In the spirit of a Wordless Wednesday post I am today sharing with you a few photos of my floral highlight this week. This beautiful tree peony was bought as a very small plant in a 9cm pot. Sadly its label disappeared when Nelson was a puppy, so I have no idea of its name. As ever any suggestions are appreciated!
It was bought and planted in the spring of 2011 and its first flower opened in May 2012. In 2013 it had three flowers, which opened during Chelsea week. This week I have six flowers! I am keeping my fingers crossed for many more in future years.
Tree peonies are deciduous shrubs rather than herbaceous perennials. They grow on a permanent framework, which can be pruned as necessary to improve their shape. Despite their delicate appearance they are actually very hardy. They must not, however, be cut to the ground in the autumn as you would with a herbaceous peony. I have not yet had any need to prune my tree peony, but if it starts to get leggy I will cut the overlong stems back hard to a bud. It is growing in a sheltered position in a large border that gets the sun until midday. In the spring I feed it with fish, blood and bone and mulch with garden compost. Despite its short flowering season it is an attractive foliage plant, so I am happy to have it growing in a spot near to the house.
For its brief annual flowering period it is the real star of the spring border!
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well I, for one, am speechless. exquisite flowers, thanks for sharing!
Thank you Bethany – I am really happy that you enjoyed it!
Beautiful flowers. I didn’t know anything about how tree peonies grow so thanks for including that information. Very helpful.
Thank you Susie – I never know how much information to include in a post so it is good to know that you found this useful.
They are so beautiful, so delicate. I have grown them in Sydney which was quite a surprise. Unfortunately they didn’t survive when I moved to my new home due to the builders.
I know that feeling! I hope that I might have inspired you to give them another shot – like asparagus they are a bit of a long term investment, but once they start to flower the wait for maturity is soon forgotten.
I love peonies .Your peony looks great.I did see lot of peony plants in garden centres last week.i have not yet bought one ,you know why Julie.Waiting patiently to buy them.
I am sure you know the saying ‘good things come to those who wait’ – my father always said this to me when I was impatient to have something I wanted. Gardening is all about waiting – waiting for the right time to plant, waiting for a plant to mature, waiting for the yearly arrival of a plants flowers – you are right to wait. It will be worth it when you have your new garden!
Thanks Julie.
It’s just beautiful Julie! I’ve wanted one for ages… and now I know I will get one. My “regular” peony, which was here when we arrived, must have loved our unusually cold winter because I have never, ever seen so many buds on one plant! I think they will begin opening this weekend and I can’t wait. Pictures to come, of course!
Oh, did I tell you, I AM going to Bath just for one night: I extended my trip by two days to make it happen. Cannot wait!
Thank you Libby – great news about Bath – I would love to go back there one day – it is a really beautiful city.
Absolutely stunning.The flowers are so beautiful, mine is a dark red one which super but not pretty like yours!
Thank you Pauline – I am sure your red one is very beautiful too – I have never seen a tree peony that I did not love. I took my photos just in time – the rain and winds have put an end to its beauty – I just hope my herbaceous perennials survive this bad weather.
I can hear the passion in your voice. I think you were lucky that such a small plant flowered so quickly you must have the perfect conditions. You will go crazy when you come to visit the peony farm here!
I cannot wait until next year Christine – it is so exciting to imagine all those peonies. We are having really bad weather here this week, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that my own peonies are not damaged.
Quite lovely! I would love to have more of the tree type in my garden, but the cost of them is simply too expensive.
You are right Lisa – they are prohibitively expensive which was why I was glad to find my tiny specimen quite cheaply at a local garden centre.I am just lucky that it has grown so well.
Beautiful shades of pink 🙂
Thank you Cathy – I think we share a love of pink in the garden.
Wunderschön!!!