The mysterious tree peony

THE idea of the tree peony inspires a nervous thrill among gardeners.

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It is one of those plants that are perceived as best suited to the specialist, like rhododendrons and camellias: particular about conditions, liable to fail for want of expert care and altogether mysteriously Oriental. Gardening is a rational business, however, and every plant benefits from a certain amount of homework to discover its ideal habitat, so here goes with a one-page demystification manual.

First, let us separate the tree peonies from their herbaceous counterparts. One of the glories of May and June is the magnificent display of the herbaceous peonies, from 'Sarah Bernhardt' to 'Bowl of Beauty', only let down by their desire to go face down in the mud after a shower of rain. We need not worry about them. You should have tied them up earlier, as you very well know. Our subject today is the tree peony, which, like a rose tree, is not a tree at all, but a shrub. It is a tall, ungainly thing, often seen with awkwardly placed woody shoots that seem unpromising until the whole thing bursts into thrilling flower against a handsome backdrop of deeply cut and lobed foliage, the moment when doubt evaporates and all is forgiven.