Tree Peony Plants For Sale - Flowers Care and Growing Conditions

The Japanese Tree Peony (Paeonia suffruticosa) has been cultivated for over 1000 years and when in full bloom they are one of the most magnificent flowering plants in cultivation, covered with literally hundreds of blooms at their peak.

The Chinese tree Peony is very similar, its just that in Japan they are cultivated to have single or semi double flowers, simple and elegant, the Chinese have bred them to have double flowers and have also bred for fragrance, a more complex flower.

Tree peonies maintain stems above ground in winter while the herbaceous types die right back in autumn.

Given the right growing conditions these wonderful plants thrive. Try a humus rich well drained soil in a sunny position with good air flow but with some protection from the hot afternoon sun. Frost can be a problem on young shoots, so try to plant in frost free areas. Although not that fussy about soil types a slightly alkaline soil is said to be best. Plants can be purchased while dormant in autumn and this is a great time to plant them so they have time to settle in before spring flowering, they put on initial growth underground during this period.

Fertilize with a good organic fertiliser, a worm castings tea is excellent, blood and bone applied in autumn also works well.

On new plants prune away dead or diseased wood in spring, give the plants time to develop a framework over 2-3 years. How long will these plants live, well a 20 year old plant is young, some take 6 or 7 years to flower. When planting remember that these are 'tree peonies' and will reach 6ft with a similar spread, so plant with the idea of room to grow. Once established you can remove one or two of the older stems at ground level each year or two to maintain shape.