Tree Peonies are magnificent, long-lived woody shrubs that no garden should be without. The further south you go in their range, the more sense it may make to grow them in dappled shade. Plant in well drained fertile soil with 5-6 hours of sun. Those planted in spring may not bloom for two years or more. Tree peonies are deer resistant and fairly drought tolerant once established. Most soils are fine, apart from those that … Use a blend of equal parts peat moss, perlite and vermiculite to start tree peony seeds or pick up a bag of premixed material at your garden center. Pruning is an important part of tree peony care and should be done annually in late spring. Grow tree peonies in full sun to dappled shade. Most tree peonies reach 4 to 7 feet in height and 4 to 5 feet in width. Just wait until the autumn and then, taking care not to damage the buds on the roots, lift your peony and re-plant it at the right depth. You might also want to try your hand at growing tree peonies, which bloom earlier than herbaceous peonies, have larger blossoms and can grow up to 6 feet tall. Gather tree peony seeds in late summer or early autumn after the pods ripen and split open. Plant bareroot peonies in the fall (prior to the first frost) and they'll have the best chance of blooming the following spring. A special note for gardeners in the warm climates: Peonies will be more robust and their blooms will last longer if the plants receive some shade during the hottest part of the day. Grow tree peonies in full sun to dappled shade. Plants should thrive in a loamy soil fortified with compost. Dig in some well rotted compost and maybe some … In choosing a spot for your new peony to grow, make sure it will get lots of light—6 to 8 hours of full sun is best for producing a profusion of flowers but it will still perform well in a location with morning sun and light afternoon shade. Peonies plants will need well-drained, neutral soil away from competing tree roots. Those planted in spring may not bloom for two years or more. Start tree peony seeds in the summer or early fall. Thanks! Make four or five holes in the soil of each pot 3/4 inch deep. Wait until the year following planting to prune. Gardeners in Zone 9 can enjoy Tree Peonies by forcing the shrubs into dormancy: trim off all foliage in November, leaving the woody stems, do not water or fertilize, and with luck the plant will form flower buds. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and a little deeper. To plant container-grown herbaceous peonies (the kind you buy in pots), dig a hole, remove the plant from the pot, and put it in the hole so that the top of the root ball is level with the soil (any deeper and the peonies will not bloom). Tree Peonies – how to plant them Dig over an area around 2 – 3 times the size of the pot and around .5m deep. Though somewhat slow growing, a mature tree peony can have over fifty, 8-10’’ flowers and will bloom for about two weeks. Tree peonies bloom on ‘old wood’ and are not cut back in … Rule number 2: Plant your peony in a sunny position. Unlike herbaceous peonies, which die back each year, tree peonies are taller and retain a permanent framework all year round.Ideally plant your tree peonies in autumn in a partially to fully shaded spot, in moist, well-drained soil. Some varieties reach 4–5′ in height and plants are capable of bearing fragrant flowers to 10″ in diameter. Tree Peonies are not plants for the impatient gardener, as they may take 3 years to become established and flower. Peonies grow best in slightly moist, well-drained soil. Fill the pot with seed starting mix. The best time to prune tree peonies is during the spring. The flowers may suffer in hot summer sun; providing some shade helps. • Herbaceous peonies are sold as bare root rhizomes with a few buds or ‘eyes’... • Tree peonies are sold in pots.