Early Monday morning I went to get something out of the refrigerator and found this:
The tree peonies were in full bloom, but there was a storm warning and my husband wanted to save some blooms. The door's bottom shelf became our "flower cooler."
Do you know tree peonies?
There are peonies and then there are peonies.
Specifically, those known as Chinese tree peonies.
I had never heard of a tree peony eight years ago. I was introduced to them by a friend who convinced me to try growing a plant. I did and I was hooked. We still grow the herbaceous peonies (the peony that most will recognize), but the tree peonies have really captured our hearts.
Hardy in most of the U.S. (zones 4-9), as you can see, tree peonies need a bit of space. They will grow large when happy, reaching the size of a shrub or even larger. The plant below is only four years old. We have a lavender tree peony that is over six feet tall.
They prefer sun, but not a whole day of it. To keep the blooms the longest amount of time, dappled shade would be perfect. They should not be planted close to a tree as the tree would rob the generous root system of its needed nutrients.
Most blooms open up to 6"-10" saucers. Besides their gorgeous colors, they also smell delightful.
Here is a yellow tree peony bloom; isn't it unusual to see a yellow peony?
One of my favorites is the white tree peony.
It has Attitude!
Do you grow any tree peonies?
Coming up, I'll introduce you to its other stunning colors...
Linking up to Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Linking up to White Wednesday over at Faded Charm
Linking up to The Little Round Table's This Week In My Garden
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