A rare Japanese peony producing clusters of large, double, light apricot-coloured flowers with picotee edged petals & a delicious lemon scent that is out of this world. Flowers May-June (and mature plants may re-bloom in August). Height 90cm. Root size I. Peony Tree (Paeonia suffruticosa)
- The tree peony was originally developed by the Chinese over a thousand years ago, & then further developed by the Japanese. The first specimens were introduced into Britain in the 18th century, & more were collected between 1843 & 1862 by the Victorian botanist Robert Fortune. Unlike their herbaceous cousins, they do not die down each autumn, but instead grow into large shrubs, & they boast beautifully dissected foliage & flowers that are so large & layered that they almost don't seem quite real. Paeonia (peony) plants are a traditional mainstay of the English cottage garden border, their voluptuous blooms evocative of another era. They're hardy, very easy to grow, relatively drought-tolerant & will put on an annual performance for decades to come. Ideal for cutting, they come in an awe-inspiring range of shapes & colours.