Melinda Myers

Tree Peony

Botanical Name

Paeonia suffruticosa

Min Zone

4

Max Zone

7

Height

3 to 5 feet

Width

3 to 4 feet

Flowers

Spring: pink, white, peach, red, yellow, purple; single, semi-drouble and double

Light

Full sun to part shade

Soil

Moist, well-drained, fertile

Planting & Care

• Amend soil with organic matter as needed before planting to provide good drainage
• Plant the graft union 3 to 6 inches below soil level to encourage the scion to develop roots
• Plants will need protection from strong winds
• Unlike herbaceous peony, stems should not be cut back annually
• Only occassional pruning of deadwood or suckers is needed
• Plants take several years to get established
• Provide winter protection in Zones 4 and 5

Problems

Some susceptibility to canker, leaf blight, stem wilt and scale

Varieties

• Godaishu - semi-double, white flowers up to 10 inches
• Yachiyo-tsubaki - semi-double flowers that are dark pink at the center fading to light pink at the edge
• Age of Gold - semi-double yellow flowers
• Chromatella - double flowers, golden yellow petals with pink edges