Peony tree yellow planting and care in the open field

With its exquisite beauty, the tree-like peony, the care and cultivation of which does not differ much in terms of the level of complexity from the garden worries with its closest relative (herbaceous peony), will become a worthy decoration of your site. This tall flower is a deciduous plant.

Tree peony, photo:

↑ to the table of contents ↑ Features of the tree peony

Its height can reach 1.5-2 m in height, it has upright powerful shoots that grow every year. Attention is attracted not only by its delightful flowers of different shades, but also carved, as it were, openwork feathery leaves.Multi-petal buds are crowned with strong stems, which in diameter can reach from 14 to 23 cm.The tree-like peony is striking in its color range, depending on the variety, the flowers can be snow-white, pink, scarlet, rich fuchsia, yellow, soft lilac, blue (Blue Sapphire ) and even light green (Green Jade). Pay attention to the size of the flower itself, for example, the first pink flower in the photo below has a diameter of just the indicated 23 cm (and the second one is even larger).

Flower sizes, photo:

The color of the petals can also have a gradient - a smooth transition from one color to another. The texture of the buds is also varied: terry, semi-double, ordinary smooth. A remarkable feature of the tree is an increase in the number of flowers every year. The time of its flowering begins 10-14 days earlier than that of its relative, the usual peony. He has a higher tolerance to cold, he has a more stable "immunity" in comparison with his herbaceous counterpart.

Gradient coloring of flower petals, photo:

The bush is distinguished by abundant flowering, the number of blossoming buds at the same time can reach up to 40-50 pieces. Most often, the duration of the flowering phase of each flower is 8-10 days, but even just a bush, generously covered with green foliage, by itself is capable of decorating any summer cottage or flower bed.

Foliage of a tree peony, photo:

Due to its large size, it is planted separately from other flowers, or at a certain distance from other garden representatives. As an addition to other inhabitants of the garden, it also looks very harmonious; with its individuality, it appropriately emphasizes a hedge, an arch, an area near a gazebo, a garden bench or the entrance to a house.

↑ to contents ↑ What is the difference between a tree peony and a herbaceous one?

The first visual difference is the more powerful, woody shoots with characteristic leaves. In fact, it is a shrub. In the herbaceous, closer to the cold, the stems and shoots die off, and the tree-like one only grows them, every year turning into a spherical shrub that can reach 2 meters in height. In the fall, he naturally sheds the foliage, but the shoots remain, become strong, as if lignified.

One more point, on a tree-like representative, you do not need to periodically cut the buds to stimulate the subsequent flowering and distribution of the plant's vitality. This method only works well with its herbaceous cousin. Tree-like in its "behavior" is similar to cold-resistant garden roses - it tolerates winter well, but in especially severe frosts (in the northern regions of Russia) it is better to protect it with a special covering material. You can also use spruce branches for these purposes.

If your peony feels comfortable on the site, you do everything competently and in a timely manner, then the period of its flowering will last about 3-4 weeks. Usually it blooms earlier than its herbaceous counterpart by one and a half to two weeks. Weather conditions and temperature background in the region significantly affect this factor. For example, in central Russia, they bloom in the first weeks of the calendar summer. Without replanting, in one place, it can grow for decades. For example, the bushes that you can see in the photos below are already 20-30 years old. There are cases when the number of flowers on one bush reached 100 pieces!

Photos of long-lived bushes:

Another significant nuance (and difference) is the fact that they bloom only in the 4th or 5th year from the moment of planting in open ground. First, one flower appears at the end of a straight-growing shoot, and then, gradually, over time, the bush gains color, grows shoots, and is abundantly covered with buds. In the first years, it may seem to you that the bush has stopped growing, but this is a normal phenomenon for this species, for the first five years it generally adds very slowly in volume and growth. The temporary difference in the "ripening" of the bush is another difference.

To briefly summarize the main difference in what distinguishes a tree from a herbaceous one, you can use the following parameters:

• bush height;
• the size of the flower itself (its diameter);
• nuances, differences in care;
• the hardness of the escape.

Consider the natural slow growth of this flower, the process of growing shoots occurs gradually and not as quickly as we would like. In order for the bush to begin to give flowers, it must grow to at least 60 cm in height.

↑ back to contents ↑ Why does the tree peony not bloom?

This question can be seen very often on themed flower forums or various horticultural groups on social networks. The answer is predictable - improper care, poorly chosen planting site, as well as illiterate soil preparation for it (lack of drainage, non-observance of the correct burial of the flower into the soil). These nuances will be discussed below. The bush itself can be quite old or, conversely, young, not yet at the stage of the appearance of flowers (as we remember, it takes more than one year for the tree-like peony to give color).

The place for placing the bushes should be light and spacious, the soil should be fertile, loose, alkaline.

This plant really does not like transplanting - you should be aware of this. If it happens that for some reason a transplant is still required, then all actions should be performed very carefully. It is necessary to remove the bush from the soil with an earthen lump, be careful not to damage the roots. However, be prepared for the fact that the flower after this event will come to its senses for a very long time, get sick and adapt in a new place for 2 or even 3 years.

Proper watering also has a big effect on flowering. Water should be done abundantly and generously at a time, but not often! Stagnant water is dangerous for him, therefore, if clay soil prevails on your site, provide your pet with high-quality drainage before planting (put a drainage layer in the hole under the flower). It develops better and grows in open sunny places, but in partial shade the flowers retain their freshness and duration of flowering longer.

Bud, photo:

Let me summarize the main reasons why the tree peony does not bloom:

1. Insufficient or, conversely, excessive deepening of the bush into the soil during planting.
2. Overdoing it with nitrogenous fertilizers.
3. Excessive enthusiasm or, conversely, insufficient provision of fertilizing (this flower does not need a large amount of auxiliary additives).
4. Damage to the bush by frost or, conversely, abnormal heat. Disease should also not be discounted. When planting a flower, always take into account the predisposition of the selected variety to the temperature characteristics of the weather in your area. For example, when living in warm regions, choose early flowering varieties.
5. A banal lack of sunlight can also be the reason why the bush does not bloom.
6. Age - young bushes bloom at 4 or 5 years of age, as mentioned above.
7. Too close distance between plants - he loves space.
8. Transplantation (sometimes repeated) or separation of the rhizome can also be a consequence of the lack of flowers.
9. Pruning shoots. Unknowingly, some gardeners prune the shoots with the onset of autumn. Sometimes even before the foliage began to change color (darken) or fall off.
10. Excessive dryness or, conversely, waterlogged soil. Remember that between waterings, the soil should have time to dry out.

Many gardeners would like the flower to combine its own beauty along with the unpretentiousness of its herbaceous brother. Breeders are not idle and are constantly trying to breed new hybrids, they are called ITO-peonies (new generation peonies) - but this is a completely different story.

Separately growing bush (it needs space), photo:

↑ to the content ↑ Important - the choice of seedlings

Pay attention to the planting material - its root system can be open or closed.When purchased at the appropriate points of sale, the seedling may already have special packaging (for example, a plastic bag on top), and its roots, on the contrary, be bare or in a bag with a substrate. Such indicators tell us that this is a peony with an open root system. But if the plant is sold in a ready-made pot and even has (sometimes) buds, then this is a flower with a closed root system.

Be sure to look at whether the seedling is grafted or has its own roots. If there is a graft, then the roots differ in dark color and thickness. In diameter, they can reach 4-5 cm and in appearance are somewhat similar to carrots. Such representatives may have flowers in the first year of life after planting. Such specimens must be obtained from appropriate nurseries, under the guidance of competent professional gardeners - and not otherwise.

Saplings, photo:

If you got a seedling obtained from a layering, then its roots will be light, thin and long. After planting it, you can see the flowers after 4 years (approximately). There is nothing new in the "scheme" for obtaining layering: a healthy and strong shoot with buds is bent to the ground, pinned, covered with soil. After a certain time, roots sprout from the buds, the shoot is cut off and divided into several fragments with roots.

When purchasing such a seedling obtained from a cut, pay attention that its roots are not exposed, and the plant itself has at least 5 capable buds. The length of such a seedling must be at least 25 cm!

↑ to the content ↑ Tree peony - planting and care in the open field

In order for a beautifully flowering bush to develop well, be strong and healthy, the very first thing is to choose a comfortable time and place for planting it. The most favorable period for this is considered to be the end of summer / beginning of autumn. If possible, determine for him an elevated place, illuminated by the rays of the sun. Dense trees growing nearby or various buildings will create a thick shade - and this is unacceptable for any peony. Light shading is the most optimal place. Winds and drafts are also highly undesirable. As for planting in spring, it is not recommended due to the complex adaptation of the plant, because during this period growth and flowering are activated.

Loam is an ideal soil for this flower, if sandy soil prevails on your site, then add turf, clay, peat, humus to it in advance. Organic fertilizers and clean river sand can significantly improve the composition of the earth for the harmonious development of the peony. He also does not like acidic soil, so in advance "deacidify" it by adding lime. Plant a flower where there is no low groundwater flow, but if there is no other possibility, then the hole for it must be made quite deep (about 70-80 cm, the diameter is the same). Lay a drainage layer at the bottom of the recess, about 30-35 cm, crushed stone or fine gravel are perfect for this business. In extreme cases, a 30 cm layer of river sand can also be used.

