CULTURE AND 
HISTORY OF 
TREE PEONIES 
History and Sentiment. Tree Peonies are so 
named because they are hardwood shrubs like azaleas 
and lilacs. A more proper name might be Shrub 
Peonies, but Chinese written records term them Tree 
Peonies back to 536 A. D. when they were the ex¬ 
clusive property of the Emperor. England imported 
its first Tree Peony in 1787. Some American plants 
are known to be at least 50 years old and bear hundreds 
of blooms. 
Where to Plant. They prefer limed soil, good 
drainage, and sunlight; light afternoon shade will, 
however, protect blooms from the sun. They are used 
as background to perennial beds and rock-gardens, 
along the foundation of buildings or walls, in beds, or 
as specimens and accent plants by themselves, also in 
combination with “pre-Peony” bloomers such as tall 
late tulips, lilacs, early irises, Rosa hugonis, azaleas, 
spireas, etc. 
How to Plant. Complete and simple instructions 
are supplied with order acknowledgments. 
Illustrating the charm and delicacy of Tree Peony Haku-raku-ten 
How to Select. Our catalog descriptions are intentionally 
modest and limited because every variety is desirable and 
beautiful. All Tree Peonies, except full double, have golden 
center stamens, and all have “crepe-paper” petals. They possess 
a range and intensity of color found in no other hardy plant family. 
There is no practical difference between the bloom-season and 
growth-rate of various sorts. Selection can therefore be made 
aecording to color, type, and price preference. 
LARGE STRONG PLANTS 
The following prices apply on 5- to 6-year-old, field-grown 
plants which have bloomed for years in our nursery, which have 
been exposed and hardened to our rigorous winters, and never 
given winter protection after the first year. 
TREE PEONY LIST 
NOTE: Prices apply to specimen field-grown plants, except where 
otherwise indicated. Each 
AUGUSTE DESSERT. Single; lavender-pink.$5^00 
AKASHI-GATA. Semi-double; salmon. 6 00 
BARON D’ALES. Double; vivid salmon-rose, darker 
center. 5 00 
BANKSI. Double; pink with darker shades. 5 00 
Haku-raku-ten. Semi-double; pure white. 6 00 
Hatsu Hinade. Semi-double; vivid, striking scarlet-red. . 6 00 
Iro-no-Seki. Semi-double; flesh and shell-pink. 5 00 
Exemplifying the brilliance of a Tree Peony walk or border 
Iwato-Kagami. Loosely double; broad-petaled, 
clear salmon-pink. 7 50 
JEANNE d’ARC. Double; imbricated salmon- 
pink . 5 00 
LA LORRAINE. Double; clear golden yellow. .35 00 
Plants from 5-in. pots.15 00 
MOUTAN. Single; purplish red. 5 00 
2 to specimens. 7 50 
23 ^ to 3-ft. specimens.10 00 
NIPPON-KO. Semi-double; clear pink. 5 00 
PRINCESS LOUISE. Double; rose-pink. 5 00 
REINE ELIZABETH. Double; bright salmon- 
pink . 5 00 
REINE DES VIOLETS. Double; dark lively 
violet. 5-in. pot-plants. 5 00 
RURIBAN. Semi-double; dark purple. 7 50 
SHIKO-DEN. Double; deep rose-pink. 5 00 
SOUV. DE DUCHER. Double; amaranth- 
red . 5 00 
SOUV. DE IVIAXIME CORNU. Double; yellow 
and burnt-orange.20 00 
Plants from 5-in. pots.10 00 
NOTE: Most of these named varieties can be sup¬ 
plied in 8- to 10-year-old specimens at double the 
above prices. 
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