How to grow tree peonies: they're surprisingly tough! And how to grow Itoh peonies: even tougher!

[@LaceyLace_]

I have a peony sprout this year. It has a single leaf which grew about 2 ft from the original plant. I just checked it yesterday and it now has 2 leaves. I'm excited and I hope it'll grow to a big bush in the next few years. 😊

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Good luck! Thanks for watching!

[@szk1513]

What a terrific and informative video. It's the best of all the videos I've found. Because of you, I finally learned when and how to prune my 20 year old tree peonies. They've never been pruned -- until today (a little late but the seed pods were still mostly green). Now their energy can go back into the plants instead of seed development. Really hoping to see more blossoms over the years. Thank you!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Glad it was helpful! Regards Stephen

[@1972taco]

I grow a few paeonia's. My favorite is paeonia 'Bartzella'. A very vigorous growing plant with beautiful yellow flowers. A must have for the gardener.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@1972taco]

@@thehorti-culturalists thank you for filming!

[@amylocke8173]

Great infi on these types if peonies. My first group of Itohs are finally blooming this year, therefore!, I'm very excited! Thank you I do have several herbaceous specimens in my gardens and luckily have done well every year . Thank you again!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@labecquerelle9873]

Peonies are like potato chips. You just can't have one. I love to look at other people's peony gardens because I wonder which companion plants they plant with the tree peonies or itohs.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

What a great expression! Thanks for watching!

[@jeanneclark99]

I really like the idea of cutting the stack off just below the flower; I'm going to have to try that with other plants, too. One of those "Duh, why did I never think of that?" ideas!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

You are so welcome! Regards Stephen

[@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920]

Yippee 👍...you are back together 👍

[@thehorti-culturalists]

We are! Thanks for watching Peggy!

[@doloresenriquez9275]

Very beautiful flowers, we have both peonies and ,over them

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@rosehunter7788]

I love them. I have five and they are so Hardy and tough and beautiful in Canada 🇨🇦

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@nomad7653]

Love the video! Thank you for making it!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching it!

[@susannahwalsh2153]

I have bartzella Itoh and grows both herbaceous and tree like. A few of the canes don’t die back, I leave them so have flowers on the woody canes and flowers on the emerging growth from herbaceous. Double lucky. It’s the best. Grown on north/east side and flowers seem to last so much longer than in full sun. Thanks for all the great info. 💚🇨🇦

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@julesyaker3037]

I just planted the bartzella barefoot. Can’t wait for next year!

[@mamamia7852]

I love peony and thanks for the history and care tips!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Many thanks for watching!

[@eddy8828]

Loved it. Thank you very much.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Our pleasure. Regards Stephen

[@dustyflats3832]

I have been trying to grow the peonies from former owner. I get leaves, it never gets very big and have never flowered. I moved them and still nothing over 12 years. I planted some new ones last year. We will see. I have sandy soil, but amend it before planting and added bonemeal. I have the crowns just below soil level. I’ve tried shade, part shade and full sun which they are suppose to like. Z5a US, WIsconsin. My MIL grew them like crazy in clay soil. Herbaceous peony.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

The sandy soil won't help but as I assume you get a cold winter I can't think of any other reason for failure . It could worth trying Itoh or tree peonies as these seem more forgiving. regards Stephen

[@TSD0416]

Hello Stephen and Matthew and thank you kindly for this informative video on tree peonies. I learned a lot and was thoroughly entertained by your cheerful and happy disposition. I live in Toronto, Canada, which is a USDA Hardiness zone 5b and herbaceous peonies grow very successful here in our environment. Having said that, I had never seen a tree peony until yesterday, when my husband brought home a weird looking peony with woody and curly stems and no roots. There is one flower with dark pink single petals and yellow centre and a few buds. My husband was working in a construction zone and found this plant growing in cement. He tried to take the whole plant out but the cement was too hard to break down and loosen the roots. So, he broke off the stems and brought me a rootless tree peony. Some of the stems have a small white buds where the stem was broken off the main root system. My question is would those buds grow into roots if I planted them? Would the stems root, if I leave them in water? Would the axillary buds on the green part of them stems grow roots, if I planted them? is there any way I could save this plant? Kindly advise. Many thanks in advance. By the way, I just subscribed to your wonderful channel. 😊😊

[@thehorti-culturalists]

sorry to say I don’t like your chances. but pot it up and see, nothing to lose. Regards Stephen

[@mayakovska8117]

Спасибо, очень было интересно посмотреть Ваш сад. Пионы - прекрасны!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Спасибо за просмотр!

