Recommend a Woody (Tree) Peony

Woody (Tree) Peony Recommendations

Help APS to develop a list of recommended woody peonies for gardens and landscapes

Those who are familiar with woody peonies recognize the value of this group of plants for their gorgeous other-worldly flowers, uniquely beautiful foliage and plant habits.  For some gardeners, certain cultivars have presented survivability or performance challenges, while other cultivars perform exceptionally.  Since woody peonies are uncommon in gardens, little is known about the performance of different cultivars.  With this in mind, APS is seeking to identify cultivars which may make reliable additions to gardens which have acceptable conditions for their successful cultivation.  Once enough data has been gathered, a recommendation list will be developed for further distribution.  APS believes this fine group of plants should be more widely grown and enjoyed by the gardening public, and the provision of a list of recommended cultivars would serve interested gardeners well.  Additional Information…

Please use the following form to submit your recommendations.  Use the ADD (+) button to provide additional cultivar names.  Submit no more than 10 recommendations.  When finished click Submit at the bottom of the form.  Please do not recommend woody peonies grown in containers.

Additional Information

Considerations (desired characteristics for woody peony recommendations):

1. Flower form is reasonably consistent throughout the plant, and from year to year.
2. Flower-stem carriage presents blooms so that the viewer may enjoy plants without unnatural support or movement of foliage to view them in bloom.  Carriage need not be upright, but flowers should not be hidden or down facing.  The earliest generations of Lutea Hybrids are notorious for downfacing flowers or flowers which are obscured or hidden in the foliage.
3. Annual abundance of bloom is consistent and proportional to the plant. Certain cultivars produce sparse numbers of flowers in relationship to the size of the plant.
4. Foliage is clean and unblemished by disease or normal wear and tear.
5. Plants are vigorous and no extra care is needed for their survival, beyond normal pruning and cleanup.
6. Plants exhibit reasonably hardy stems.  Evaluation should be of plants which are not protected from normal winter conditions.
7. Flowers should exhibit good resistance to bud blast due to frosts and freezes.  Bud blast or arrested development of buds is evident by the presence of small buds which do not grow to full size.
8. Plant habit remains attractive as plants age.  Certain cultivars, with age, become unruly and show old unattractive stems.  Plant habits may include: mound shaped, vase shaped, small tree form or asymmetrical forms.  All habits are acceptable as long as foliage to stem ratio enhances the beauty of the plant.
9. Certain cultivars exhibit plant habits and size which lend themselves for use as landscape specimens, while other are best for garden subjects.  When making a recommendation, please note your observation with this in consideration.

*** Note:  As climate change impacts our gardens and the plants that inhabit them, we can expect to see greater variability in their behaviors.  -With consideration of climate change it is important that any recommendations arise from plants which have matured and been observed for at least 5 years.

***Note:  Notice APS is not making use of USDA Hardiness Zone ratings.  The lowest average temperature in a climate (USDA Hardiness Zone) plays a minimal role in plant survivability and performance.  Variables which impact hardiness in peonies are more closely related to: the changing states and amount of water in the winter season, winter freeze-thaw events, duration of winter conditions, soil conditions during dormancy (in relationship to drainage and temperature), desiccating air masses (often wind aided). Hardiness is much more complex than what USDA Hardiness Zones assignments can provide, thus they are no longer being considered.  What is known is that woody peonies perform best in stable climates which are neither extremely cold or overly hot in any season.

