Tree peonies convince with a lush bloom. They decorate gardens and are guaranteed to attract attention. If you want to plant the garden beauty, you should know the special requirements for location and care. Suboptimal conditions quickly lead to fungal infestation.

With its beautiful flowers, the tree peony is a great addition to any garden

Table of Contents

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  1. origin
  2. growth
  3. leaves
  4. blossom
  5. heyday
  6. fruit
  7. use
  8. Is tree peony poisonous?
  9. Which location is suitable?
  10. What soil does the plant need?
  11. What is the best planting time?
  12. Propagate tree peony
  13. sowing
  14. Tree peony in a pot
  15. balcony
  16. Water the shrub peony
  17. Fertilize shrub peonies properly
  18. Properly cut tree peonies
  19. How do I plant correctly?
  20. hibernate
  21. fungus
  22. sorts

    23. origin

    Paeonia suffruticosa, which has names like tree peony or tree peony in German, belongs to the peony family. Breeding has resulted in more than 1,000 varieties that are popular ornamental plants. Tree peonies originate from China, where they inhabit high mountain habitats. In this environment, the plants have adapted to extreme conditions, making the varieties very resilient.

    growth

    Peonies grow like shrubs and reach heights of up to 150 centimetres. Some varieties grow between three and five meters high. Tree peonies do not retire in the fall. Their shoots lignify with increasing age and sprout again very early the next year. Non-lignified shoots survive temperatures down to -10 degrees Celsius. Woody branches have a gray-brown bark, while fresh shoots appear reddish at first and later turn various shades of green. The plants are long-lived and can live up to 60 years.

    leaves

    The shrubs develop alternate leaves that are short-stalked. Your leaf blade is multipinnate. They consist of three leaf lobes, which are also divided into three pinnae. The individual leaflets are up to eight centimeters long and seven centimeters wide. They appear ovoid and are bald on both sides.

    blossom

    At the end of the branches, tree peonies form large individual flowers that are hermaphroditic. They reach a diameter between ten and 25 centimeters. The calyx is composed of five broad sepals colored green.

    While the wild forms develop single flowers with five to eleven petals, cultivated forms often carry numerous petals. These varieties cannot be propagated from seeds as they are sterile. Specimens capable of reproduction develop numerous stamens that are pink to purple in color and have a white base. Their anthers are yellow in color. In the center of the flower sits a crimson wreath called a discus.

    heyday

    Tree peonies bloom between April and June. Flowering time varies depending on location and strain. In the wild forms, the color palette includes light shades such as white and pink as well as intense red and crimson hues. Breeds develop pink, red, purple, yellow, or white petals.

    fruit

    Fertile specimens ripen in August. They develop follicles that are brown-yellow in color and have a hairy surface.

    use

    The low varieties are suitable for embellishing small front gardens or secluded corners in spacious gardens. They cut a good figure alone, because the shrubs attract attention with their strikingly large and brightly colored flowers. A group planting of several varieties is also possible. Use strains that flower at different times. This is how you create a colorful hedge that blooms continuously between April and June.

    Is tree peony poisonous?

    Tree peonies are considered slightly poisonous due to the ester compounds contained in all parts of the plant. In order to suffer from symptoms of poisoning, large amounts must be consumed. Possible symptoms are noticeable as gastrointestinal complaints. Nausea, vomiting, cramps or diarrhea may occur. In dogs and cats, the symptoms appear much more severe than in humans. Even small amounts are enough for these pets to cause symptoms of poisoning.

    Which location is suitable?

    Peonies prefer warm locations. They thrive in both sun and partial shade. So that the plants do not sprout during the mild winter months, they should be planted in a slightly exposed location with airy conditions. A place on a south-facing house wall is suboptimal.
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    What soil does the plant need?

    Tree peonies prefer deep soil with nutrient-rich conditions. They grow on sandy loam soils and have no problems with heavy loess soils. You can plant the shrub on any normal garden substrate that has humus content and ensures good water permeability. The peony family is suitable for damp locations. The soil may lie in a calcareous environment. A pH between six and eight is ideal.

    What is the best planting time?

    Peonies are planted between August and October. During this period, root growth takes place and the soil ensures warm and humid conditions. The plants can root well before the onset of winter. The commercially available potted plants can be planted throughout the growing season between March and November.

