THE TREE PEONIES 
Tree peonies are one of the oldest plants in cultivation. Chinese records as early 
as 536 A.D. give them the title “The King of Flowers.” The tree peony was introduced 
from China into Korea about 552 A.D. by the Buddhist monks. The eighth century 
finds them in Japan, where a steady improvement has been made on them by private 
fanciers. Lustre, size and flower character has been their goal, rather than doubleness 
which seems to have been the aim of the European breeders. England was probably 
the first European country to import the tree peonies from the Orient. This was in 
1784 or 1786. The American Colonies were introduced to its beauties along in the 
early nineteenth century. 
These early flowering peonies have a range of color that is quite complete—from 
pure white through all the shades of pink to deep red ; from orchid to magenta ; and 
even the yellows. Although exceedingly hardy in the dormant stage, they need protection 
after growth has started from the early spring frosts. A location that is protected from 
the prevailing winds with a background of dwarf to medium growing evergreens is 
ideal. The background of a herbaceous border is another place where the Tree Peony 
shows to advantage, either as a group or single specimen. Do not fail to allow at least 
eighteen to twenty-four inches of space around the plants. 
Tree peonies differ from the well known herbaceous group in that the tops do not 
die down to the ground every season, but retain their short woody growth of about 
four inches. Thus a plant five to six feet tall has taken scores of years to attain 
its shrubby character. The name “tree peony” is not appropriate, but one of the errors 
which arise when the botanical names are translated to common everyday terms. 
The transplanting of bare root plants in California is from October to February, 
and those from containers, any time. A season’s good growth is required to establish 
the plants in the new location and flowers of large size should not be expected before 
the second season. 
Dig the hole extra large when planting, as the peon)'- is a gross feeder and rooter. 
The soil should be well drained and sweet. Use good garden loam enriched with bone 
meal and well rotted manure. Peat should be added also, as it is beneficial to root 
formation and moisture retention during the dry summer. Set the plants deeper than 
they were in the nursery row. In the case of two-year-old grafts on herbaceous roots, 
it is better to cover at least the two lower buds. The purpose of this is to help in the 
formation of own roots from the base of the buds. Plants grafted on moutan stock 
plants will have to be watched for suckers, which must be removed as soon as 
discernible. (Most of our younger plants are on herbaceous or moutan roots with 
suckering growth removed so that the latter precaution is necessary only with the 
large specimens.) A planting distance of four feet is recommended. 
Keep the new growth staked up as the heavy flower buds are easily swayed with 
the slightest breeze and result in breaking the shoot from the old wood. Watering 
during the summer months is essential. A mulch of peat or well rotted manure is 
very helpful. Feed with bone meal and a nitrate fertilizer such as fish, blood or cotton 
seed meals soon after the flowering season and again in January. 
A dormant spray of an oil spray such as Volck and (fungicide) Bordeaux is about 
all that is needed as preventives against insects or disease. If snails or slugs are evident 
in your garden, watch out for the new growth, as they seem to take a special liking 
for this. 
Some of the varieties available are: 
TREE PEONY 
ABOKIU. Double deep crimson pink. 
AKASHIGATA. Semi-double clear rose. 
AKASHIJISHI. Double large clear pink. 
ASAHI-NO-MINATO. Double large brilliant 
crimson. 
BENI KAMADA. Double light lilac rose. 
CHIYO KAGURA. Semi-double deep purple 
crimson. 
DAIKAGURA. Very double deep pink, lighter 
at the tips. 
FUGI BOTAN. Medium double wistaria color 
HANA KISOI. Medium double beautiful 
pink, ruffled petals. 
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