Tree peony - how to plant? There is nothing difficult here: build a small mound of earth in the hole, put a bush on it, gently straighten the roots, pour water generously. After the moisture is absorbed into the soil, sprinkle the seedling so that its root collar is flush with the soil surface.

If you are planting several bushes at once, do not forget about the distance between them, it should be at least two meters from one plant from another!

The so-called "finickyness" consists in finding the golden mean - creating optimal and harmonious conditions. The burning sun is harmful, but a thick shade is unacceptable, he loves water, but waterlogging is fraught with decay of the roots, and free space is necessary for the flower to grow and become a gorgeous lush shrub. The soil is important, because it is the nutrition of the plant, so it must be fertile and loose, drained.In principle, in this task there is nothing difficult for an enthusiastic gardener, since every green inhabitant requires attention, but also rewards accordingly - with beauty and an awareness of success, what has happened, grown, blooms and smells!

Peony tree planting and care - additions (optional):

1. Some gardeners say that the planting hole should "mature", as it were. I already wrote above about diluting the soil with fertilizers and additives, but according to some experienced flower growers, this hole should be prepared a month before planting the seedling. That is, add all the additives in advance, and only then bury the seedling in the hole.
2. When the seedling is buried in the ground, its lowest bud should already be embedded in the soil by about 15 cm. Some gardeners recommend laying such a "pie" in advance on the bottom of the pit: a layer of humus, a thin layer of earth, add a complex top dressing on top, sprinkle 1 a tablespoon (with a slide) of copper sulfate. For greater reliability, you can mix a little slaked lime with the soil (to lower the pH).
3. If a seedling fell into your hands in late autumn or winter, then "sleep" it until the end of next summer. To do this, take a small pot with a suitable soil mixture, bury a bush in it, place it in a cool, but well-lit room. During this entire period, the flower will strengthen the roots, and in the last weeks of August or the first two weeks of September, you can plant it for permanent residence in the open ground.

It is up to you to listen to these additions or plant a plant without much tweaks. As practice shows, with proper observance of all requirements, in both cases you will get a positive result.

↑ back to contents ↑ How to care for a tree peony?

The main care for him, in principle, is the same as for herbaceous. From time to time, you should loosen the soil, remove weeds, fertilize it. If your bush boasts an abundance of flowers and shoots, be sure to create a support for it so that the branches do not break under the weight of the flowers.

↑ back to contents ↑ Watering

One bush requires about 6-8 liters of water, such abundant watering should be done at least 2 times a month. When doing this, take into account the possible precipitation! During the summer heat, this can be done more often - the condition of the soil and the flower itself will tell you. From about August, water volumes should be gradually reduced during irrigation until they are completely eliminated. It is recommended to plow the ground around the bush a couple of days after watering, then when the top layer of the earth dries up. The depth of immersion of the garden tool in the soil when loosening should be no more than 5 cm. You can mulch with humus, but its layer should not be too thick.

↑ to content ↑ Fertilizers

Peony is very fond of nitrogen and potassium, it must be applied regularly. Nitrogen fertilizing is relevant at the very beginning of the growing season, and potassium-phosphorus supplements will be appropriate from the moment when the peony begins to form flower buds until the very end of the growing season. When the bush begins to give flowers, in addition to its favorite potassium and phosphorus, a little nitrogen can be added. However, it should be remembered that an overabundance of this component can ruin it, so it is up to you to add nitrogen during this period or not. Sometimes it’s better not to do it than to overdo it - this is just such a case with regard to nitrogen fertilization. Do not forget to moisten the soil abundantly before each application of fertilizing - this will create a protective background for the root system of the flower.

While your peony is at a young age, then the first 2.5-3 years, fertilizers are applied by the foliar method: about 35-40 g of mineral additives are diluted in a bucket of water (10 l) and the bush is irrigated with a spray bottle after each watering. Thus, the plant receives "nourishment" through foliage and shoots. Adult representatives are fed three times a year: in the spring, during the appearance of new shoots, during the swelling of the buds, after the bush has finally faded.

↑ to contents ↑ Protection for the winter

As mentioned above, the tree peony is cold-resistant, but purchased specimens need mandatory protection in the winter. It will be better if for the first couple of years you cover them for the winter with lutrasil, spunbond, burlap or spruce branches. Additionally, you can make a "hat" of snow on top. It was said above about growing and protecting (even adult) peonies in cold regions.

↑ to contents ↑ Pruning a tree peony

Like any plant, it needs pruning, but it is more of a care nature. This procedure should be carried out in early spring, when the growing season has not yet begun. All damaged, shriveled and dead branches must be removed. Old shoots are shortened by about 10-15 cm.

In China, there is a tendency to produce radical anti-aging pruning every 10 years - when the shoots are cut almost at the root. This manipulation is aimed at awakening, activating new buds, which subsequently gives a "second life" to the flower.

Or, each branch is pruned to the border of the second bud - such pruning contributes to the abundant and lush flowering of the shrub. As they have in China, they know better, but in our regions, according to experimental observations, the tree-like peony does not really like pruning, so with the onset of spring, at least remove damaged and dry shoots. If you notice that some of the branches are very cold, do not rush to cut them, it is quite possible that the buds will still "move away", wake up and bloom - this also happens.

↑ back to contents ↑ Diseases of the tree peony

This flower is considered to be quite resistant and strong in terms of disease resistance. However, it can also be visited by parasites and diseases. The main problem is illiterate care, and old shrubs or shrubs weakened by transplantation are the first to fall into the risk zone.

The main diseases and methods of dealing with them:

1. The most dangerous and insidious enemy is gray rot (aka Botrytis). This fungal disease is activated with waterlogged soil and lack of sun (for example, when the summer is rainy). A grayish bloom appears on the leaves - if you notice this, then immediately cut off the suspicious fragments and burn them somewhere further from the site. Another sign of this disease is the softening and sharp wilting of young and strong shoots. It is treated with potassium permanganate irrigation (4 g per 10 l of water) and a 7% solution of copper sulfate (copper sulfate), also diluted with water. Irrigate not only the ground part of the bush, but also the soil around it, and even mulch.
2. Brown spot - the same actions. As a prophylaxis against it, irrigation with a low borous solution of potassium permanganate (4 g per 10 l of water) is used. The affected leaves also require immediate removal and destruction, and the bush itself (the ground part) is treated with 1% Bordeaux liquid.
3. Rust (some gardeners claim that this is a synonym for brown spot) very quickly affects the bush, it even happens that the whole plant is destroyed in a day. First, brown-purple spots appear on the leaves, and then the foliage curls sharply and dries up at the same time. Radical treatment - removal of all affected parts of the bush and their destruction. In the case of rust, prevention helps well: timely loosening of the soil to ensure the flow of fresh air (removal of weeds and thinning of other nearby growing plants). In early spring, even before the leaves appear on the shoots, or in late autumn, when they all fall off, the ground under the bush and around it must be treated with a nitrafen solution diluted in water, 200 g per 1 bucket of water will be enough.
4. Ring-shaped mosaic of foliage is another viral disease that manifests itself in the appearance of stripes and "rings" on the leaves. These lesions have a yellowish or light green tint, as practice shows, the ring-shaped mosaic does not particularly affect the flowering and development of the bush, but spoils the appearance of the foliage. The strips dry out over time and the sheet seems to crack.Contact fungicide "Maxim" copes well with this disease, it should be diluted as indicated on the package.

By the way, diseases are very often transmitted not only through contaminated planting material or soil, but also through gardening tools. Insects, even common ants, can carry fungus or viruses to healthy bushes.

A real garden aristocrat is a tree peony, cultivation and care, as well as an approach to oneself, oddly enough, requires completely unpretentious and does not have any special requests. This exquisite plant harmoniously combines the qualities of an ornamental flower and a shrub. A long-liver will delight you and your loved ones with their beauty for many years and even decades.

The tree peony (Paeonia x suffruticosa), or semi-shrub is a hybrid species belonging to the genus peony of the peony family. There are scientists who believe that they are not a species, but simply a group of different varieties and hybrid forms. To date, about 500 of them are known. Most of them can be found in China. The tree peony was created by breeders in China. But at the same time, breeders of Japan also began to grow this plant with great passion after it appeared on their islands during the Tang Dynasty. In European countries, this plant appeared in the 18th century, and it was appreciated by both professional flower growers and amateurs.

Features of tree peonies

The tree peony is a deciduous shrub that ranges in height from 150 to 200 centimeters. Thick erect shoots are pale brown in color. Unlike a herbaceous peony, the stems of such a plant do not fade in autumn, but every year they grow more and more, and over time the bush acquires a hemispherical shape. Ornamental, openwork leaves are doubly feathery. The flowers are located at the ends of the stems, and their diameter ranges from 12 to 20 centimeters or more. Such flowers are double, semi-double and simple. They can be painted in white, purple, yellow, pink, crimson, as well as bicolor. With age, flowering becomes more and more abundant. The flowering of such a peony begins 2 weeks earlier than the herbaceous one, and its duration is 14–21 days. Such peonies are resistant to cold.

