Bargain Japanese tree peonies
...bargains! I went to a fairly local branch of Wyvale in Hare Hatch and found that they had Japanese tree peony Suffruticosas for £9.99 (smaller plants) or £14.99 for the larger ones. They were well-budded and although they looked recently potted up, tree peonies are less fussy than herbaceous ones so I don't anticipate that this will be too much trouble. The plants' stems were quite thick so they seem to be well-established, despite the recent re-potting.
I just think that we could do a LOT worse for that price so it is worth checking out. I have already planted mine.
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Just out of interest, how tall were the plants and how fast will they grow do you think? Would be lovely to have one that stood 7ft tall like my friend's one but I'm not sure how fast they grow. Thanks
They are not fast growing plants, Jekylandhide. Many varieties do get to about that height but I think you are looking beyond 7 years at least before then.
Have a look here for information: http://peonysenvy.com/peonycare.html#growth
I have also purchased them bare-root from my favourite online peony seller Purely Peonies: http://peonygrower.co.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=59
Thanks Anomander, you've confirmed what I already suspected.
Hey Aym280! I have two Sarah Bernhart herbaceous peonies in pots and last year I had one bloom but they were only planted last year So I will see what happens this year. Otherwise, I have sourced and planted 3 other types of herbaceous on my allotment: 2 Gardenia peony, 2 Sorbet and 2 of the stunning blackish red Francoise Ortegat. I planted 3 tree peonies so far: Kinkaku, a purple Suffruticosa and the white Suffruticosa that I got over the weekend.
What I REALLY need most is patience and restraint!!
I hope that ai planted them properly- I was careful to work the soil well and incorporate lots of organic matter, and not plant the herbaceous ones more than 1 or 2 inches deep...fingers crossed, I'll send you some pictures from the Sarah Bernharts this year if I'm lucky to have any blooms.
Yes please Aym280! And you bought PEONY seeds to grow?? Wow- you are blessed with patience! I do agree though- seeds sprouting is like magic- there is a certain power about it. I look forward to the results.
Chloe, why is the tree peony temperamental? I always heard that they are very self-sustaining, once establshed. And if you plan to prune it, now is the time- ASAP, in fact, before Spring hits! I saw a very useful Youtube video about pruning them:
http://youtu.be/uxRFAtbihaA
My tree paeonies aren't temperamental
They behave very well, putting up with a major hack when necessary. The flowering season is short but the leaves are beautiful and the seed pods fantastic.
and the seeds are fertile.
lots of babies.
I find the flowers last longer if they're in a bit of shade. Not sure the herbaceous ones (like Sarah Bernhardt) would like that.
In the sticks near Peterborough
tree paeonies are shrubs really aym.
Anomander, can I post my pics on your thread please? (if I can find them
)
In the sticks near Peterborough
Bigger than what?
My yellow one is about 8 foot or more but it's more shrub (ie multi-stemmed) than tree. The red one 5-6 feet. same multi-stemmed.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Please do Notcutlet!
I have no objections.
Aym280, I had assumed that the seeds you bought were for tree peonies. As Notcutlet said, they are not trees- more like woody shrubs. Unlike the herbaceous ones, they do not die down every winter. There are also intersectional peonies that are a cross between the two and supposedly all the rage!
I grow the Sarah Bernhardts in pots due to lack of space. Our garden is small and the landlord has paved most of it, sadly.
Thanks Anomander.
I'm not completely sure what mine are, doubtful origins.
The yellow one has huge flowers and 6'' seed pods in a good year. The red one has much smaller flowers and was bought as delavyi. It has babies in yellow, blotchy orange and, rarely, red.
I had to show this one off again, though it's one of the herbaceous ones, P cambessedesii,none too hardy. Those seeds germinated freely last year. The mother plant isn't mine and I don't know if I'll be able to keep it in a cold GH when we get a real winter.
In the sticks near Peterborough