gardeningblog

The tree peonies, of which Paeonia delavayi is one, make up a group of extremely hardy shrubs (definitely not trees) which are amongst the easiest of garden plants to cultivate. They will tolerate most soils, flower reliably year after year and regenerate from hard pruning. Some, like P. delavayi and P. lutea, are obliging enough to sow themselves quite freely, with seedlings appearing beneath the parent plant in spring. This means that propagation is not an issue. (Of course, things are not always that simple; some tree peonies require a lot more effort if you are to propagate them successfully.)

Paeonia delavayi is a deciduous shrub which is particularly tolerant of alkaline soils. It grows to a height of around 2m with upright shoots, although the younger shoots have a tendency to arch over when in flower. The image on the right shows a fairly young plant - only in its fifth year since germination - but already in its second flowering season. The flowers are blood red, about 10cm across and to some people slightly fragrant; but as with the majority of plants, they are relatively fleeting. The foliage, on the other hand, is present throughout the growing season and the large, much divided leaves with pinkish-red stalks remain attractive until autumn. At this point they become withered and brown and, being reluctant to fall, may need a gentle helping hand on their way to the compost bin.

It is at this time that the seed pods split to reveal their shiny black seeds - the eventual source of the seedlings mentioned earlier. These can be carefully lifted from the garden and potted into 9cm pots. Keep the plants growing by potting on as necessary before planting out into their final position the following year.