Types and varieties of tree peonies with a photo

The various varieties of such plants are based on several species that are natural, namely: yellow, Potanin, Lemoine and Delaway, which are directly related to the group of semi-shrub peonies. Most of the registered varieties of these plants grow in China. These varieties are divided into 3 groups:

Sino-European

The flowers are very large and double. They weigh a lot and therefore are drooping. Flowers can be painted in various shades from fuchsia to light pink.

Japanese

The flowers are not very large and light. They seem to float above the bush.

Hybrid varieties

Created from Delaway peony and yellow peony - the most popular varieties are with yellow flowers.

The most popular varieties:

The Qiao sisters

The pink inflorescences are painted in 2 colors, so, one half is dark red, and the other is creamy white. The flower reaches 16 centimeters in diameter.

Sapphire

The diameter of light pink flowers with a dark crimson center is 18 centimeters. About 50 flowers can open on a bush at the same time.

Coral altar

Crown flowers are painted in 2 colors: white and salmon at the same time. They reach no more than 20 centimeters in diameter.

Green Jade

The shape of the flowers is very effective and unique. It is a pale green bud.

Planting tree peonies

Landing rules

Experts advise planting a tree-like peony in open ground from mid-August to the last days of September. Before you start directly landing, you need to choose the most suitable place.For this plant, you should choose a well-lit place located on a not very high elevation. There should not be any buildings or trees in the immediate vicinity, as they will block the sun. Tree peonies prefer loamy soil. In the event that it is sandy, then this can be corrected by introducing humus, sod soil, clay, and also peat. If the soil is clay, then organic fertilizers, as well as sand, need to be added to it. It is worth paying special attention to the choice of place and soil, because this type of peony can grow in the same place for several decades (about 100 years).

Autumn planting

In the case when the groundwater is low, the hole for the flower must be made in the shape of a cone. At the same time, at the soil surface, the diameter of the hole should be 0.7 meters, its depth is also 0.7 meters. Make a drainage layer 25-30 centimeters thick at the bottom of the pit, gravel, broken brick or sand are perfect for this. Pour lime or bone meal from 200 to 300 grams into acidic soil. After that, soil is poured into a hole in the form of a cone and a peony is placed on it. Then a large amount of water is poured into the hole in order to properly straighten the peony roots. When the liquid is completely absorbed, such an amount of soil must be poured into the hole so that the root collar of the plant is located at the same level with its surface. The distance between the bushes should be about 150-200 centimeters.

Growing tree peonies from seeds

If a tree peony is grown from a seed, then its flowers can be seen only for 5-6 years of life. Since these seeds have an underdeveloped embryo, they must be subjected to a stratification procedure. Seeds cannot be stored for a long time, as they lose their germination capacity. The stratification procedure has 2 stages. The first is warm and the second is cold. Subject to all the rules, not everyone succeeds in growing a peony from a seed anyway.

Outdoor tree peony care

How to care

In the event that you do not know the rules for caring for this type of peonies, then you should take care of it in the same way as for a herbaceous one. So, it must be watered in a timely manner and after this procedure, it is imperative to loosen the soil and remove weeds. Watering should be done once every 2 weeks, while 1 bush should take from 6 to 7 liters of water. If the weather is hot and dry, then the frequency of watering should be increased. Since August, it is necessary to water less and less each time until it stops completely. When the plant is watered, the soil near the bush within a radius of 50 centimeters must be thoroughly loosened (the depth of loosening is not more than 5 centimeters). Pull up all the weeds and sprinkle the soil with mulch (humus).

Fertilizer

These plants simply need a lot of nitrogen and potassium for normal growth and development. When the period of intensive growth is just beginning, such plants need nitrogenous fertilizers, and from the moment the budding begins and before the growing season ends, tree peonies need a large amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. When the flowering period begins, the plant will need both phosphorus and potassium, as well as nitrogen. But at the same time, do not forget that an excess of nitrogen in the soil can cause the development of gray rot. In order not to burn the root system with fertilizers, before applying them to the soil, it must be well watered.

Pruning features

Pruning must be done in the spring before the start of the period of intensive growth. In this case, you need to cut off the dried stems. Old shoots must be cut so that about 10 centimeters remain. Florists in China have learned to rejuvenate the tree peony. To do this, once every 20 years, they cut a bush almost to the surface of the ground. As a result of this, the adventitious buds awaken at the very base of the stems.In order for the flowering to be more abundant next year, you need to trim the stems to the upper axillary bud. How long your peony will live is influenced by the correct pruning. These plants can live to a very respectable age, as a rule, up to a hundred years or even more. In China, there are copies that have already exceeded 500 years, while they are protected both by specialists and by law.

Transplant of tree peonies

Such a peony has a very negative attitude towards the transplant. So, it happens that a transplanted very strong plant can hurt for several years, because it is very difficult for it to recover. During the transplant procedure, you need to be very careful with the bush. So, it must be very carefully dug out together with a lump of earth, which is then gently washed off with a not very strong jet of water. Then you need to inspect the root system. If there are rotten roots, then they should be cut off, and too long are shortened at the same time. It is necessary to process the cut sites with a solution of potassium manganese (1%), and then sprinkle with chopped charcoal. If necessary, you can divide the rhizome, thereby multiplying the peony. To do this, you need to stretch the parts of the bush with your hands to the sides at the root collar. In the event that there are cuts on the rhizome, then they must be processed. Each of the divisions should have roots and replacement kidneys (several pieces). Before the delenki are planted in open ground, they must be immersed in a clay mash for 30 minutes.

Reproduction of tree peonies

How to propagate by dividing a bush

How to propagate a peony by dividing a bush is described above. It should be remembered that only the peony whose age is older than 5-6 years can be divided, and this procedure must be carried out in August.

How to propagate by cuttings

For cuttings, semi-lignified shoots are required. They need to be cut from mid-June. At the same time, the bud itself, the leaf and part of the stem wood should be present on the handle. The sheet plate should be shortened by ½ part. Prepare the container by filling it with peat mixed with sand. Then a stalk is stuck into it one and a half centimeter deep, and on top of the container it is necessary to cover the container with a transparent film or glass. The cuttings must be systematically watered, as well as humidified from a sprayer. In the last days of September, cuttings should be transplanted into individual pots and placed in a greenhouse before the onset of spring. After the plants start growing, they will be ready to be transplanted into open soil.

How to propagate by layering

It will take a couple of years to propagate a tree peony by layering. On May days, before the bush begins to bloom, it is necessary to select well-developed stems and an incision should be made on the side that faces the soil. Then it is treated with a root-growth agent and a peg is inserted into it. After this, the shoot must be bent to the surface of the soil and dug in to a depth of 8 to 10 centimeters. When watering the bush itself, do not forget to moisten the soil above the layer. In the month of September, small roots should already grow on the layer, and it can be carefully separated from the mother bush and planted in open soil in a permanent place.

For reproduction, you can also use air layers. To do this, you need to make an incision on the stem and wrap it with moistened moss, and on top with a film. It must be tightly fixed. As a rule, the roots grow towards the end of the summer period. This breeding method, although very simple, is ineffective.

How to propagate by vaccination

This method is the most highly effective, and it is widely used by specialists. But a gardener can also propagate this plant by grafting. For grafting, use the root system of a herbaceous peony. To do this, in the first days of August, you need to cut tree cuttings with 2 buds from a peony.From below, the stalk must be sharpened so that it takes on a wedge-shaped shape. Then, according to the shape of this wedge, a groove is made in the rhizome of the herbaceous peony and a stalk is inserted into it, which should fit very tightly. The vaccine must be wrapped tightly with foil. Then these rhizomes must be placed in a box, which must be filled with moistened sawdust. Place the box in the shade for storage. After 4 weeks, the grafted rhizomes must be planted in a container so that the peephole located below is at a depth of 5 to 7 centimeters. The container is then transferred to the greenhouse. Such a peony is grown from 1.5 to 2 years.

Pests and diseases of the tree peony

They are quite disease resistant. Most often, those peony bushes are sick that are old or have recently undergone a transplant. Gray mold can kill the plant. In order to get rid of it, you need to treat the bush with a solution of potassium permanganate (for 5 liters of water, 1.5 g of the substance). Also for this purpose, you can use a solution of copper sulfate (6-7%). However, before starting treatment, the affected shoots should be carefully cut and destroyed.

It happens that the bushes become infected with brown spot. Infected leaves should be torn off and destroyed in order to avoid further spread of the disease. Then the peony is treated with a solution of Bordeaux liquid (1%).

Arboreal peony after flowering

After the end of flowering, you need to cut off the faded stems to the upper axillary bud so that they do not take away the strength from the bush. In the autumn, before wintering, you need to feed. To do this, 200 grams of bone meal and 300 grams of wood ash must be added to the soil under each bush.

