Paeonia suffruticosa
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- pay-OHN-ee-uh suf-roo-tee-KO-sa
- Description
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Tree Peony, despite its name, is an erect and coarsely branched, flowering, deciduous shrub that grows up to 6.5 ft. tall. This plant blooms in mid- to late spring and is gigantic. Too much shade or competition from tree roots inhibits flowering. Stems are brittle and need to be staked or protected from the wind. One specimen plant can produce 75–100 blossoms during the 2-month flowering period. This plant is not very hardy in the southernmost part of its hardiness area (zones 4–7). This plant is tolerant of partial shade, alkaline soils, heat, deer, and rabbit browsing. It requires moist, well-drained and fertile soils. It is intolerant of drought and has pest and disease problems. Prune this plant back only to shape; do not cut all the way to the ground like other peonies after flowering.
Insects, Diseases,and Other Plant Problems: Ants commonly seen on peonies are harmless. Can get canker, leaf blight and stem wilt occasionally.
Quick ID Hints:
- Deciduous shrub with decompound, lobed leaves
- Gigantic, fragrant flowers on slender, brittle stems
- Stamen filament is violet-red, and there are many concave petals
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Shima Nishiki'
- 'Shima Nishiki'
- 'Shima Nishiki'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Shima Nishiki'
- 'Shima Nishiki'
- 'Shima Nishiki'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Paeonia
- Species:
- suffruticosa
- Family:
- Paeoniaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China, Tibet
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract butterflies.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 5 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Description:
- This plant produces 2–8 spreading follicles.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- more than 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are rose, pink, white, or yellow in color. They are fragrant, terminal, and up to 6" in diameter. Flowers have many petals that are concave and have finely scalloped margins. There are 5 sepals, numerous stamens, and 5 carpels. Flower filament that is violent-red in color. Cultivars come in many colors and can be single or double blooms.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, biternate, and deeply dissected. Leaflets are stalked, ovate to broad-oval, 3-5 lobed, pale green above, blue-green beneath, and up to 4" in size.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Twigs are slender, cane-like and branching above.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heat
- Rabbits