Climate Key

Predominant Climate Region Information

1. Temperate: A moderate region which is relatively stable.  Temperatures and other climate variables do not see large seasonal swings.  Typical of large lake regions and protected areas adjacent to mountain ranges.
2. Continental: A climate region which experiences large temperature swings between seasons. They are typically located in the middle latitudes of continents.
3. Mountain: A climate region which has cooler temperatures, more precipitation, and stronger winds at higher elevations. These conditions are different from those of the surrounding lowlands. 
4. Valley: A climate region which is protected by surrounding mountains from drastic changes in climate.  Cool air may pool in such areas which often prevent excessive heat build up.  Typically a stable climate through the seasons. Generally they occur in mountainous regions, but may occur in areas in which land has abrupt elevation changes, often known as river valleys.
5. Maritime: Also known as an oceanic climate, has weather pattern predominantly cause cool summers, mild winters, and consistent precipitation. Wind patterns and ocean currents impact air masses which flow over regions with this type of climate.
6. Semi-Arid: A dry climate with low rainfall that’s prone to droughts. Also known as a semi-desert or steppe climate, these regions often have seasonally predicable rainfall and dry periods.
7. Desert: A climate that receives little precipitation at any time of the year.  They are characterized by low humidity and high evaporation rates.  Typically, flora and fauna native to deserts survive due to highly specialized adaptation to conserve water. Deserts may see extreme heat, but may also be cold.
8. Semi-Tropical:  A region characterized by hot, humid summers and mild winters. These regions are typically located on the eastern sides of continents between the tropics and temperate zones.

Predominant climate variables and conditions

When selecting climate variables and conditions, they should be based on normal conditions for the area, not single years or events.  Climate change is making accurate assignment of variables and conditions more difficult due larger swings in almost all regions.  Check more than one if the variables and conditions appear to apply or have trended outside of the regions “normal”.

1. Abundant annual precipitation:  Found in areas which generally have consistent precipitation throughout the year.  Drought is typically not persistent and soil conditions remain hydrated.  This does not mean that drought conditions appear periodically.
2. Variable annual precipitation:  Found in areas which have inconsistent precipitation events throughout the year.  This may include areas which have annual wet and dry seasons. Some regions also have erratic precipitation throughout the year and can be included in this category.   Regions experiencing variable precipitation may experience events including heavy snow/rainfall (sometimes excessive), dry periods, drought, periods of stable precipitation, etc… Climate change has caused more regions to experience erratic precipitation.
3. Little annual precipitation:  Often found in desert or semi-arid regions, but may include other regions due to climate change.  Regions experiencing little annual precipitation typically have wet seasons and dry season, but even these seasons will experience minimal precipitation.
4. Hot summers (numerous days above 90F/32C):  Nearly all regions can experience higher than average temperatures (reaching 90F+), however, those which have consistent prolonged periods (weeks or month(s)) during the growing season can be characterized as hot.  Continental, Desert, Semi-Arid and some Maritime (coastal) regions are most likely to experience hot summers with many days above 90F.
5. Cold winters with snow cover (Avg. temp. below 32F/OC): Many regions receive intermittent snowfall accompanied by cold temperatures, but do not experience complete snow cover for more than a week or two.  Temperatures which keep snow cover in tact for at 2 or more months would qualify for this variable.  Consistent snow cover is most often experienced (not always) in northern continental, mountain and some Maritime climate regions.  Again, climate change has impacted the reliability of snow cover in many areas, thus should be considered if it is normal for the area to receive snow cover.
6. Cold winters lack consistent snow cover (Avg. temp below 32F/OC):  This variable is consistent with many northern climate zones.  Intermittent snow cover or complete lack of it may be the norm.  Temperatures which average below freezing for 2 or more months would qualify for this variable.  Climate change has caused a number of regions, which once had reliable snow cover, to fall into this category.
7. Variable winter precipitation (snow, ice, rain, etc…):  Regions which qualify for this category normally receive variable forms of precipitation throughout the winter dormancy months.  Typically these regions do not have long periods in which temperatures are below freezing.  Climate change has caused an increase of variable precipitation in many northern climates, thus this category should be assigned to what is normal for the area.
8. Soil is frozen for 3 or more months:  This variable is caused by a long duration of temperatures below 32F (freezing).  This is most seen in northerly climate regions or mountains.   Soils in these regions are not tillable during winter months and soil frost may reach depths of 1 to 9 feet.  No plant growth will occur during the winter period for these regions.