Preparation for wintering

As mentioned above, tree peonies are not afraid of frosts, but you still need to shelter them for the winter. The fact is that during the thaws in the spring, the buds that are in the open air wake up, and the peony begins to grow. However, frosts that follow a thaw can cause the death of this plant. In this regard, in October it is worth preparing the bush for wintering. To do this, you need to tie the stems and sprinkle the circle with a layer of mulch (peat). After the frosts begin, the bush must be covered by making over it a kind of hut of dry leaves, spruce branches and a fairly thick layer of fine bark. You can use jute bags for this.

The tree-like peony (lat.Paeonia x suffruticosa) is a hybrid plant of the Peony family. It is the work of Chinese breeders, later spread in the gardening of Japan, and came to Europe in the late 18th century.

The tree-like peony is a semi-shrub 1.5-2 m high. Its stems are thick, erect, light brown in color, they grow annually, over time the shape of the bush becomes hemispherical. The leaf plates are double-pinnate, openwork. Inflorescences are located at the tops of the shoots. The flowers are large, 12-20 cm in diameter, can be simple, semi-double, double. The colors are white, yellow, pink, crimson, purple, and can be two-tone. The older the plant, the more flowers it produces.

This beautiful plant is enthusiastically cultivated by many gardeners. You should know the nuances of growing in order to enjoy the splendor of flowering.

Timing of planting a tree peony in the ground

What tree peonies look like photo

Depending on the temperature conditions in your region, planting dates may shift.

Impatient gardeners rush to plant peonies in the spring (with warm weather around May). Indeed, seedlings with a closed root system can be planted throughout the growing season.

For seedlings with an open root system, autumn planting is preferable (from the second half of August to the end of September). When planting in spring, green shoots develop quickly, taking away strength from the root system - as a result, seedlings with an open root system take longer to take root and do not bloom longer.

To plant or not to plant tree peonies in spring?

Planted in the spring, tree-like peonies with an open root system will not die, but will lag far behind in development compared to seedlings planted in the fall. Here everyone decides for himself. But by and large, it is possible to plant in the spring, even if the root system is open.

How to save a tree peony before planting in the fall

You should not refuse to buy seedlings with an open root system in spring or even in winter. To preserve them until autumn planting, intermediate storage in a container is used. Take containers with a volume of 5 liters, make holes for the water to drain. The soil requires a neutral reaction, place a drainage layer on the bottom. Plant seedlings and store in a cool room (balcony, loggia, cellar). Water occasionally, not letting the earthy coma dry out.

• The purpose of the intermediate planting is to be able to build up suction roots, but the seedling should not bloom. If this happens, when the height of the shoots reaches 15-20 cm, the container should be moved to a lighter, but still cool place.

When leaves appear, treat with a preparation that improves the process of photosynthesis so that the plant "breathes" (Epin, Zircon, Ferovit). In spring, you can take it out into the garden, placing it in a secluded corner under the diffused shade of trees or dig in in partial shade (cover the soil with peat). Transplant the bushes to a permanent growth site in the fall.

Choosing a place in the garden for planting a tree peony

Choose a sunny place for planting, but shading is desirable at midday (let the sun look at the site in the morning and evening). You will need protection from drafts and strong gusts of wind. Do not plant near shrubs or trees.

Damp, flooded areas are contraindicated. If the water table is near, provide good drainage or plant in a high bed.

The soil requires loose, water and air permeable, preferably alkaline reaction. If the soil is clayey, dilute with coarse sand and ash. In any case, a couple of weeks before planting, add a small amount of humus and dolomite flour before digging.

How to plant a tree peony outdoors

Planting a tree peony in the ground in spring and autumn

Dig planting holes (40x40x30 in volume), fill the soil with a slide. Place the seedling, straighten the roots, add the earth, squeeze it a little with your hands, the root collar should be flush with the soil surface, water abundantly.

How to plant a tree peony photo

This is how seedlings with an open root system are planted. Container plants are transferred from the container together with an earthen clod. Pour the missing amount of soil into the planting hole, water it.

How to plant a tree peony in spring photo

When the soil settles a little after planting, mulch the trunk circle, the root collar can be slightly covered. Mulch will help retain moisture during dry periods, and will provide additional shelter in winter.

Planting a tree peony in spring photo

Heat favorably affects the growth of peonies - for this, gardeners use an interesting method. Take dark glass bottles, dig in obliquely with the bottom up, moving along the near-stem circle (retreat 10-15 cm from the plant).

How to care for a tree peony

Caring for a tree peony will not be difficult: you will need to occasionally water, periodically feed, loosen the soil, get rid of weeds, and prune.

Watering and loosening the soil

In the spring and before flowering, water abundantly, but do not overmoisten, and water well during prolonged drought. It is advisable to water with warm, settled water (you can collect rainwater in a barrel in the garden or pour tap water there for heating). After the end of flowering, watering is reduced, and by August they stop completely - the wood must mature before the onset of cold weather.

Periodically loosen the soil, deepening 3-5 cm.

Top dressing and disease prevention

If it is rainy or cloudy for a long time, in order to prevent the appearance of rot, treat it with a solution of copper sulfate or Bordeaux liquid.

• If the tree peony grows in fertile soil, feeding can be started from the 3rd year of growth. It is not advisable to introduce organic matter, also control the introduction of the proportion of nitrogen (from its excess, the plant's resistance to diseases decreases).
• Apply the first top dressing in early spring when the snow melts (scatter 2 teaspoons of potassium and nitrogen in the trunk circle).
• The second feeding is applied during the budding period (half a glass of phosphorus, 1 tsp potassium, 2 tsp nitrogen).
• At the end of flowering, feed for the last time in a season (20 g of phosphorus, 12 g of potassium).

Annually, the trunk circle is mulched with humus or compost (about 1 bucket for each bush).

Pruning

The bush does not need formative pruning.

In early spring, you can shorten weak shoots, leaving a length of 10-20 cm. Please note that the shoots of the last year give flowering. If you notice frozen kidneys, do not rush to remove them. Wait until the end of May - they can recover. If not, trim to the first living bud. Grafted plants may develop root growth over time from the rootstock - remove it.

Rejuvenating pruning is carried out every 10-15 years. All shoots must be cut under the stump.

When the tree peony blooms

Peony tree growing and care

The tree peony begins to bloom in June, and only a few varieties bloom in May. The flowering period lasts about 15 days.

A grafted tree-like peony blooms in the 2nd year after planting, self-rooted ones - after 3-5 years. Every year, the number of inflorescences increases, in all its glory the flowering season opens in the 3-4th year. This is especially true for varieties with double and "fantasy" inflorescences.

First bloom

The first bud must be cut as soon as it is colored. This contributes to the accumulation of the plant's strength for the formation of new flowers. If two buds appear at once, remove the top one. Wait for the moment of staining, gently pinch off or pierce with a needle (thin wire), leave it on the stem until it dries - the bud will return the accumulated trace elements to the bush. If it is removed too early (before staining) there is a risk of damage to the growth point, then the shoot may remain small (it will stop developing). The second bud is removed when it opens.

How to cover tree peonies for the winter

Adult tree peonies are quite cold-resistant - they are not afraid of average frosts down to -20 ° С. However, in the conditions of the Moscow region and the middle zone, for a safe wintering, it will be necessary to build a good shelter for a tree-like peony. The future wintering is also adversely affected by a warm, damp autumn. Under such conditions, the bush continues to grow and before the onset of cold weather may not have time to "fall asleep". In this regard, in the north-western regions and conditions of the middle zone, the plant should be prepared for wintering:

• Stop watering in advance (starting in August);
• If the end of summer and autumn turned out to be rainy, it is better to organize a canopy to protect the bushes from excessive dampness;
• Loosen the soil deeply (be careful not to damage the root system), mulch the tree trunk circle with humus or peat (1 bucket of mulch for each bush);
• Prune the leaves: at the beginning of October, shorten them by 2/3. This measure contributes to the successful ripening of the shoots of the current year (it is on them that the buds will be laid in the next season) and will increase the frost resistance of the plant.
• Build a "tripod" from sticks: bury the ends in the ground, fasten the tops with wire, cover the bushes with any covering material (canvas, spunbond). It is important to provide the plant with access to fresh air, therefore, spunbond is not tied in the root space, even if you cover it without a tripod. You can use spruce branches for shelter.

Mulch young plants with humus, fallen leaves or straw, pouring a whole mound around the trunk.Needles should not be used as mulch - acidification of the soil is possible. Also use additional covering material.

In early spring, as soon as the snow begins to melt, remove the mulch and shelter along with the snow cover to avoid decay.

How the tree peony overwintered under spunbond, we look at the video:

When to open tree peonies

You need to open tree-like peonies with the first warmth, when the snow melts and the earth dries out a little, so that you can go out into the garden. Fear not, a little frost won't hurt.

When and how to replant tree peonies

How to transplant a tree peony

Tree peonies do not like to be disturbed by a transplant. Without this procedure, they can do well for 10-15 years. For everything to be successful, it is advisable to do this at the end of the season (from 20 August to the end of September, 30-40 days before the onset of frost in your region). Transplanting in early spring before bud break is acceptable.

More specific guidelines:

• For the Urals, Siberia: August 20-September 15-20;
• Central Russia, Moscow region, North-West: August 25-September 25;
• South of Russia, Ukraine - throughout September.

