Peony Trees
Tips for Growing Peony Trees
If you want flowers that come in a large variety of types and colors, the peony tree is perfect. Although peonies are beautiful, they do have some very specific growing requirements.
These flowers are very large and blossom with an abundance of soft petals. Peony trees originated sometime in the 13th Century Rome; eventually these flowers were bred in different varieties and came into England from France, China, and several other locals. If grown with the right conditions, peony trees are easy to care for, and they will live for a long time.
The peony tree actually resembles a shrub or a bush more than a tree, but it is really very attractive and looks nice in landscaping. The only real trouble with this type of peony plant is that it isn’t quite as hardy as some of the other varieties of peony trees. Then there is the Chinese peony; you can get these flowers in a few different colors including pink, white and red. It is common to plant these peony trees in a cluster group, or as edge bushes.
Another very nice type of peony is the fern leaf peony. These flowers are smaller than the other species, and they also bloom early. The reason that this peony plant got its name is due to the fact that its foliage resembles that of a fern plant; it looks something like lace and is really a very lovely plant.
Aside from those mentioned, there are a number of different peony trees, but a lot of them do have similar growing requirements. These types of flowers do best in cooler climates. When planting peony trees, keep in mind that they require full to partial sun and should receive at least six hours of sunlight a day.
The soil needed to grow peony trees is a very low acidic soil that is well drained. When choosing a location to plant, you will want to keep in mind that peony trees need a lot of room for development so that the root system can grow. It is also important to know that these bushes do not transplant well; if you try and transplant later it could kill the plant.
Also, when planting peony trees you will want to start by planting the root instead of a seed, as the seeds can take a couple of years to germinate. Start by working the soil to about two feet deep. The roots that you plant will likely have two to three buds on them; these buds should be planted just below the surface soil. Unfortunately, once planted, it could still take two to three years before your peony trees begin to bloom, but the beauty of these flowers make it worth waiting for.
Caring for your peonies once they are planted isn’t too difficult; you will need to make sure they are well watered about every two weeks. Make sure that you water good enough that the moisture is reaching a depth of about 18 inches; this way your roots will become strong and provide you with beautiful peony trees.
You will want to fertilize your peony trees during the spring and then about half way through the summer, use a fertilizer with low nitrogen. Pruning should be done in the fall, and the trees should be cut down almost to ground level, ensuring that all of the dead foliage is removed.
With the proper care, peony trees can provide you with exceptional color and beauty for your landscaping. You can plant as few or as many as you want, and they are still lovely.