Finding and Buying Beautiful Japanese Peony Trees for Your Garden

Japanese peony trees, which are also called tree peonies or woody peonies, look beautiful in any garden. Their big, lush, brightly colored blooms show up in late spring, before the leaves come out. They’re a nice splash of color after a long winter. Japanese peony trees grow slowly and last a long time. They can look beautiful in your garden for many years. Here is what you need to know about finding and picking the right Japanese peony tree for sale if you want to use one of these beautiful plants outside.

A Brief Overview of Japanese Peony Trees

As a perennial herb, most peonies die back to the ground every winter. But Japanese peony trees have woody stems that don’t. Most of the time, they are between 4 and 5 feet tall and wide. They can grow up to 10 feet tall. In the spring, before the leaves come out, the flowers appear right on the woody branches.

Japanese peony trees offer some key advantages over herbaceous peonies:

• Longer bloom time, often up to a month
• Flowers are held above the foliage for maximum visibility
• Less prone to foliar diseases
• Lower maintenance without the need to cut back stems each fall

They do best in cold winters and mild summers, so you can grow them in USDA zones 4 through 9. Because they grow slowly, Japanese peony trees should be at least two to three years old when you buy them. This will let you enjoy flowers faster than if you grew them from a seed or plant that is a year old.

Where to Find Japanese Peony Trees for Sale

Due to their popularity, Japanese peony trees are offered by many mail order nurseries that specialize in peonies and unusual plants. Local garden centers may carry a few varieties, but selection is often limited. Here are some of the best sources to find a wide variety of healthy, robust Japanese peony trees for your garden:

• Specialty mail order nurseries: These businesses focus specifically on peonies, including a wide selection of Japanese tree peony varieties. They often grow and propagate the plants themselves. A few reputable nurseries to consider are Solaris Farms, Cricket Hill Garden, and Adelman Peony Gardens.

• Online marketplaces: Sites like Etsy allow small growers and nurseries to sell plants directly. Listings often include detailed information on plant size, age, and growing conditions. Shop owner reviews can help identify the most reliable sellers.

• Local nurseries: Your local independent garden center may carry a few tree peony varieties, usually in limited quantities. This allows you to choose plants in person before purchasing. Offerings will be more limited than online or mail order.

• Plant catalogs: Safe businesses like White Flower Farm and Bluestone Perennials let you order Japanese tree peonies by mail. You don’t get to see the plants before you buy them this way, but you can read about them and how to grow them.

What to Look for When Buying Japanese Peony Trees

To ensure you get healthy plants that will thrive, here’s what to look for when buying Japanese peony trees:

• Plant size: Opt for at least 2-3 year old grafted plants, which have the best chance of blooming shortly after planting. Younger plants may take 2-3 years to flower.

• Time of year: Purchase container-grown plants in spring or order bare root plants in fall for planting the following spring. Buying at the right time reduces transplant stress.

• Root system: Bare root plants should have plump roots with no dried out or mushy spots. Container plants should be well rooted but not pot bound.

• Graft union: For grafted plants, look for a healthy graft union with no gaps or scars. This is where the desired flowering variety is joined to the rootstock.

• Foliage: Avoid plants with yellow, spotted, or curling leaves, which may indicate pests, disease, or poor care. Look for fresh green leaves.

• Reputation: Buy from reputable nurseries known for quality plants and customer service in case any issues arise after purchasing.

Popular Japanese Peony Tree Varieties to Consider

With hundreds of varieties to choose from, selecting the right Japanese peony tree can be tricky. Some popular, readily available options to consider include:

• ‘Shimadaijin’ – Vibrant magenta-pink with yellow stamens. Fragrant blossoms. Grows 3-4 feet tall. Early to midseason bloomer.

• ‘Yanling Zhu’ – Huge rose-red semi-double flowers up to 10 inches wide with golden center flares. 4 feet tall. Mid to late season.

• ‘Renkaku’ – Large, pure white double flowers. Compact at just 3 feet tall. Profuse early season blooms with light fragrance.

• ‘Kinshi’ – Pale yellow semi-double blooms with deeper golden center flares. Prolific flowering on a 4 foot plant. Very fragrant.

• ‘Shima Nishiki’ – Dramatic bi-colored flowers in red and white. Grows 4 feet tall. Blooms late spring.

Be sure to research bloom time, flower color, size, fragrance and other traits to choose the right tree peony for your needs. Most sellers provide detailed plant descriptions to help you pick the perfect variety.

Caring for Japanese Peony Trees

To keep your new tree peony thriving, provide care and growing conditions that meet its needs:

• Sun: At least 6 hours of full sun is best. Morning sun is ideal.

• Soil: Grow in rich, well-draining soil. Amend clay soils with compost.

• Water: Water regularly until established. Mature plants are quite drought tolerant.

• Fertilizer: Apply slow release fertilizer each spring. Avoid high nitrogen products.

• Pruning: Very little pruning needed other than removing dead wood or crossing branches.

• Support: Stake larger varieties while young to prevent flopping blooms.

With the proper care, your Japanese peony tree will reward you with stunning blossoms year after year. Take time to select healthy plants from reputable sellers, and you’ll be enjoying their beauty in your garden for decades to come.