They are freshly dug, and should be planted immediately. Thus, typically peonies are shipped bare root in the fall. Next year you are likely to have a reasonably sized peony with the potential of a flower or two.įall planting occurs from late August until the ground freezes solid for winter.Īs with all cold-hardy plants, fall is the traditional time to plant and historically the only time peony roots were available. There is an old adage when planting perennials: "First year roots, second year shoots, third year flowers." Getting your peonies in in the spring gets a jump on things, giving your plant a good first spring of root development. Watch for botrytis and treat accordingly. That said, diseases are more prevalent on peonies that have been planted in spring. If you are planting peonies that have been grown in pots, there is potential that the buds will wither and the leaves will die back early. If you are planting bare-root peonies in spring, it is likely that your peonies will produce minimal growth above ground the first year. Keep them in the bag as they came, do not add water. Plant them the first day that the ground is soft enough to dig, regardless of future temperatures. IF THE GROUND IS FROZEN SOLID at the time of purchase or delivery, it is best to store your peony roots in the fridge. It is best to plant them while you still have cold or snowy days in the forecast.
Do not wait for the frost date to plant your peony roots. They should be planted the first chance you can get a shovel in the ground, regardless of frost or freeze potential. Spring planting occurs from the time the ground starts to thaw, through mid June. Do not plant in low-lying areas that retain water, and be cautious when planting close to automatic sprinkler or irrigation systems. You are looking to create a sandy loam-soil with equal parts sand, clay, and compost. Varieties with numerous petals will hold up in stronger sun than those with fewer petals.Īll peonies need rich soil, good drainage, and a neutral pH.
#Purple tree peony full
If you grow your tree peonies in full sun, consider using wax paper umbrellas to prevent the flowers from fading, and carefully monitor the moisture in the soil so that your tree peony does not dry out. This will give your tree peony ample sunlight while prolonging the life of the flowers. Ideally, your tree peony wants morning sun and afternoon shade, or dappled sun throughout the day. Third, although tree peonies can thrive in full sun, they prefer dappled light. Like all peonies, they cannot tolerate wet feet and should be planted in a location that is well-draining. Second, tree peonies need a neutral pH and soil that is rich in compost. Remember that your plant is slow growing and will take time to fill in this space, but plan accordingly as tree peonies do not like to be moved.
They need to be deeply planted, and have excellent drainage in the soil.įirst, tree peonies should be planted where there is little competition from the roots of large trees or shrubs. There are 3 common varieties of tree peonies plus one hybrid that combines characteristics from its parent tree peony and the standard herbaceous peony.Tree peonies grow well in zones 4-9. The safest way to prune tree peonies is not to ? Tree Peony Types The other main reason that tree peonies don’t bloom is pruning or flower deadheading done at the wrong time. This is normal so don’t get discouraged…when it does bloom, it will have been worth the wait! You may not see any blooms for 3 or 4 years. One last note, it takes quite a while for tree peonies to get going. I very rarely fertilize my tree peonies, however, if you want to give them an extra boost, top dressing with bone meal or adding some rose fertilizer in the early fall will help the blooms in the spring.
#Purple tree peony install
If the flowers are drooping, you may want to install a tomato ring or other type of plant support that will help to keep them upright. Having said all that, I usually just let the flowers go to seed ? Plant Supportįor some plants, providing support for the flowers may be necessary. The energy that would have gone into seed production is then used to establish stronger roots which will produce a healthier plant (and hopefully more blooms next year!) When you do this, cut the flower off at the top of the stem immediately after it is finished blooming to prevent cutting off next year’s blooms and weakening the branch it is growing on. Some gardeners say that removing the flowers when they have finished blooming, is a good idea (unless you want to grow some seeds).