Tree Peony

[TheSweetestHalleluja]

Hi,
I bought a tree Peony today, I had a Peony in my last garden but moved house before it really got established.
Does anyone here grow tree peonies and are they easy to care for? I'd love to see some pics if anyone is happy to share!

I read that they can take 2 to 3 years to establish themselves and flower well?

Thanks :)

My mum brought us both a "Tree Peony" many years ago, except they aren't! They are definitely Peonies of some type, although I'm not sure what. I think I've had 3 flowers (in total) over the years, and my mum has had less!

I got several varieties of peony last year, so am watching to see what they do this year. Not much happing with them yet, but my "tree peony" has loads of growth which is very early for it.

Watching with interest although I have no sound advice to offer.
I have a tree peony and in years 1 and 2 it was a beautiful thing. Then I was a bit confused about whether or not to prune it, then didn't, then did, so now in yr 5 it's very leggy with lots of non-flowering branches.
Depending on this year, I'm thinking I'll cut it right back after flowering and see what happens.

That was nice of your mum to buy you a Peony @Chasingsquirrels
I've been reading about the different types and apparently the herbaceous peonies disappear under the ground completely whereas the tree peonies are meant to keep their structure all year round?

Not sure where to begin with pruning @trulyunruly01 although you've given me hope that yours was lovely as early as years 1 and 2!

I think peonies are gorgeous, our new one is meant to have purple flowers, fingers crossed it settles in well.

Fingers crossed for yours TheSweetestHalleluja

I have tree peonies that my grandmother brought with her from garden to garden (and gave to my mum, who gave them to me). I have no idea what variety they are, but they are dark red, single or occasionally slightly double, and really lovely. They are tough as old boots. I moved to my current garden in 2018; mum gave me a seedling to put in. It flowered and produced seedlings of its own within three years (which is quick, when you consider peony seeds put down a root the first year, and only in the second year do they sprout).

So, clearly, some of them are easy. I have heard that some of the fancier varieties can be more touchy.

I cut mine right back to the ground every few years and they happily re-grow; if I like the shape of them, other years I will just cut them back to a nice-looking bud, much as you would with a rose. They have a lovely almondy scent in the wood when you cut into them.

@Chasingsquirrels - they wouldn't be intersectional peonies? They're a cross between herbaceous and tree peonies, and they can be very expensive! I've never persuaded myself to spend the money, but if that is what you've got, it's (apparently) quite special.

That's interesting, I'll go and Google.

1st picture is a couple of weeks ago, others in flower from a few years ago.

I've never thought to prune them. I have 2, both over 10 years old, I just dead head or tidy up a bit if they're lucky.
One is about 5.5 foot, the other about 4 foot. Flowers as big as my face every year so I guess I bought easy care ones 😆

Your first pic looks the same as I bought today @Chasingsquirrels the same foliage. Do you keep yours in a pot all year round?

Wow, that's amazing that you've got peonies that have been passed down the generations from your grandmother @SarahAndQuack what a lovely legacy.
I'd love to pass plants down to my own children and grandchildren one day.

Yours sound lovely @Fumnudge

Yes, been in a pot for about 15 years.
My mum planted hers into the garden about 3 or 4 years ago, but doesn't seem to have made any difference - still next to no flowers.
I've got high hopes for the Peonies I got last year - named varieties, although I can't remember what they are at the moment.

reason for no flowers is often because they are planted too deeply.

I was just about to say this! The eyes shouldn't be more than a couple of centimetres underground or they won't flower.

Interesting, I don't think mine is deep in the pot but I will investigate.

I have several, one in a pot and others self sown. They are approaching 5ft. The self sown ones are on a rocky, West facing slope, so that’s their preferred location.
No photos as they’re just budding twigs at the moment.

We've put ours in a west facing border, quite sheltered there so hoping it'll be ok. I'll be glad when this cold snap is over and it starts warming up again so that everything can start growing.