Quezi

Tree peony flower - courtesy crabchick - CC-BY

Tree peonies are deciduous shrubs. They are normally between 3 and 4 feet tall, but can be shorter or taller depending on the variety. Some will grow as tall as 10 feet.

Tree Peonies have some of the most beautiful flowers you can grow in your garden. The blossoms are enormous with ruffled, satin-like flowers and come in a wide range of colors. Tree Peonies come from China, where at one time, only the Emperor was allowed to own one.

The flowers of tree peonies are produced in mid-to late spring. Because winter chilling is required for dormancy, tree peonies often do not do well in the South.

Tree peonies should be planted in the fall. Tree Peonies do best in a sunny to partly shady site, in average, well-drained, evenly moist garden soil that has a neutral pH. The graft union should be an inch below ground level then mound soil up around them for the first winter. Never, never ever, cut back tree peonies. They will not grow back if cut down. Tree peonies form woody branches that do not die back, but simply drop their leaves in the autumn, as does any deciduous shrub.

The tree peony, like all peonies, hates being moved but will thrive in the same location for decades. For this reason, it is important to choose a location correctly the first time around.

For more information about growing peonies