tree peony

Tree peonies should be watered deeply once a week during the summer months, depending on the weather. To water your tree peony, use a soaker hose or a watering can and slowly pour water around the root zone of the plant until the ground feels saturated. To ensure that the water has reached the roots, wait a few minutes and then feel the soil around the base of the plant; the top few inches should feel damp. Once the plant is established, it needs less water and can be watered more infrequently. During the winter months, water less often and give your tree peony between 1-2 inches of water per watering. Be sure to allow the top few inches of soil to dry out between waterings.

Tree peonies thrive in full sunlight, meaning they should receive at least 6 hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day. Ideal sunlight conditions, however, would be an area with some morning sun and afternoon shade. Too much direct sun can cause sunburn on the leaves, and too little can result in slowed or stunted growth. If you live in a climate with strong summer sun, you may want to consider providing some light shade for your tree peony in the afternoon from 1 to 3 PM. Doing so can help to protect your tree peony from sunburn and heat stress.

Tree peonies need to be pruned differently than herbaceous peonies, as they do not die back each winter. While they require very little professional pruning, it is important to prune them to keep them from becoming overgrown and to promote good blooming. Tree peonies should generally be pruned only once annually, in late winter/early spring before new growth begins. Prune dead or dying branches, forks and sprouts, removing them just above a healthy bud or stem. To promote plant size and branch structure, prune twiggy growth at the base of the plant. Overall, remove no more than 1/3 of the foliage with pruning. Lastly, to gift your tree peony the best chance of producing lots of new and vibrant blooms, prune back old flowering stems to the base of the plant, making sure to not take too much of the branch away as this will reduce flowering.