My experience with tree peonies began in complete ignorance of the subject. Fascinated by pictures in a catalog, I purchased seed, and I’ve been growing tree peonies ever since.
Although the literature contains glowing terms describing the flowers, words alone cannot properly describe their beauty.
You have to see tree peonies to appreciate them fully. Then, you won’t ever want to be without them.
The Tree Peony in American Garden
Introduced into the United States more than a century ago, the tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa) is still surprisingly rare in American gardens.
Herbaceous Peony
Although called tree peony, probably to distinguish it from the better known herbaceous peony, it is a shrub, 3’ – 5’ feet tall and considerably wider if given sufficient space.
Growth starts early in spring and stops shortly after the plants bloom, usually about 3 weeks before the herbaceous or non-woody peonies begin to flower. Unlike the herbaceous peony, the tops do not die back in fall.
The stems grow for several years before they are replaced by new shoots that spring from the crown, just below the soil surface.
Mature well-spaced plants may produce dozens of striking blossoms each spring.
Peony: Large Flowers
Flowers are large, sometimes 10” inches across, in white, blush, shades of red from pink through maroon, and the lutea hybrids furnish yellows and apricots.
Once established under congenial conditions, the plants require almost no care and may thrive for a century or more.
Tree Peony: Mountain Plant
In its native home, the tree peony is a mountain plant, flourishing in forest undergrowth where it enjoys a cool, well-drained soil with a high humus content and at least partial shade.
Some gardeners claim tree peonies prefer full sunlight, but in southwest Virginia, where I have grown them for years, I find they do best in partial shade.
Plants on the north side of my house, where they get only a few hours of the morning sun, have the most refined foliage, and the flowers last twice as long as those in full sun.
For the Upper South and Middle West, I certainly advise partial shading. If tree peonies are planted in full sun, I strongly recommend heavy mulching to keep the soil cool and preserve moisture.
Varieties Of Peonies
The Chinese varieties, most of which have reached us via Europe, usually have double blossoms, sometimes so heavy that they droop and hang down beneath the foliage.
On the other hand, the Japanese varieties usually hold their blossoms well above the leaves and furnish a majestic display.
The flower buds of the Japanese varieties are very rarely damaged by frost, as the buds of the Chinese varieties are occasionally.
For this reason, the Chinese ones rarely give me blossoms, while the Japanese never completely fail me.
Peonies: Winter-Hardy
I am also convinced that tree peonies are surprisingly winter-hardy, as unprotected plantings in the parks of Rochester, New York, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, testify.
When you buy tree peonies, they are almost sure to be grafted plants. The rootstock is generally an herbaceous peony that makes a good start but is not sufficiently vigorous to guarantee a long, healthy life.
Remedy For Healthy Peony
To remedy this, I recommend setting the graft union at least 4” inches below soil level.
If the top of the scion is too short of reaching the surface, take a small tin can from which the top and bottom have been removed and place it around the top of the plant.
Fill the can with coarse sand or, better still, charcoal broken into small pieces. Then draw up the soil around the outside of the can to the normal soil level.
The sand or charcoal prevents death and decay from lack of drainage and aeration, which might occur if the terminal bud is covered with soil.
When the shoot appears above the surface, the can may be removed.
This deep planting aims to enable the scion (the tree peony stem grafted on top) to produce its roots above the graft and thus guarantee long life on the more vigorous roots.
Tree Peonies Growing From Seeds
Growing tree peonies from seed is an interesting and rewarding adventure. It is easy to increase plants this way, but you never know what you will get.
Different Colors Of Tree Peonies
From a plant that produced 10” inches purple blossoms, I am growing plants with white, pink, mauve, and purple flowers with assorted blendings and shadings.
Most are single, some are semidouble, and one is a magnificent, fully double rose pink.
Fully Dried Seeds Planted During Spring
It has been my experience that when fully dried seeds are planted in the spring, they do not come up until a year later.
Still, quicker results are achieved by gathering the seeds as they ripen in August and either stratifying (preserving) them in peat moss or planting than outside immediately.
If stratified, they should be kept in a cool place and planted as soon as possible in the spring, when they will be sprouted.
If seeds are planted outside immediately after they ripen, keep them moist until winter sets in.
Plant In Good And Friable Soil
Place them about an inch deep in good, friable soil, mulch at once, and remove the mulch in early spring because the young plants are rather delicate and might decay.
If the seedlings are a foot apart, they may be left undisturbed until they begin flowering, which will be in approximately five years.
Garden Plantings Of Tree Peonies
I am not a landscaper and so shall not presume to tell you how tree peonies should be used in garden plantings.
But, you can be sure of one thing: visitors will immediately be drawn to the tree peonies regardless of the competition.
So, plant them where they may be inspected at close range.
44659 by Harvey F. Stoke