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Tag: Tree Peony

  • Tree Peony Growing Tips

    Tree Peony Growing Tips

    I thought it would be fun to share some pictures of my tree peony flowers along with some tree peony growing tips.

    Tree Peony Growing Tips

    Many people think tree peonies are difficult to grow. They’re not. However, tree peonies are slow growers and take a long time to become established.

    Once established, for me meaning over 5 years in one spot, I don’t recommend transplanting. I transplanted well-established tree peonies out of necessity years ago with no luck. That loss hurts me to this day.

    Tree peony flowers prefer shade or they dry out quickly. There’s really nothing you can do about it, though some use peony umbrellas, but be aware that the sun does damage flowers.

    I grow my tree peony in USDA Hardiness Zone 6. The soil is average, not too sandy not too organic. I wouldn’t plant a tree peony where the soil is wet all the time or on a sandy hillside.

    Originally I had three tree peonies. However, over time trees have grown in and shaded them. While the tree peonies didn’t die they stopped getting bigger and only had a flower or two a year. Eventually, I removed them.

    The tree peony in this picture has been in the same spot for about 15 years. I didn’t do anything fancy when I planted it. I dug a hole, planted the peony and watered it. I usually deadhead the spent flowers. This peony keeps performing with little care.

    Tree peony shrub pink flower fully open 9

    Unfortunately, I planted a Dawn Redwood 10 feet from the tree peony and I don’t know how long until the Dawn Redwood takes all the nutrients and sunlight from the area.

    I hope these tree peony growing tips will give you a head start on planning where to plant your tree peonies.

    Tree Peony Flowers

    I started taking pictures of this Tree Peony on May 5th and took the last picture on May 9th. The Tree Peony was in bloom for a couple of weeks.

    While Tree Peony blooms don’t last long they are show stoppers and well worth planting if you have a forever home for them.

    I love the way the water beads off tree peony flowers and foliage.

    Tree peony in tight bud in rain 1

    An opening tree peony flower in the rain.

    Tree peony flower opening in rain 3

    The tree peony shrub in the rain.

    Tree Peony tight bud in rain 2

    A tree peony flower at the end of the day in the shade of the Dawn Redwood.

    Tree peony flower opening 4

    The tree peony in afternoon shade and it’s doing great!

    Tree peony flowers opening 5

    More flowers have opened a couple days later.

    Tree peony flowers opening 6

    Need I say more? What amazing flowers!

    Tree peony pink flower fully open 7

    This tree poeny flower is almost six inches in diameter!

    Tree peony pink flower fully open 6 inch diameter 8

    There were a total of 9 flowers, there are two more flowers in tight buds on the lower right of the shrub and one flower about to open in the upper right.

    Tree peony shrub pink flower fully open 9

    A few weeks after bloom the tree peony is full of seed pods.

    Tree Peony With Seed Pods

    The seed pods have a very distinct look.

    Tree Peony Seed Pod Closeup

    If you’re not going to collect the seeds of your tree peony they should be deadheaded by cutting off the seed pods where they meet the stem.

    This brief video explains deadheading tree peonies.

    If unsure whether to plant a tree peony or not use the tree peony growing tips above and go for it. Tree peonies, like all other plants, grow one leaf at a time. There is no magic involved in growing tree peonies.

  • Early-March Garden Inspiration

    Early-March Garden Inspiration

    I woke early today, I don’t know why, perhaps because of Daylight Savings. Seeing the sunrise inspired me to wander the garden with the Pentax.

    The only other flower in bloom this week is Dorothy Wycoff Andromeda (Pieris japonica ‘Dorothy Wycoff’). It’s early-March with little else going on and Dorothy is covered with red buds. Andromeda is a reliable broadleaf evergreen growing 4 to 6 feet tall, the perfect size for the back of a foundation planting. Andromeda prefers partial shade, full sun can leave her foliage yellow and susceptible to lace bugs.

    Pieres japonica Dorothy Wycoff

    Gladiator Alliums (Allium ‘Gladiator’) are starting to emerge. I bought these on a whim and LOVE how easy they are to grow. Alliums, in general, are easy and deserve to be on the ‘Hard to Kill’ list.

    Alium Gladiator Emerging

    There are several groupings of poppies around the yard. For such a fragile flower they are a ‘Die-Hard’ plant.

    Poppy Growth Emerging

    I have a funny story about poppies.

    When my wife and I moved into the house twenty years ago there was a red oriental poppy by the front door. The previous owners were going for a period garden to match the age of the house.

    My wife loved that red poppy. I didn’t realize how much until it was too late.

    One day, I asked one of the crew to weed the gardens and, unfortunately, he didn’t know the poppy was a plant, not a weed. That poppy was my wife’s favorite plant in the yard. I’ve tried to replace it at least three times. I can never find a deep enough red.

    My wife shows gratitude for the replacements but I can tell they’re not right in her eye. I’ll keep trying.

    I bought a few tree peonies at Cricket Hill Garden in Thomaston, CT years ago. If you’re a fan of tree peonies you should visit Cricket Hill Garden when the peonies are in bloom.

    The peonies have lingered since I planted them, yet it’s no fault of Cricket Hill Garden. They grow extremely slowly and only have a few flowers every year. Last year I culled two of them. This peony is surviving but only gives 3-4 flowers for a week each spring. The flowers are absolutely GORGEOUS so the plant keeps its place in the garden.

    Tree Peony Emerging Growth

    Last spring I was ‘Gung Ho’ about my square foot garden but as the season progressed enthusiasm waned. I cleaned out the weeds and vegetable plants last fall. I guess I missed the red onions. If onions can grow in the fridge why not the garden in the middle of winter?

    Onions are biennials. The first year they get established the second year they flower and set seed. I should have a nice crop of onion flowers soon!

    Red Onions Emerging

    That’s it for this post. I’ve got to go move the clocks forward.