[@MimiiIi-hl1pf]

Wonderful vidéo, especially colors Black it s lovely, i try to move them inchallah, thanks 🤍

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Glad you enjoyed it. Regards Stephen

[@studyingwithgemstones4943]

Wonderful video! I have 4 tree peonies (still very young, some were not even rooted) that are growing great on my 50m2 balcony. I do not have access to full ground so they are in pots that I will upgrade to bigger ones they are more mature. I was wondering about pruning them, can you give them a nice shape or will then the branch die off? Sorry for my English it’s not my mother language

[@thehorti-culturalists]

With tree peonies you only remove any dead stems other wise leave them alone. They aren't made to be tidy and usually end up as quite snarled woody plants which is to be appreciated. Regards Stephen

[@teslaandhumanity7383]

They grew well in UK 🇬🇧.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@user-gn8rj9cn8y]

I am in zone 9, should i refrigerate my herbaceous peony tubers to allow them to chill properly? Thank you.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Not sure how it would work as they aren't bulbs but if you are prepared to risk one you could try. The other issue is that they don't really like disturbance and usually flower better when well established. If you do try it I would love to hear how it goes. Regards Stephen

[@donnaprew6825]

I have a ITOH peony, I believe, though i can't remember the name of it other than it is yellow and different than my bartzella one. It is a fragrant one and I am seeing it grow above the canopy this year? Any ideas and should this be pruned off? Reply

[@thehorti-culturalists]

If it is an Itoh some have more tree peony attributes than others, there shouldn’t be any need to prune it out. Regards Stephen

[@tegannottelling]

Thank you! I have been wondering what this bush that had yellow flowers on it early october I have just now worked out its a Tree Paeonia called Lutea, (thanks for the name google) Mine must be many many years old because not only is it about 6 foot its about 4 foot wide and a very full shrub.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

It is the only tree peony that could claim the title of tree! Regards Stephen

[@naturalgardengrows]

I have to dig up my Dad's Tree peony to move to a new home. They are just starting to show signs of leafing out now. How can I best dig up these very well established Tree peony's and safely replant in his new home?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

would have been better earlier in winter or even autumn but if you have no choice try to lift with a ball of soil and prune all branches back by about a third. You won’t have flowers this year but they should survive. Also water in with a seaweed tonic. Regards Stephen

[@cbjones2212]

Oh, these are gorgeous ❤ I can never find them in my local nurseries though 😥

[@thehorti-culturalists]

If you are outside an appropriate growing climate this could be why although many nurseries don’t like to stock them as they are a fairly expensive plant and may not sell well for them. Regards Stephen

[@cbjones2212]

@@thehorti-culturalists Thanks Stephen. I'll just have to admire them from afar :)

[@marniewhitefeather2120]

May I ask the location of the garden in the video? It’s lovely

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Its my garden Tugurium In Macedon Victoria and of course Australia. Regards Stephen

[@marniewhitefeather2120]

@@thehorti-culturalists I cut back an Itoh peony that tends more towards the woody parent. It came back fine this year so I cut it back again about halfway this autumn. Should I protect it at all with straw or otherwise around the base for winter? I live in Vermont in USA zone 4. Winter!

[@Kay-qt2id]

Thank you guys, isn’t great to be out of lockdown. I have been planning on getting an apricot coloured itoh is there such a plant? Do you have them in the nursery? Also what was the magnificent large green shrub you were filming next to in the first segment, it looked like a euphorbia only on steroids!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

I have Itohs and should have something in an apricot colour. The big shrub is a Euphoria from the Canary Islands called E. lambii. Regards Stephen

[@tonyeastman153]

Hello Steven & Mathew, we have an issue with our yellow tree peony (now a very healthy, 10 years old) but that only gives blooms (5) on one stem. How do we get it to bloom on the other limbs?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

If it is a single yellow it could be Lutea which can take many years to settle down and flower properly as it is usually raised from seed. If it is a double then an application of potash and lime could help. Regards Stephen

[@tonyeastman153]

@@thehorti-culturalists Hi Stephen, thank you for taking the time to respond to my question. The peony tree flowers all on one branch (about 5 blooms) I will certainly try the potash and lime. Much appreciated.

