Tree peonies are woody deciduous shrubs, not 
trees, and require the average space of a spring 
flowering shrub. Select a sunny location, well- 
drained and protected from harsh prevailing 
winds. In very warm localities shade during 
the hottest part of the day is desirable. 
Prepare the planting site thoroughly with 
loose composted soil to permit optimum root 
growth and plant as indicated in the line 
sketches on the back of this folder. 
Grafted plants are grown on herbaceous peony 
roots and the tree peony portion eventually 
develops its own root system. This is a long, 
slow, expensive process but results in sucker- 
less plants. Other methods of propagation are 
by divisions and from seed. 
Bare root plants should be set out in the fall; 
stock in containers may be planted anytime. 
Keep plants well watered and feed with com- 
mercial fertilizer in spring. Cut back to good 
live eyes each spring just before growth starts. 
The Colorful History of the 
Tree Peony 
The Tree Peonies are native to the mountains of China 
and were introduced into Korea by the Jesuit priests. 
From Korea they were taken to Japan and early in the 
nineteenth century plants found their way to Europe. 
In America we have plants originating in Japan and in 
Europe, distinct in form because of their different sources. 
The Japanese worked with the Moutan species, single to 
semi-double flowers with golden stamens and produced 
flowers with a wide range of colors, from white to deep 
purple including shades of pink and red. Some have a 
blotch at the base of the petals and all face upward. 
The “European Type” originated from Banksi species, a 
fully double form with a crook in the stem at the base 
of the flower. Lutea hybrids came from the wild Lutea 
species and were developed in France to give us large 
handsome flowers of yellow and bronze shades. 
cami nnible Tree Peony rinwes 
