonis officinalis and is not treated as an exact P. lactiflora match.
A disagreement between references does not cancel a toxicity warning. We keep those warnings visible while the assessment remains unresolved.
Sources & review
Includes Paeonia species in its pet-safe plant list.
Source scope and date
Veterinary Poisons Information Service · Source name: Paeonia species. Paeonia lactiflora only. Check the botanical name; a photo cannot establish the identity of your plant.
Accessed .
Pet Poison Helpline warns of digestive illness for Paeonia; VPIS lists Paeonia species as pet-safe. NC State identifies the Lactiflora group and the pictured cultivar. Preserve an unresolved caution guide. ASPCA Peony instead prints Paeonis officinalis and is not treated as an exact P. lactiflora match.
Source scope and date
Pet Poison Helpline · Source name: Paeonia. Paeonia lactiflora only. Check the botanical name; a photo cannot establish the identity of your plant.
Accessed .
Evidence checked . The cat-safety classification remains unresolved.
Find the right spot
How to grow this plant
Paeonia lactiflora only. Check the botanical name; a photo cannot establish the identity of your plant.
- Light
- Sunny position or Some direct sun
Full sun to light shade; some afternoon shade can help.
- Watering
Water during early growth and bud development; avoid waterlogged roots.
- Temperature
- Temperature range not yet established
Needs winter chill; no preferred indoor temperature range proposed.
- Humidity
Allow good airflow; no numeric humidity target established.
- Potting
- Deep, fertile, well-drained soil.
- Through the year
- Plant or divide in fall. Support heavy double blooms when needed and allow time for new plants to establish.
Growing-guide sources
- Paeonia lactiflora ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-16
Paeonia lactiflora only. Check the botanical name; a photo cannot establish the identity of your plant.
Growing advice reviewed 2026-10-17. Plant safety is assessed separately.
Safe alternatives
No verified alternative recommendations are available for this guide.