Culture
Best grown in deep, fertile, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Tolerant of summer heat. Add compost as needed before planting. Larger shrubs appreciate some shelter from strong winds. Unlike herbaceous peonies, the stems of tree peonies (which are woody shrubs) do not die to the ground in winter and should not be cut back after frost. No pruning is required, except to cut out dead wood or suckers in early spring. If plants become leggy, a moderate pruning in early fall can be done to shape plant and encourage additional growth on the lower part of the plant. Remove spent flowers after bloom. These long-lived plants usually take several years to establish, and are best left undisturbed once planted. Moreover, plant roots go deep and transplanting can be difficult. Appreciates some winter protection in USDA Zone 4 and the colder areas of Zone 5.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Paeonia is a genus of about 30 species of herbaceous perennials and subshrubs from Europe to Asia and in Western North America. Hebaceous types die to the ground each year where the subshrub (tree peonies) have woody stems.
Genus name comes from the Greek name for Paeon, physician of the gods and reputed discoverer of the medicinal properties of plants in this genus.
'Yang Gui Fei Wearing Crown of Kingfisher Feathers' is named for Yang Gui Fei, who was one of the Four Great Beauties of ancient China and a consort of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. A crown of kingfisher feathers was a favorite ornament of elite Chinese women in imperial times. This tree peony was developed at the Zhaolou Peony Garden in Heze, China in 1970. It has double, multi-toned pinkish red, 8 in. flowers with a sweet fragrance. The flowers of younger plants may only be semi-double. It grows 3 to 5 ft. tall and 3 to 4 ft. wide.
Problems
Tree peonies are considered to be relatively pest free. Some susceptibility to canker, Botrytis blight, tip blight, leaf blotch and Verticillium wilt. Ants on peony buds are common and totally harmless. Japanese beetles and scale may appear. Nematodes can be troublesome.
Uses
Excellent in borders as specimens or in groups. Also effective as accents or hedges along fences, sidewalks, driveways or walls. Flowers are extremely showy, and foliage remains attractive throughout the growing season, either alone or as a frame or backdrop for other flowering plants.