Tree Peony / Tree Paeony

Paeonia Deep Purple

• Position: full sun or partial shade
• Soil: fertile, moisture-retentive yet well-drained
• Rate of growth: vigorous
• Flowering period: April to May
• Hardiness: fully hardy

  
  Prized for their blowsy, glamorous blooms and glossy, deeply cut foliage, peonies are held in deep affection by many gardeners, despite their short flowering season and vulnerability to peony wilt in damp weather. It's easy to see why. From the promise of early spring, when their red, mottled shoots push through bare earth and the handsome foliage unfurls, to early summer, when the huge flowers burst open from spherical red buds, peonies exert a fascination that few can resist. This tree peony has ruffled, deep purple sometimes scented flowers with yellow centres from late spring and early summer and handsome, deeply cut foliage. The flowers are massive, up to 15cm (6in) across, and this unusual tree peony makes a dramatic statement in a sunny protected border.
  

• Garden care: Protect from cold winds and early morning sun. Support the branches of young trees with canes. In early spring apply a top-dressing of a balanced, slow release fertiliser around the base of the plant and mulch well with well-rotted garden compost or manure. If the plant shows signs of collapse or the leaves become spotty, this may be a symptom of peony botrytis. Remove affected leaves immediately. In the autumn, cut off all the foliage and dispose of it to prevent reinfection the following spring. The older stems of tree peonies have a tendency to become brittle and snap, so cut these back to the ground in autumn every two or three years.

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