[@marymaryquitethecontrarian]

Yes. Always seem to have the skinny for me.

[@annieo2766]

Help!! I have a large tree peony, now in its 3rd year. It is healthy, growing fast but NO blooms! What can I do to make it bloom? The root was given to me several years ago as a rescue from an abandoned garden.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

They usually take a couple of years to settle down and flower and even longer if it’s a seedling. full sun is most important and of course if you shift it because it isn’t in full sun it will go back to square one. Regards Stephen

[@wendywhitham4218]

Thanks for this session. I was especially interested in the pruning off of spent flower buds. I haven't been doing that correctly. I live in Canberra and I worry about having my tree and Itoh peonies in our full summer sun. I'm therefore growing them in dappled shade (in pots to avoid the problem of root competition). Will they still flower, or should I try to move them into more sun?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

I would recommend more sun and they will flower better in the ground as long as they don’t get too much root competition. Regards Stephen

[@wendywhitham4218]

@@thehorti-culturalists Thanks Stephen.

[@coffeecrumble926]

Can Itoh grow in warmer climates likein the tropics like Tree Peonies?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

They are said not to require the same winter chilling as most herbaceous peonies. Regards Stephen

[@melissamybubbles6139]

I bought coral sunset peonies last fall. It turns out it's herbaceous. Is one kind better than the other? I'm in Colorado zone 5b, so getting freeze hours won't be a problem.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

They are supposed to flower without a winter chill which in you case obviously doesn't matter. Regards Stephen

[@dewdan11dnd46]

🫶Thank you for this and all your wonderful videos. A firm favourite and this video, has helped to shine some light on the habits of the glorious, Peony🫶

[@thehorti-culturalists]

You are so welcome! Regards Stephen

[@jkb8748]

Are there any tree or Itoh peonies that have the same perfume as the fragrant herbaceous peonies I remember from my youth?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Some do but I can't list specific varieties you would need to find a peony supplier in your area that can tell you which ones they grow that are perfumed. Regards Stephen

[@jkb8748]

@@thehorti-culturalists yeah, the problem I’ve had is that grower’s / catalog / advertising descriptions of fragrance don’t match my experience with actual nursery offerings. Some described as pleasant smelling are actually quite awful to my nose.

[@Vista-gn1pb]

How can I propogate tree peony from bark to create another tree peony.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

you can’t, but you can layer them by slicing the bark and covering with soil, or dividing large plants. Regards Stephen

[@starwindx9607]

hello guys,may I ask what's the name of the last Itoh peony?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

It was sold to me as Pastel Splendour but I'm not convinced, thus the reason we didn't use its name. Regards Stephen

[@starwindx9607]

@@thehorti-culturalists thanks

[@donnaprew6825]

@@thehorti-culturalists I agree, would you think it may be Nike or Hillary depending on the bloom time? On another note, I have a ITOH peony, I believe, though i can't remember the name of it other than it is yellow and different than my bartzella one. It is a fragrant one and I am seeing it grow above the canopy this year? Any ideas and should this be pruned off?

[@theinvincible7511]

Can I grow this in a very tropical hot and humid climate..??

[@thehorti-culturalists]

They are not likely to thrive in your climate unfortunately.Regards Stephen

[@theinvincible7511]

@@thehorti-culturalists thanks a lot for your reply..have a great year ahead..🙏🌿

[@opalineguidance373]

What's the name of the last Itoh peony, please ?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Sorry but this one didn’t end up as labeled so we don’t know. Regards Stephen

[@plantinpot5712]

Can Tree peony grow in the pot?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

They are often grown in pots in China but I don't recommend it. They are better with room for their roots to spread and they certainly grow and flower better in the ground. Regards Stephen

[@plantinpot5712]

@@thehorti-culturalists Thanks 🙏 . Following and subscribed on your KZbin

[@samphossok5026]

How long u been growing the tree peony. Thanks

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Over 30 years. Regards Stephen.

[@moumitaskitchenandgardenin3777]

Do all the Peony variety scented..??

[@thehorti-culturalists]

No not all peonies are scented. Regards Stephen

[@moumitaskitchenandgardenin3777]

@@thehorti-culturalists thanks🙏🌿

[@piapia5723]

It oh in a pot?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Better in there ground. Regards Stephen