2 or 
LAKE SAMMAMISH EVERGREDN NURSERY 
RT. 1 BOX 79, EAS? STANWOOD, WASH. 
THE TREE FEONY 
Due to the many inquiries from the trade we offer the following dea- 
eription and information, 
The Tree Peony is a low many branched shrub about 4' ~- 5! high, altho 
in Japan many old specimens attain a height of 15*, Its celor range far 
surpasses the herbaceous varieties, inc.ucling the favorite yellows and 
Pot and come in single, semi-doublie, full doubles, and the cabbage 
ypes,. ; 
They have been cultivated in China over a thousand years, first in 
the Imperial Gardens of the Ming dynesty--whence comes their title "The 
Imperial Flower of China.* The Chinese also call them the King ef Flowers, 
They have been so venerated in China that they provide the metif for some 
of that country's greatest works of Art, including Ming China and ether 
famous Chinese porcelains, Unvil 1800 Tree Peonies were unknown to the 
Western World but during the past century and a half their fame has be= 
¢eme world wide especially after the Japenese gardeners adopted and vastly 
improved them, In the U, S, one of the most famous plantings ef Tree 
Peonies is in Voluntcer Park, Scattle, where they drew thousands 6f ad~ 
mirers during the blooming soason. 
The flowers of this plant sre ineredible in size; often 16" - 12" 
aeross, some have petals the texture of crepe silk and meny are dcelic- 
lously fragrant, Tree Peonies are eesy to grow in any soil but a well 
drained loam or sandy soil is bests They «re perfectly hardy in the U, S. 
and require very little fertilizer which anata not be too rich in nit» 
rogen. Organic fertilizers should always be used, 
Plant so that the greft union is bencecth the soil level and in the 
fall eut off ends of branches to two or three buds to make side shoots 
start which will bear one flowcr to cach shooty elso cut off old leaves 
to about one inch from the stom, 
As peonies are best plented in lete fll of winter, they ere ed= 
mirably suited to containers ud where sold locally we strongly re- 
commend this procecdere. hoover if kept cool they cen be sold bere 
root into the spring scoson. 
Tree peonies will remain sceree end costly due to the uncertainty 
of the graft "takes" or et Teast until better methods ere developed in 
their propagation. 
Not much top erewth will develop the first yeer es a rule, ectivity 
being confined to developing « root systin, Flower buds will usuelly 
develop however and if you heve enough inte stinel fortitude remove them 
to encourrge more top growth, rs these florors will not ettein the per- 
fection of en esteblished plent enmwry. “his of course is true of meny 
other flower species. 