    Propagate tree peony

    Tree peonies can be propagated by division or sowing. Propagation by seeds is tedious and does not produce pure offspring. It can only be performed on fertile specimens. The young plants need a few years before they start flowering.

    division

    Adult specimens can be divided in spring or autumn. Dig up the root ball and remove the soil. The root ball is broken up with a sharp knife or spade. Plant the subplants immediately in the desired location. They should be placed in the ground according to their original depth. Water the shrubs well to get the best soil finish.
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    sowing

    The seeds do not have a long shelf life and should be stratified immediately after collection. The cold germs need low temperatures, which stimulate them to germinate. Store the seeds in a freezer bag filled with sand in the fridge. Here the seeds should spend about two months before they are sown on a nutrient-poor substrate in the plant pot.

    Put the jar in a place where the temperature is around 20 degrees Celsius. Keep the substrate evenly moist. After a few weeks, the seeds will have developed roots and cotyledons. When they have grown several inches high, they can be planted individually. The young plants must overwinter the first year in a frost-free place.

    Tree peony in a pot

    Peonies can be cultivated in tubs. Use a large pot so that the plants spread optimally. The shrubs are fast-growing and root through the substrate within a short time. The bucket should be at least 50 centimeters deep and have a diameter of 40 centimeters. Use a pot made of clay, stone or terracotta.

    You should pay attention to this when planting in containers:

    • Create drainage from potsherds or pebbles
    • Use pots with drainage holes
    • Place the base of the trunk three to four centimeters underground

    balcony

    Tree peonies are suitable for decorating balconies, provided they are not south-facing. The shrubs do not tolerate heat. They prefer airy locations facing west or east. Peonies should get at least four hours of sun a day to bloom profusely.

    Water the shrub peony

    Tree peonies have a high water requirement. They thrive particularly well in moist soil. The watering quantity varies depending on the soil conditions. Loess soils and substrates with sandy and loamy parts store water and need to be watered less often. Light soils require more frequent watering.

    Make sure the soil doesn't dry out completely. The roots do not tolerate waterlogging. Always water at the base of the stem so the leaves stay dry. This measure prevents infestation by fungi or pests.

    Fertilize shrub peonies properly

    Peonies are fertilized for the first time in their second year. They enjoy a nutrient supply in spring just before they sprout. You can fertilize a second time immediately after flowering. Organic fertilizer or mature compost is ideal. The nitrogen content should not be too high so that the plants are not over-fertilized and become susceptible to aphid infestation. Work the fertilizer lightly into the substrate.

    Properly cut tree peonies

    The shrubs do not require regular pruning. However, this measure stimulates flowering in the following spring. Shortly before the leaves emerge at the beginning of the year, cut off unwanted branches and withered flowering shoots. For a rejuvenation, you can cut the shrubs back vigorously to 30 to 40 centimeters. Cut the branches directly above a bud so that the plant can sprout at that point.
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    How do I plant correctly?

    Tree peonies are sensitive to a change of location. Once you have found a place for the shrub, it should remain in this place. Replanting measures can lead to weak flowering in the next few years.

    hibernate

    Tree peonies shed their leaves in autumn and survive with the help of their woody shoots. These survive the winter months without any problems. If the winter is particularly severe, the plants should be given additional protection. Young plants are not yet lignified. Their tissue is vulnerable to frost and requires special protective measures.

    The ideal winter protection:

    • Tie branches together loosely
    • Cover made of fir branches, spruce sticks or straw
    • Remove snow masses to avoid branch breaks

    fungus

    Gray mold often affects shrubs that are exposed to warm, humid weather. Infestation occurs especially in spring. The spores settle on leaves, shoots and buds. The parts of the plant wither and begin to rot. Remove affected areas to prevent further spread of the spores. Treat plants with a fungicide and prevent over-feeding with nitrogen-rich fertilizers.

    tips

    Place peonies at an angle in the substrate. The dormant eyes on the underground trunk sprout and develop shoots below the ground so that the shrub grows bushy. Shrubs planted vertically develop sparse growth forms.

    sorts

    • high noon: Lutea hybrid. Bushy growing shrub. Flowers medium-sized, semi-double with light yellow petals, flower center orange-red to red. Reaches heights of growth between 120 and 150 centimetres.
    • Gauguin: Lutea hybrid. Flowers colored red and yellow, blooms in May. Up to 120 centimeters high.
    • Renkaku: Suffruticosa hybrid. foliage blue-green. Snow-white flowers, semi-double. Flowering period from May to June. Up to 150 centimeters high.
    • Shima Nishiki: Suffruticosa hybrid. Flowers violet-pink and white striped. Up to 130 centimeters high.

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Vegetable garden