tree peony

Tree peonies should be watered once every week in the spring and summer, providing 1 to 3 inches of water each time. During the fall and winter months, watering should be reduced to once every 2 weeks. It is important to check the soil moisture before watering as tree peonies do not like sitting in wet soil and can easily suffer root rot if they are over-watered.

Tree peonies need full sun—at least 6 to 8 hours per day—for optimal growth and bloom production. Too little sun will result in fewer and smaller flowers. If the tree peony is planted in an area with partial shade, then it will sometimes flower, but its flower production and color will not be as showy as if it was in full sun. In hot climates, providing some afternoon shade is helpful to prevent wilting.

Tree peonies (Paeonia 'Summer Night') should be pruned lightly in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. Pruning should be done to remove any dead, damaged or diseased branches, as well as to shape the plant. Very little, if any, pruning should be done on the remaining branches, as they are quite brittle and can easily be damaged. The best method is to use sharp pruning shears to selectively prune any overly long, broken, or dead branches. If a significant amount of pruning is necessary, it should be done gradually over a series of years.