In design we often add collections to an interior to accessorize our rooms. A collection will be an item of similar content, shape, or maybe color. There are numerous variations to a potential collection.
This is true also in our gardens. We all have favorites for our garden. There are popular favorites of well-known plants such as hosta, roses, herbs and succulents that we often find in gardens. There also are collections of more rarely known plants. This summer I hope to post information on some of my favorite collections. These collections will vary in categories for species, color, texture etc. I’m hoping you will enjoy this series of articles and the information added about my experience with the collection.
My Favorite collection:
One collection I have in my Garden is the Peony (genus Paeonia.) I have a few varieties of the Herbaceous type, but also collect the more rarely grown Tree Peony and Itoh Peony. The one surprise is that most people feel that this species are more difficult to grow. By far, they are extremely easy to grow and bless you with the largest most fragrant blooms. I have found that they are less susceptible to disease as well, such as Powdery Mildew often associated with the Herbaceous varieties. Although it is best to plant and transplant them in the Fall, they easy adapt to Spring planting with frequent watering. It’s best to water them as you would a newly planted tree. The Tree Peony grows on hard wood and is a deciduous shrub. It does not die back to the ground as the more common Herbaceous peony or the more recent introduced Itoh Peony.
 Hu Shui Dang Xia In my collection of Tree Peonies is this pink variety named Hu Shui Dang Xia. A year ago last fall I moved two from either side of this one to new locations. They were gaining such height and width in this small area. Most will grow up to 40″ high and 30″ wide. So if you add one or more to your garden plant with it’s growth in mind. |
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The Itoh is a cross between the Herbaceous and the Tree Peony. It incorporates the best of both, but it does die back to the ground. Both the Tree Peony and the Itoh Peony are more expensive than the standard Herbaceous; but you must agree they give you your monies worth in a beautiful flower.  Itoh Kopper Kettle |
I have had great success growing these in even partial shade. Often one plant will have as many as 20-25 buds that will bloom into various size flowers. Most opening to 6″ or more. They are great survivors of hard winters as well. Most are good to Zone 4.
You will notice that the Tree Peony does not have that same round bud as the more popular Herbaceous peony. It has a large more pointed shape. Since they are on a hardwood, they also hold up better after a hard rain. Often a good shake after a rain is needed just to open up the bloom petals that the rain cause to stick to one another. With it’s stronger stem, the Itoh holds up much better to the rain as well.
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Shimanishiki : A semi double with red and white stripe. You will notice some flowers come through with just red and others stripe. It is very interesting to see what you will get from each bloom. The colors are due to mutation, thus, no two are identical. |
They make great cut flowers. However, You must cut the stem short on the Tree variety, so you avoid cutting next years bloom. Cut only down the stem to where you see a newly forming node. That is where the new bloom will develop for next year. Since Itoh die back to the ground you need not worry about the length on these cuttings. They last a good while in a vase with fresh water and will fill the room with an aroma you will never forget. Oh yes, the plus…no ants to deal with in the flowers. The photos are from last year (except the one of buds). I will post photos on Foto-Friday when they bloom this year.
Naida Albin has photos of her Tree Peony to share. I’ve attached them below:
Monroe County Master Gardener Association 
Thanks Linda,
A truly magnificent article on these spectacular garden performers! I believe we have three specimens in our demo garden, the most notable being a large double white in the sign garden…the others are in the memorial and entry gardens.
As usual you show immaculate good taste in artfully incorporating these colorful plants into your lovely garden. For those who are not familiar with growing Peonies, the following websites give a lot of useful information about the care and cultivation of these shrubs that deserve a place in any garden.
Klehm’s Songswallow Nursery http://www.songswallow.com has an excellent selection of over 147 varieties, ranging from small rock garden, herbaceous to tree specimens. Long an established garden favorite, the peony has been the subject of much hybridization and development by serious collectors for well over a century. Reading a peony description is like looking at a thoroughbred horse pedigree, with the hybridizer, date, type, color and blooming season all listed after the name. This site if you click on “Peonies”, will give you an insight into the world of peony selection, including the bios of some of the more famous hybridizers.
Reath Nursery in Vulcan, Mi (da Uper) http://www.reathsnursery.com is the other recognized source of unusual and traditional varieties. In fact, all of our varieties are from their nursery…and Mr Reath has given talks to our association about peony cultivation and hybridization.
Peonies are expensive to get established. Most of the common herbaceous varieties are in the $30 to $40 range, with some new releases like Klehm’s “Golden Angel” topping out at $125. Tree peonies start at $65 and can go up from there. More reasonable specimens can be had from Brecks or Guerneys, who both provide a product for everyday use. The serious collector usually opts to purchase the more unique varieties direct from specialized growers.
Peonies are susceptible to Botrytis infection and should be handled with bio-sanitation in mind. Klehm’s sells 6 Peony Rings for $39.95 shipped, which will help keep your plants off the ground and disease free.
I am looking forward to the next in the series on the favorites in your garden!
Frank.
Last year Parran’s Nursery (Ida) had tree peonies for $25.00. Probably their Monroe store carries them also. I planted a yellow one last year and have 2 blooms right now. As they age they will produce more flowers.
Loved your beautiful photos of the tree peony and wanted to share photos (Linda inserted for me) which I took May 2 of a tree peony I received on Mother’s Day about 4 years ago. It had very little information on the tag, only that it is a red Japanese tree peony with recommendations to plant in partial sun. As you can see with the comparison of a CD, the blooms are huge, beautiful, and a very dark pink. I think it is a great specimen plant but it doesn’t have the pleasant fragrance we associate with most peonies. This peony is a woody shrub – now about 3′ tall – that does not die back, but over the winter smaller branches will break off and it looks pretty sad by early spring. I am always surprised when it starts putting out new growth and leafing out and each year there are more blooms!