The deadline is the end of September, until the suction roots have formed.

The root system of the plant penetrates 80-90 cm deep, while the roots are very delicate. Tie the branches of the bush so they don't get in the way. At a distance of about half a meter to the depth of a shovel bayonet, dig in a bush, it is better to do this with a pitchfork. Rock the plant and remove it along with the earthy clod. Rinse the roots gently under a gentle stream of warm water.

Cut off old, sick, rotten roots, treat the cuts with a solution of potassium permanganate (10 g of powder per 1 liter of water). Moisten the roots in a solution with a growth stimulant, plant (the same as for seedlings). Build a shelter for the winter. In the next year, most of the shoots may be withered, the leaves are small and depressed. The main thing is that the upper buds of the shoots are alive. Water well, feed regularly - the tree peony will adapt and will grow.

Growing a tree peony from seeds

Seeds of a tree peony ready for planting photo

Growing a tree peony from seeds is a rather laborious and time-consuming process, but you can get a large number of young seedlings. Remember: you need to sow a peony only in the ground; at home, seedlings are not viable and soon die.

Sowing before winter

The seeds are harvested as soon as the seed pods begin to open. Dry them for 3-4 days. Then sow into the ground to a depth of 5-6 cm at a distance of 25-30 cm. Sow before the frost begins, cover the garden with spandbond or spruce branches for the winter, and remove the shelter in the spring.

Spring sowing

Collect the seeds without waiting for the seed pods to open. Remove from seed pod, place in moist peat and store at 5-8 ° C. You can do the same with purchased seeds, storing them in peat in the vegetable section of the refrigerator until sowing.

Scarification of tree peony seeds photo

Dry purchased seeds must be scarified before stratification, that is, break the shell with a file. If this is not done, they can germinate for two years. Sow the prepared seeds into open ground in May, deepening by 4-5 cm and leaving a distance of 25-30 cm between them. After a while, shoots will appear.

How to care for seedlings

Water as the soil dries up, a couple of times per season, feed with a urea solution (for 10 liters of water 40-50 g of fertilizers, consumption per 1 m²). Cover the soil surface with peat, destroy weeds.

Seedlings of tree peony from seeds photo

Over the summer, one leaf will grow about 4-6 cm high. For the winter, cover the seedlings with dry leaves, spruce branches or lutrasil. After wintering, do not touch the seedlings, let them grow in the same place.Only when the peonies get stronger, and this may even be the next season, can they be transplanted to a permanent place in late summer - early autumn. Do not rush to transplant, the later you do it, the better: poorly developed seedlings may not survive the transplant. Wait until they reach a height of 30-40 cm and have 2-3 developed shoots. Peonies from seeds will bloom not earlier than in 4-5 years.

Reproduction of a tree peony by vegetative methods

There are 4 methods of vegetative propagation of the tree peony.

By dividing the bush, it is applicable for plants aged 5-6 years

Reproduction of a tree peony by dividing a bush photo

The optimal time for the procedure is late summer and early autumn. Dig up and carefully divide the bush, be sure to treat the cuts with a fungicide. Each section should contain 2-3 growth buds and roots 10-20 cm long.

Reproduction by layering

Reproduction of tree peonies by layering photo

Do this before flowering (in May). Bend the developed shoot in the ground, make a shallow longitudinal incision about 10 cm long on the bark, treat it with a growth stimulator. Pin to the ground with a staple, sprinkle with a layer of soil 8-10 cm thick, leaving the top on the surface. Maintain soil moisture, roots will appear by the end of the warm season, but the sprout should be separated from the mother plant at the end of the next summer.

Grafting on the root of a herbaceous peony

Scion cuttings of a tree peony photo

In the middle lane, this is done in August.

The stock is a part of the root of a herbaceous plant 10-15 cm long. Graft is cuttings cut into semi-lignified shoots of the current year. It is good if the thickness of the rootstock and the scion are the same. The grafting is done with a scion or whipping (with a significantly greater thickness of the scion, only this method is used).

Roots for the rootstock should be dug out 2-3 weeks in advance and stored in a cool place.

Each stalk should have 1-2 buds (cut 2-3 cm above the top, 3-4 cm below the bottom, remove the leaves). Use isopropyl alcohol to sterilize the instrument. You will need a very sharp knife and sharp garden shears.

Grafting

Grafting a tree peony on a herbaceous root how to make

Make a cross-section at the root, and if the diameter of the root is larger than the cutting, you will need a wedge-shaped cut. Cut the stalk on both sides with a wedge (it is advisable to do this under water - this will not clog the porous fabric). Then insert into the incision.

Inoculation of a tree peony on the root of a herbaceous photo

Wrap the top with special tape for grafting (when using ordinary electrical tape, turn the adhesive side out), it is necessary to grab a cross section of the root. Top should be coated with garden varnish.

Vaccination in the butt

How to plant a tree peony on the root of a herbaceous peony

On the root and cutting, make cuts (they should be smooth) at a slight angle, align and fasten in the same way.

Inoculation of a tree peony in the application photo

What to do with grafted seedlings

What to do with grafted tree peony seedlings photo

You can plant grafted plants in a greenhouse for 3-4 weeks; when planting, the scion should be above the soil level. Water regularly.

Another (more preferable) method: the grafted material is placed in boxes, shifted with moss or sawdust, covered with plastic bags and kept in the basement for the same time.

A grafted tree peony ready for planting in a permanent place photo

Successfully grafted plants are transplanted into open ground, placing them at an angle. For the winter, cover with a layer of straw, which must be removed in the spring. The cuttings are grown until autumn, in the fall they are transplanted to a permanent place of growth.

A grafted tree peony seedling in the second year of life photo

Propagation by green cuttings

Quite an effective way (about 60-70% rooted). A significant amount of planting material can be obtained at the same time.Cuttings should be prepared before the lignification process begins (throughout June), it is better to cut it in the morning. Leave 2 buds of growth, make an oblique cut under the bottom (at a distance of 1.5-2.5 cm), above the top - even (distance 2.5-3 cm). Shorten the leaves by 1/2 or 1/3. Treat with growth stimulant.

Plant in a sandy-peat mixture at an angle, deepening by 4-5 cm, cover on top with a jar or a cut plastic bottle. Maintain soil moisture, spray the leaves. The first roots will appear in 1.5-2 months. Remove the shelter gradually. For the winter, dig the cuttings in the hole and cover. In the spring, transplant to a test bed for growing - by the fall, an shoot should develop from the lower bud. Then you can transplant to a permanent place of growth, if you wish, postpone the procedure until next season.

Diseases and pests

Tree peonies are resistant to diseases and pests. Old bushes or bushes weakened by transplanting can fall into the risk zone.

Gray rot is the most dangerous disease. Trim and burn the affected areas. Treat the bush with a manganese solution (for 10 liters of water, 3 g of powder) or a 6-7% solution of copper sulfate.

Possible defeat with brown spot. The affected leaves are removed and disposed of. Treatment with Bordeaux liquid will be required.

Difficulties and mistakes in leaving

Consider problem situations and recommendations of experienced gardeners.

• The tree peony does not bloom (it grows for 7 years, its height is 50 cm).

There may be several reasons. Incorrect planting: if the soil is too heavy, the roots go deeper (the access of oxygen and nutrients to them is inadequate). Transplant. Freezing of flower buds: cover the bushes thoroughly for the winter. Acidic soil: Treelike peonies grow better on alkaline soils. When planting for digging, dolomite flour, garden lime are introduced.

• It grows in a sunny area, but the growth of the tree-like peony is small (in 2 years it has reached only 15 cm).

Most likely, you deeply buried the plant when planting.

• The tree-like peony grows for 3 years, blooms successfully, but the height is no more than half a meter.

The annual increase is small. Especially from grafted seedlings - the plant is just moving to its own roots.

• The bush grew in a shady place, and after transplanting to a sunny area and lush flowering, its leaves were covered with brown spots.

This is botris (gray rot). The methods of struggle were mentioned earlier.

• The bushes are 5 years old, in February the buds were small, black. If tree peonies have not been sheltered for the winter, will they die?

Young plants must be covered for the winter. If the bushes bloomed in the previous season, you don't have to worry - they will go away until May. Then inspect the bush and cut to the first living bud. In case of severe freezing, carry out a complete root pruning (this applies to adult plants).

Tree peonies in landscape design

Tree peony care and cultivation in the Moscow region photo in the garden

Among perennials, there are few crops that can compete with tree peonies in beauty, unpretentiousness and longevity (with proper agricultural technology, more than 50 years can grow in one place). They are suitable both for landscaping personal plots and parks and squares.

Gorgeous inflorescences delight with a variety of colors and shapes, fill the space with the most delicate aroma. Non-double varieties bloom first (on the 20th of May), then terry varieties take over, after a couple of weeks the yellow peony buds bloom. If you grow herbaceous peonies in parallel on the site, your garden will be decorated with beautiful flowering from mid-May to the end of the first summer month.

Tree peony on a flower bed photo

Tree peonies can be planted alone or in groups. They look very impressive next to architectural structures. Among plants, suitable partners (or rather a background) are conifers (especially with a silvery shade of needles), chestnuts, lilacs.

