The tree peony, the aristocrat of the garden, has dignity, becoming a plant of ancient lineage and royal patronage.
In its native land, China, where it has been known as the king of flowers from time immemorial, it has been the subject of painting and poetry for more than 1500 years.
The rulers of China for many centuries decreed that such regal flowers could be grown only by selected gardeners and in areas specifically designated on the royal grounds.
The tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa) was brought to Japan by Buddhist monks between the 15th and 18th centuries. The Japanese took it to themselves and made it a focal plant in garden design.
In Japan, the name was corrupted to “Botan” or “Bhutan,” which has been continued as the Japanese name since Mikado Seimo in the eighth century.
Tree Peony Colors and Variations
For hundreds of years, new colors and variations in inflorescence were the results of seedling selection or natural mutations. In 1883 P. lutea, which has a single yellow flower, was discovered.
This shrubby species has been crossed with suffruticosa to incorporate yellow into tree peony blooms and to give a greater variation in flower hues.
Many semi-doubles and fully double blooms of unusual tints were produced.
In 1836, when Marshall P. Wilder was president of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, he assembled a collection of more than 15 kinds of tree peonies. But interest in this country was slow to generate largely because of a lack of knowledge of its culture.
Tree Peonies During World War II
Japan, rather than China, became the source of most of the tree peony varieties brought to this country. By 1942, many nurseries carried them, and the plant’s popularity increased greatly.
During World War II, land-hungry Japan had to destroy most of the tree peony plantings and give the land over to food production. But the resurgence of peony production since the end of the war has been phenomenal.
Several extensive test and display gardens are maintained, some containing as many as 300 varieties. The delicate coloring and impressive size of the flowers attract thousands of visitors daily.
On a recent trip to Japan to visit the peony test gardens and to arrange for shipment of selected varieties to this country, I was fascinated by the exactness with which Japanese gardens are designed, with each item in the garden symbolic of life.
Tree peonies are featured only with compatible stock like wisteria and late-flowering cherries.
Tree peonies are hardy plants, withstanding the long cold winters of most of the northern states with no damage or diminution of flowering. Since they have an annual dormant period, they do poorly in California and Florida.
Soil Mixture
Because they are exacting as to soil, use a well-drained, sandy loam fortified with plant food and partially decayed vegetable matter if they are to thrive. They will not do well in clay soil, nor where either soil or air drainage is poor.
The pH should approach 7 but be on the acid side, so periodically, apply limelight if the soil tends to be strongly acidic.
In addition, apply a complete fertilizer or bone meal annually. No special winter protection is needed, but a light mulch of an airy material reduces changes in soil temperature.
Woody Shrub Peony Tree
The tree peony is a woody shrub, not an herbaceous perennial. So it will not die on the ground each fall.
Being slow growing, prune only to cut out broken or injured branches. Most tree peonies will grow to be 6’ feet tall with an equal spread.
They live for a hundred years or more and, free from serious insect and disease attacks, require no special treatments.
Fortunately, improved propagating and growing techniques have brought the price of this choice exotic within reach of all gardeners.
44659 by Marinus Vander Pol