Ask most gardeners about tree peonies and the first thing they’ll tell you is that they are difficult to grow. But as local grower and tree peony specialist Ron Boekel explains, that reputation is really unjust, and tree peonies can be just as easy to grow as any other popular garden shrub, provided you know the secret.

  "The secret is Lime –and plenty of it", says Ron. While most Australian soils are fairly acidic, at around 6 - 6.5 ph, tree peonies evolved in the poor, limestone based soils of north-western China, and prefer a much more alkaline soil. Ron says that to get the best results from your peonies you should first add 8-10 handfuls of dolomite lime to the planting hole, which will ensure vigorous growth and healthy stems for many years.

  The next to flower are the similar European hybrids. Their flower colours range from pure white to subtle shadings of pink, rose, cherry, purple, salmon, maroon, scarlet and red, and they differ from the Japanese varieties in that they have mostly been bred to produce full double flowers. In the autumn the leaves often turn to shades of scarlet, coral and bronze before falling in the winter. Popular Japanese hybrids include ‘Destiny’, a large single to semi double white flower with purple-mauve blotches, and ‘Rimpo’, a very large single to semi-double flowered variety of rich magenta-purple with black inner flares and gold anthers. European varieties worth noting include ‘Ettienne de France’, which has fragrant double lilac-pink blooms and was one of the first introductions to Australia, and the equally exquisite ‘Kinshe’, a stunning double yellow flower edged with apricot-red.

  The later flowering American Lutea varieties are generally easier to grow, and although the flowers are usually slightly smaller than the Japanese varieties, they more than make up for it with a vivid range of colours including bold oranges, black-reds and yellow. The foliage is also more finely divided and spectacular autumn colour. ‘Black Panther’ is a beautiful double black-red flowering variety with attractive foliage, while ‘Happy Days’ has semi-double blooms of yellow suffused with rosy-red on a tall, attractive bush.

  Peonies do all their growing and food storage during the coldest months of the year. While the ground is cold or even frozen during winter, the peonies are happily sending roots out and storing energy for the summer. Once the leaves have emerged and flowering has begun, the roots become dormant. By the time the harsh heat of summer arrives the plant can survive on stored energy. What this means is that an NPK fertiliser and Ferrous Sulphate (iron), which peonies love, should be applied during the four coldest months of the year.

Ron’s Recommendations for Australian Gardens

List of the Peonies available this season  Age of Gold   Destiny Ettinne de France Flambeau Happy Days Kinshe Alice Harding Le Esperance Marchioness Vesuvian     Argosy Rimpo Thunderbolt

Ron has 4 new varieties of Tree Peonies. As these varieties are so new we don't have photos as yet, but will do in spring tine when they come into bloom.

The new varieties include: 'Banquit'  which has a semi double strawberry red flower 'Boreas'  a semi double crimson hybrid. 'Coreas' a beautiful single black flower with yellow anthers. 'Gogain' a splendid red wine fused with ivory.

Please phone our nurseries to place an order

  Tree Peonies are generally available for sale by order from Chris & Marie's Plant Farms
   Ron recommends keeping the plant in its pot until about April, then planting it in a well-drained soil that has had the addition of dolomite lime. Plant your tree peonies in a position that receives at morning sun, as the flowers will last longer if there is protection from harsh afternoon sun. A surface mulch will help to keep the roots cool. Apply the mulch around the root zone, allowing space around the crown for your peony to grow. Remove dead leaves as they fall in the autumn, taking care not to damage the buds on the main plant. Tree peonies are fairly drought tolerant, but if you keep the water up to tree peonies, especially during flowering, you will help to promote healthy growth. When plants reach several years of age you may start to notice some yellowing of the leaves, if this occurs an application of a few more handfuls of lime around the top of the soil is required.

  Tree peonies are the ideal plants for small gardens
   Tree peonies bear large flowers in profusion on small, compact bushes that grow to a maximum height of around a metre, depending on variety. Try using contrasting colours, such as yellows with black-reds and purples. The flowers can be cut and will keep in water for several days, and look great as a table centrepiece when floated on a bowl of water like a waterlily flower. Growing a mix of tree peony varieties will ensure a mix of flowers over a long period. Tree peonies can also be grown in tubs, but it is important to note that most commercially available potting mixes are fairly acidic and therefore require copious amounts of lime to be added before planting.

Ron Just Loves Dirt!!