Plant daffodils, crocuses, woodlands, tulips between the bushes: when these crops bloom, the leaves of the peonies will cover the empty spaces. They look beautiful next to tree-like peonies holly, mahonia, weigela, and other ornamental shrubs.

Tree peony in the garden design pictured, cultivar Paeonia x suffruticosa ‘Shimadaijin’

In vast areas (for example, in parks), tree peony bushes are planted as a colorful spot, it is not advisable to plant a continuous strip on the lawn - the majesty of the picture is lost. Think over a combination of size and color. It is better to create a ceremonial composition from one variety of peonies. For a mixed planting, combine terry and non-terry shapes.

Types and varieties of tree peonies with photos and names

Types of treelike peonies Paeonia suffruticosa:

Peony yellow Paeonia lutea

Peony yellow Paeonia lutea photo of flowers in the garden

The color is bright yellow, most species of yellow peony have rare small flowers and long dissected leaves. Some hybrid varieties have acquired a more sophisticated look with large double flowers.

Peony Delaway Paeonia delavayi

Peony Delaway Paeonia delavayi photo

Various shades of chestnut, deep burgundy color. There are tall shrubs and more squat ones.

Peony tree Delaway photo

Peony Potanin Paeonia potaninii

Peony Potanin Paeonia potaninii photo

The color palette is red-brown, characterized by large, loose flowers with flat centers. It grows no more than 1-1.2 m. The leaves are narrow, strongly dissected. In frosts below -20 ° C, it requires shelter for the winter.

Peony Lemoine Paeonia lemoinei

Peony Lemoine cultivar Hesperus photo

Yellow, orange, pink, crimson tones. Sprawling densely leafy bush with large double flowers.

All varieties of tree peonies are divided into 3 groups:

1. Sino-European - have large double inflorescences, they droop under the weight of the bud. Colors from pale pink to fuchsia.
2. Japanese varieties - flowers are not so large, but light, as if floating under a bush.
3. The hybrid forms of yellow peony and Delaway peony are different shades of yellow.

Popular varieties of tree peony with photos and names

Peony tree red giant photo

Red giant - large red semi-double flowers with yellow centers. Abundant flowering. It requires shelter for the winter, it is allowed to prune branches by a third of the length, but only in spring, after wintering, when it is clear how frozen the tips of the shoots are.

Tree Peony Kiao Sisters photo

Sisters Kiao - corollas up to 16 cm in diameter, double color: one half is dark red, the other has a white-cream shade.

Tree peony Blue Sapphire Blue Sapphire photo

Sapphire - on one bush at the same time there can be up to fifty huge flowers (about 18 cm in diameter). The petals are pale pink, the core is crimson.

Coral tree peony cultivar Shan Hu Tai In the photo, the bush is 6 years old

The coral altar is a colorful combination of snow-white and salmon shades, the diameter of the rim is 20 cm.

Tree peony Green Jade Paeonia suffruticosa Green Jade

Green Jade - the buds have a lime shade.

Peony tree variety Lavender photo

The Lavender variety has a delicate purple hue with dark purple spots at the center. Anthers are yellow. The flowers are very large, the flowering is abundant.

Varieties of tree peonies in yellow tones

Peony tree yellow cultivar Paeonia suffruticosa High Noon photo

High Noon with bright yellow flowers and dark purple spots in the center of the petals.

Peony tree variety Akademik Sadovnichy

Academician Sadovnichy - the height of the bush varies from 70 cm to 1 m, the inflorescences are located at the level of the upper leaves. The bud is cupped, semi-double. The petals are bright yellow, the base is a dark purple spot, the filaments are red-purple, the stigma is creamy.

Kuindzhi - non-double flowers with wide petals of bright yellow color, the base is decorated with a red spot.

Peony tree variety Souvenir de Maxime Cornu photo

Souvenir de Maxime Cornu (Souvenir de Maxime Cornu) is a meter high bush. The flower is densely doubled, drooping, retains freshness for a long time after cutting. The petals are bright yellow with a pinkish-cream border.

Winter-hardy varieties of tree peonies for the Moscow region and the middle lane

Varieties of tree-like peonies in red and pink colors

Tree peony Vesuvius Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Vesuvian’ photo

Vesuvian (Vesuvius) - a bush about 75 cm high decorated with large double flowers. The petals are crimson red, the short filaments are light red, the anthers are pale yellow, the pistil is pale green with a purple stigma.

Tree peony Vladimir Novikov photo

Vladimir Novikov is a spreading bush 1.3-1.5 m high. Corollas with a dark purple spot at the base, burgundy-fuchsin petals with corrugated edges. Crimson filaments with bright yellow anthers.

Tree peony Gauguin Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Gauguin’ photo

Gauguin (Gauguin) - a bush up to 1.2 m high. The petals are crimson-red with darker veins and a fuchsia border.

Tree peony Coral Sunset Paeonia suffruticosa Coral Sunset photo

Coral is a meter high bush. The flowers are simple. Petals of a red-purple hue, a dark red spot at the base.

Peter the Great is a multi-stemmed, spreading bush with a height of 1.3-1.5 cm. The flowers are large (20-25 cm in diameter), semi-double. The petals are lilac-red with purple veins. Filaments have a delicate lilac hue.

Peony tree Stefan photo

Stephen is a spreading bush 0.9-1 m high. It has flowers up to 20 cm in diameter. Crimson petals with veins of a lilac hue, a dark purple spot at the base.

Vadim Tikhomirov - the height of the compact bush is 1.5 m. The petals are pink, the edges are corrugated, the center is decorated with a dark crimson spot.

Tree peony Hoffman Paeonia suffruticosa Hofman photo

Hoffmann - the bush is 1.5 m high. Pink-purple pastel petals have dark purple spots in the center, white filaments, yellow anthers. Flowers are very large, semi-double, numerous.

Tree peony Irina photo

Irina - the bush reaches a height of 1.7 m. Semi-double flowers up to 17 cm in diameter with petals of a dark salmon shade, the base is dark magenta. Filaments of a bright crimson hue.

Tree peony Muse photo

Muse - the height of a bush with bright green leaves is 1.3 m. Petals of a raspberry-pink hue form 4 circles.

Treelike peony cultivar Smolin

Smolin is a spreading bush, some shoots can lie down, grow up to 1.3 m.The base of the petals is bright purple, turns into a pale pink hue. Semi-double, multi-row flower reaches a diameter of 25 cm. Leaves are green with a brownish tint.

Marianna is a compact bush with a height of 1.2-1.4 m. The petals with corrugated edges are arranged in 3 rows. The center is dark crimson, the shade of the petals is pale pink.

Varieties of white tree peonies:

Tree peony Lomonosov photo

August - the bush reaches a height of 1.2-1.3 m. The flowers are goblet-shaped, the petals are snow-white, the center is decorated with a barely noticeable spot of a pinkish hue.

Tree peony Paeonia suffruticosa cultivar Anastasia Sosnovets photo

Anastasia Sosnovets - the height of the compact bush is 1.5 m. The flowers are simple, each petal is two-row with slightly corrugated edges, the base is decorated with a spot of crimson hue.

Spring Waltz - grows up to 1.2 m in height. The petals are snow-white, the base is decorated with a blueberry spot, the staminodial disc is of a red-purple hue.

Vorobievsky is a one and a half meter bush. Simple goblet-shaped flowers with snow-white petals and lilac staminate filaments.

Tree peony white nights

Milky-white petals have maroon spots in the center, the middle with large yellow anthers. Leaves and branches are dark green with a purple tint.

Maria - is a spreading bush 1.2-1.3 m high. Semi-double flowers (petals are arranged in 2 rows) consist of snow-white petals with corrugated edges.

Tatyana - the height of the bush varies from 1 m to 1.2 cm. The flowers are semi-double (2-3 rows), at the base there is a crimson spot.

We present the rules for planting and caring for a tree peony in the open field: location, soil, distance, depth and planting hole. We consider leaving in spring, summer and autumn: flowering, feeding, watering and pruning. We will separately dwell on the preparation for winter and shelter of the peony.

Own-rooted and grafted tree peonies: is there a difference?

Own-rooted peonies

Dignity. Long life expectancy from several decades to several centuries (usually bloom profusely for at least 25-30 years). High resilience and resistance to frost and disease. Free reproduction by dividing the rhizome.

Inconvenience. Conventionally, disadvantages can be called: slow growth and development of the plant in the first five years, therefore it blooms later - in the 4th-6th year. At this age, the bushes are usually 60-70 cm in height.

Grafted peonies

Advantages. Fast growth (20-40 cm per season) and flowering (1-3rd year).

Inconvenience. Shorter lifespan. They cannot be propagated by dividing the bush and must be immediately planted in a permanent place - they do not tolerate transplanting well.

At the same time, the grafted peonies often form shoots near the bush, which can be dug up and planted. Otherwise, it must be removed in order for the flower to develop better.

How to tell?

A seedling of a self-rooted peony has many long and thin roots (thickness - 6-9 mm), they are lighter. The grafted flower has roots from a herbaceous peony (cylindrical succulent rhizome) of greater thickness (3-5 cm) and darker.

