Of all our exotic flowering plants, the tree peony is one of the most beautiful. This long-lived plant is not a tree but a deciduous shrub and is different from the herbaceous peonies in that it has woody stems.
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The peony is named after Paeon a physician who used its roots to dress the wounds of Pluto. Its Chinese name is ‘Sho Yo’ meaning ‘most beautiful’.
Cultivated in China since prehistoric times, they were revered as a symbol of royalty, wealth and rank and depicted in ancient Chinese paintings, porcelains and tapestries. The western world knew of this from the writings and drawings of returning missionaries and travellers.
Introduced into Japan by Buddhist monks some time between the 5th and 8th centuries the tree peony became a great favourite and was classed with the cherry and lotus as a flower of royal rank. In Japanese art it’s coupled with the peacock to form decorations on temples and palaces.
Tree peonies were heavily guarded in the grounds of the Imperial palaces and in the gardens of the Mandarins, so much so that they did not reach England until 1787 when Sir Joseph Banks commissioned Dr Duncan of the East India Company to obtain a specimen for Kew Gardens.
Robert Fortune of County Durham was another plant collector that trekked into China in the early 1840s seeking out new and unusual plants. He had a good eye for picking out plants that would both thrive and be liked in Britain. Among the many other plants he collected were rhododendrons, azaleas and chrysanthemums.
Victor Lemoine the renowned French plant breeder is responsible for the development of many of our finest modern hybrids. One of his successes was a cross between the tree peony and the golden peony which gave us a new group with shades of yellow with a salmon tinge.
Tree peonies bear many fragrant silken flowers in a vast range of colours from white to the deepest red with mature plants having up to 50 or more blooms.
Tree peonies are very long lived with some reaching 200 years old. It’s an old Chinese custom for a family to plant one on the birth of a child to provide continuing joy and prosperity through into old age.
In ancient times the phosphorescent seeds that shine in the dark were collected and made into a poultice to cure mental disturbances.
A position that receives full sun in winter and spring with afternoon shade is the perfect spot. Deep, well-drained, humus-rich soil that stays moist is a must.
Although tree peonies are drought -tolerant they do need moisture and cool soil to do well. Mulch lightly in spring. In late summer when the foliage begins to die back and drops to the ground, clean up this leaf debris to prevent disease.
Tree peonies are difficult to vegetatively propagate so are grafted onto a herbaceous peony rootstock.
Diary
September 15-16: The Launceston Horticultural Society presents its Spring Show featuring daffodils and camellias at St. Ailbe’s Hall, Margaret Street, Launceston. Saturday 2pm -5pm and Sunday 10am-4pm. Admission adults $3.
September 18: Australian Plant Society meets at the Max Fry Hall on Gorge Rd, Trevallyn at 7.30pm. Speaker Ian Thomas’ topic is Paleobotany of NE Tasmania. Visitors welcome.
September 19: The Launceston Horticultural Society meets at Windmill Hill Hall, High Street, Launceston at 8pm. Guest speaker is Mark Hay with new nursery plants for spring. Home-made supper.
September 21, 22, 23: The Launceston Orchid Society’s annual show, Glenara Lakes Retirement Village, Hobart Road. Features include Australian natives, modern cattleyas, cymbidiums, oncidiums, paphiopedilums and phalenopsis. Details next week.