Japanese grafted tree peony seedlings

Advice

Some growers, in order not to wait for the flowering of their own rooted tree-like peony, plant two types of seedlings. It turns out that the grafted specimen blooms quickly and brings joy, and the self-rooted one gradually grows and becomes a symbol of the family for many years.

Planting a tree peony: location, soil, distance and depth

LANDING AREA

Experts advise to immediately choose a permanent place with optimal factors for the development and flowering of a tree peony. It should be well lit in the morning and evening, and during the day it is better to have a little shade, since the midday heat reduces the flowering time.

• Therefore, it is better to plant on the east side so that there is maximum amount of light in the morning. Protection from strong winds and drafts is also necessary, frequent gusts of wind worsen the laying of flower buds.

Cannot be planted in low-lying areas, in a place with high groundwater levels or prone to waterlogging. Even 1-2 days of water with melting snow or heavy rain lead to negative consequences. If this is likely to happen, plant on high ridges and make gutters.

LANDING DISTANCE

The distance between the peonies is 1.3-1.8 m, other small plants can grow between them. The distance to the nearest large bushes and buildings is at least 2 meters, and to trees - 3 meters. The roots of shrubs and trees will deplete the soil, and the walls of buildings will heat up in summer.

GROUND FOR LANDING

Tree peonies are not selective, but they prefer loamy soil with high moisture and air permeability.

Heavy soils should be diluted with sand and humus, fresh manure should be avoided. Sandy loam soils need to be improved by adding clay and compost, but still the flowers are less decorative and age faster.

The worst is peaty soil due to its high acidity, therefore more wood ash and additionally slaked lime are added.

The optimum acidity level is pH 6.1-6.8. Excessive acidity must be reduced.

We recommend reading: «SOIL ACIDITY: HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND REDUCE?».

How to plant a tree peony correctly? Instructions

1. Landing pit. Cone-shaped, width - 70-75, and depth - 65-81 cm.It is better to dig a hole 18-35 days before planting.
2. Drainage. It is recommended to make a 16-19 cm drainage layer of gravel, broken brick or sand at the bottom of the planting pit.
3. Soil mix. Put rotted manure on top of the drain. The soil mixture is prepared in equal parts from earth (top layer), peat and humus + add 140-210 g of superphosphate and 310-390 g of bone meal or wood ash. If the soil is clay, then you also need to add 7-9 kg of river sand, and 1-1.5 buckets of clay into the sandy soil.
4. Planting depth. The root collar is placed in the soil so that the renewal buds are at the level of the soil surface. The grafted specimens are planted so that the grafting site is 9-14 cm below the soil surface.

   Adjusting the planting depth of the peony

5. Landing. The components are mixed and poured into the pit. The roots are spread on the seedling for maximum contact with the soil, and they are planted on the resulting cone. The root collar should not touch humus to prevent fungal diseases. After planting, pour water over the pit, and then fill up with ordinary earth, no more than 3-4 cm on top of the renewal buds.

• If the pH is below 6.5, add 100 grams of hydrated lime to the top dressing layer, and if it is below 6.0, add 200 grams per bush.

Planting a tree peony in spring or autumn: when is it necessary?

According to scientific experts, the most favorable time for planting a tree peony is from August 20 to September 30 (Middle lane, Moscow region). Moreover, September 15-25 is considered the best period, according to Chinese masters - the autumn solstice + - 1 day.

Seedlings with closed root system (closed root system) can be planted in spring and even summer. Still, it is better to dig a peony in a pot bought in spring in partial shade until August - September, so that it adapts better. Then you transfer (always with a lump of earth) to a permanent place and make a shelter for the winter.

Peony transshipment into the ground

But seedlings without a pot (OCS) are best planted only at the indicated favorable time or, in extreme cases, in early spring.

Why is it better to plant tree peonies in the fall than in the spring?

It is better to store seedlings from spring to autumn dug in on the site not because of fears of their death.

But because planting in the spring will take away from them the nutrients intended for the growth of shoots and flowering, which are accumulated in the storage rhizome. Because of this, the flower will not develop suction roots and will not make up for losses.

As a result, a lot of time will be spent on recuperation for the next flowering. And planting a seedling in a container creates favorable conditions for it. Low temperature prolongs the dormant period, it is easier to protect it from drying out and waterlogging, as well as from frost and drafts.

How to save a seedling before planting in August or September?

Often seedlings with an open root system are brought in massively from China at the end of winter. In this case, plant a cut in a 3-4 liter pot, put it in a cool and dark place (cellar, basement) and slightly moisten the soil (without waterlogging (!)) So that the flower remains at rest for as long as possible.

After the start of the growth of the shoots, transfer the pot to the windowsill and water as little as possible. In May - June, place in the garden in a quiet and shady place. And in August or September, plant it in a permanent place.

Tree peony care after planting

The first spring is a key time in the life of a flower. From May to mid-June is the most favorable period for feeding.

1. Pour a solution with a complex mineral fertilizer (for example, "Kemira Spring - Summer") + nitrogen (ammonium nitrate 40-50 g) into a circular hole to accelerate the formation of the root system and intensive vegetation.
2. In the first growing season, foliar feeding is more effective. Sprinkle the bush three times: 1. After the start of shoot growth - 30-40 grams of urea / 5 liters of water. 2. After 14-19 days, 30-40 grams of urea (carbamide) and a tablet with microelements / 5 liters of water. 3. After 2-3 weeks, two tablets / 5 liters of water.
3. If there is no rain, then water every 2-3 days for the first 15-19 days after planting.In the future, water the bush during drought is better less often, but abundantly: 11-16 liters per bush. Loosen the soil the next day to provide oxygen to the roots.
4. Preparing for winter 1-2. In mid-October, the seedlings must be covered with a 11-14 cm layer of peat and covered with a bucket. Using straw, foliage or manure is not recommended. In the spring, the mulch is harvested, and the next fall, they are covered again.

What year will the tree peony bloom after planting?

A grafted seedling with normal development usually blooms in the 2-3rd year, and self-rooted in the 4th-6th year.

First bloom

A tree peony does not need to rush to pick the first flower (not like in herbaceous species). If he was able to form a flower bud and bloomed, it means that he developed the root system sufficiently.

It is necessary to cut the first flower after full flowering, i.e. as soon as it is fully revealed.

If the bush has two sprouts and buds, then wait until the stage of the colored bud. Then gently remove (pinch) the top bud or pierce its base with a needle. Then it will dry out, and the plant will not waste nutrients.

If the bud is cut off before this stage, then the growth point located at the top of the shoot will be damaged, which is fraught with stopping its growth.

• At the first flowering, the flower often does not coincide with the declared characteristics of the variety. All varietal characteristics usually appear during the third flowering, especially in densely double flowers and with an unusual shape of the petals.

Tree peony: care in spring, summer and autumn (feeding, watering)

WHEN TO OPEN A TREE PEONY IN SPRING?

You can remove the winter shelter after the snow has completely melted, at the time when crocuses begin to bloom. Approximate terms for the Moscow region: late March - early April.

Spring pruning of peony

Before the beginning of the growing season (March - April), it is recommended to prune for a beautiful formation and extension of the life of the bush. To do this, cut the shoots at the level of the first growth bud from the top, and shorten the weak ones by 9-12 cm above the ground.

Attention! If found, do not cut off the frozen shoots and wait until the end of May. If the flower does not recover, then cut them to the first living bud, then it will begin to grow again.

Pruning a tree peony in spring

Top dressing and fertilizers: subtleties and order

The best food for tree peony: wood ash, bone meal and mineral fertilizers with a high concentration of potassium and phosphorus, and a low concentration of nitrogen. It is convenient to fertilize together with watering.

Autumn is the best time for organic fertilization. The bush can be overlaid with compost (rotted manure) - 3-5 kg, and then dig up the soil 11-14 cm deep. Fresh manure is categorically not advised to use; from contact with it, the roots are affected by rot.

1. Preventive. After the snow melts, water the soil around the peony with potassium permanganate (2-3 grams per five liters of water - one bush) to prevent diseases.
2. Nitrogen-potassium for growth. As soon as the snow has melted, it is better to apply nitrogen and potash fertilizers - 1: 1. Spread 16-21 grams of nitrogen (ammonium nitrate - 40-60 grams) and potassium (potassium salt - 16-21 grams) on the ground at a distance of 16-21 cm from the rhizome.
   You can replace 40-60 grams of nitrophoska or take something like Kemir Spring / Summer. Then dig 9-11 cm deep and cover with a thin layer of compost. Together with water after rain or watering, substances will get to the roots.
3. Potash phosphoric for powerful flowering. At the beginning of budding (12-16 days before flowering), liquid feeding is carried out with potash (40-50 g) and phosphorus fertilizers (20-30 g) - 2: 1.
   Potassium and phosphorus will provide abundant flowering. Additionally, you can water 10 liters of mullein infusion (only bushes over five years old) or dissolve mineral fertilizers in it.
4. Bloom. During the flowering of the peony or after it, after 3-5 days, repeat the potassium-phosphorus feeding.

• An overabundance of nutrients should be avoided and the measure of feeding should be observed.
• To improve nitrogen metabolism, it is advisable to carry out foliar feeding (spraying) with boric acid - 1 gram per 500 g of water every 15-20 days before flowering.

Watering a tree peony

Obligatory watering: 13-16 days before flowering (15-25 liters) and 13-16 days after flowering. Do not allow the soil to dry out in July - August (it is often dry and hot), and the plant starts buds of renewal and needs water. Watering is stopped at the end of August.

In general, it is best to water sparingly but abundantly. Usually, 2-4 waterings per summer are obtained with sufficient rainfall. Be sure to loosen the soil after watering (rain) so that there is no crust and maximum oxygen flows to the roots.

Hole around the bush for watering and fertilizing

Summer: flowering, post-flowering peony care and pruning

Bloom

Treelike peonies bloom in late May - early June (Middle lane, Moscow region). First non-double, after 3-5 days - terry, and later for 1-2 weeks yellow-flowered semi-shrubs. Medium varieties bloom in mid-June, and late varieties from the end of the month to early July.

The flowering period is 11-16 days, a little less in hot weather, and more in cool weather.

BOUQUET CUTTING RULES

• Cut no more than half of the flowers to make it easier for the peony to recover.
• When cutting a flower, at least 2-3 leaves should remain on the remaining shoot on the bush.
• Advice. For fuller flowers, cut off 25-30% of the resulting buds at the "pea" stage.

SUPPORT

For varieties with large flowers, support the flower with reinforcement or stakes with a wire ring. Now there are special bush holders on sale, for example:

Ready support for peonies

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Post-flowering care: pruning

After flowering, the stem is trimmed two buds below the faded bud. And also weeds are regularly pulled out. Watering and fertilizing according to the recommendations in these sections.

Pruning a tree peony after flowering

Tree peony: care in the fall and preparation for winter

Autumn care for a tree peony is reduced to digging a trunk circle (60-80 cm in diameter) at a depth of 10-13 cm.On top, you can remove the top layer and pour sand into which small-bulbous flowers (anemone, kandyk, crocus, muscari, scrub, scilla). They bloom in early spring and decorate the wintering site with their flowers.

Transplant and reproduction

Read about transplanting a tree peony in the fall and reproduction in a separate material at the end of the page.

Preparation for winter: is it necessary or not?

In the Moscow region and throughout the European part of the CIS, tree peonies normally hibernate without shelter in a quiet and wind-protected place. Although in winter the earth can freeze over a meter in depth, and the temperature can drop below -30 degrees.

• In the open area: Middle lane, Moscow region, North-West, Ural and Siberia better cover them for the winter "just in case of fire."
• But young (1-2 years old) tree peonies must be covered for the winter. To do this, it is enough to pour an 11-14 cm layer of peat around the bush and cover with a bucket.

Do I need to prune a tree peony in the fall for the winter?

Experts do not recommend pruning tree varieties in the fall. It is better to spend it in the spring. More details in the chapter - "Cropping".

Shelter for the winter tree peony

1. It is imperative to tie the bush with a ribbon, tourniquet or rope in mid to late October, but not tightly and neatly so that the branches do not freeze to the snow and break off in the spring.
2. After the onset of stable subzero temperatures (November), cover the bush with spruce branches, white (!) Burlap, agrofibre or lutrasil (leave gaps for air at the bottom).
   Instead of a spruce tree hut, a tree-like peony is often covered with a cardboard box, plastic boxes or a barrel for the winter. If the branches rest against the bottom, it is better to cut them off a little, since they will freeze and still have to be cut in the spring.
   Shelter with burlap allows you to preserve peonies in winter and often more often serves as protection not from frost, but from hares and birds - so as not to damage the kidneys.

• To increase the frost resistance of the flower due to better ripening of the shoots, you can cut off the leaves by 2/3 of the length at the end of September.
• Even if the buds of the bush, which had bloomed for 2-3 years before that, are frozen, do not worry. At the end of May, cut off such shoots to the first living bud, and then they will easily grow back.

Pruning tree peonies: bush formation and rejuvenation

In general, the flowers are characterized by good pruning tolerance and rapid growth of new shoots. When pruning a bush, you need to understand that it will bloom on last year's shoots.

Bush formation

To form a bush, it is advised to cut woody shoots at a height of 70-90 cm. It is this height that contributes to the excellent development and flowering of the tree peony in our climate, and also makes it easier to shelter for the winter. Although the shrub itself can grow up to 2-2.5 meters in the European part of the CIS.

Rejuvenation

To rejuvenate the flower and awaken the adventitious buds, it is recommended to cut the stems of the treelike peony every 10-20 years to the upper axillary point (3-4 cm from ground level). This procedure promotes more lush flowering and prolongs the life of the plant, up to a hundred years or more.

Diseases and pests

Tree peonies are very resistant plants, including pests and diseases. The greatest danger is gray rot, and the best remedy is prevention.

If damaged, treat the plants with a fungicide. For example, potassium permanganate - 3 grams per 10 liters of water or copper sulfate - 60-70 grams per 10 liters of water.

For prophylaxis, be sure to spray the flowers in the spring (mass regrowth of shoots), before and after flowering with a fungicide.

For example, copper sulfate (40 g per 10 liters of water or 4 g per m2), iodine solution (1 ml per 400 ml), potassium permanganate (1 g per 4 l) or onion husk infusion (pour 100 g of 5 liters of water and leave for 24 hours ).

Read more in the article: HOW TO FIGHT MEALY DEW? Section - funds and preparations.

What is the best seedling to choose?

It is best if the tree peony seedling has 2-3 lignified shoots with unblown, rather large dark red glossy buds (dormant state) 18-25 cm in height.

• The high cost of seedlings is explained by the fact that when dividing a bush, few divisions are obtained (2-5).

Most of them are brought from nurseries in China, Japan and Poland. Many experts believe that foreign planting material is less prepared for our climate and recommend buying seedlings of Russian varieties.

Russian tree peonies are highly winter-hardy and thrive in the Moscow region, the North-West, the Urals and Siberia.

However, there are more chances to buy them from residents of Moscow and the Moscow region, since many of them are grown in the Botanical Garden at Moscow University. Much credit for this belongs to Marianna Sergeevna Uspenskaya.

• Be sure to study the characteristics of the variety: winter hardiness, survival in your climate and external signs (height, flowering time, flower features - terry, shade and diameter).

TIPS

1. If the buds of a delenka with an open root system (without a pot) have already blossomed, then its quality is much reduced.
2. When buying a seedling without a pot, be sure to inspect the root system so that there are as few rotted or broken roots as possible. And their length should ideally be equal to the height of the seedling.
3. The larger the seedling, the longer it will take root in a new place.
4. If at the base of the lignified shoot is a cylindrical succulent rhizome, then it is a scion of a tree-like peony on a herbaceous rootstock. (See reproduction by vaccinations).

Important! Damage to the buds during transport or planting results in a 1-2 year delay in flowering.

An interesting fact for residents and guests of Moscow

In the capital of Russia, the oldest botanical garden, founded in 1706 by Peter I, is known as the "Pharmaceutical garden". So, tree peonies were planted in it back in the 19th century, and they still bloom there. They are now about 140-160 cm tall.

Near the botanical garden (metro station Prospekt Mira) there are many greenhouses with exotic and rare plants open to the public. There is also a website and an Instagram profile, where you can find out the time and cost of excursions. In addition, a plant shop is open from mid-April until late autumn.

ADDITIONS TO THE ARTICLE:

1. TRANSPORTATION AND REPRODUCTION OF THE TREE PION - HOW BETTER?

2. CORRECT LANDING OF PIONES IN SPRING AND AUTUMN - OVERVIEW!

3. TRANSFERRING THE PIONES TO ANOTHER PLACE - SUBSTANCE AND TILT!

4. CARE AND CULTIVATION OF PIONES TO FLOWER!

5. REPRODUCTION OF HERBAL PIONES - ALL WAYS!

6. SPECIES AND BEST VARIETIES OF PIONE - PHOTOS AND NAMES!

7. ARE BLUE AND BLUE PIONES ALSO AVAILABLE?

Afterword

In this guide to planting and caring for tree-like peonies, many of the recommendations are consistent with the article from the Appendix "Household economy" from the magazine "Selskaya Nov". The author of the article is M.S.Uspenskaya, the issue was signed for publication on 23.10.1991. And also the book "Peonies" from Marianna Sergeevna.

Marianna Sergeevna Uspenskaya is familiar to every person who is interested in peonies. This is a real guru and a man-legend, candidate of biological sciences (1982), senior researcher (1967) of the Botanical Garden at Moscow State University and the author of many varieties.

By the way, on the Internet, 95% of the information about the agricultural technology of tree peonies is the processing of the works of Marianna Sergeevna. However, most of them resemble the game "broken phone" and contain conflicting information. Our editorial office keeps the original of this issue of the journal and the book, i.e. we studied the original source.

Finally, a video with the participation of the legendary Marianna Sergeevna and her live advice.

We wish your flowers to be healthy and bloom profusely every year!