THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 11, 1994 TAG: 9409080068
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBERT STIFFLER, GARDENING COLUMNIST
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
HERBACEOUS PEONIES have been garden favorites around the world for centuries, but the ancestor of all tree peonies - the Chinese tree peony - has remained shrouded in mystery.
Numbering in the hundreds, these plants have lived a privileged life in the royal and public gardens of China. They are among the very few flowering plants allowed to grace the Chinese landscape. They're depicted in ancient porcelains, paintings, rugs, fabrics and other works of Chinese art.
The sole U.S. importer of these plants is Cricket Hill Garden in Thomaston, Conn. Its garden is open six weeks a year for viewing, but now the nursery supplies plants by mail order. Cricket Hill lists more than 62 named varieties of Chinese tree peonies.
The Chinese tree peony is a woody shrub, but many American gardeners confuse it with the widely grown herbaceous bedding peony.
Chinese tree peonies are costly, but they live a century or more. Each year the plant increases in size, eventually reaching an impressive 6 to 8 feet in height and width, depending on variety. Unlike the common peony, the Chinese tree peony lives its winters above ground.
Tree peonies flush forth with large delicate blooms in many colors from mid-May to mid-June. They like some shade, but wet feet are fatal to them. They prefer rocky, hilly conditions. They like a pH of 6 to 7 and a bit of dappled shade during the heat of the day. As with many plants, they like 3 inches of mulch.
They do best when planted in the fall. Do not plant them close to trees. That forces competition from tree roots for nourishment and water.
After they flower, remove and discard the spent flowers. Another plus is that they rarely have a bug problem. MEMO: For a catalog, send $2 to Cricket Hill Garden, 670 Walnut Hill Road,
Thomaston, Conn. 06787. The catalog cost is refundable on your first
order. Tree peonies also are available in local garden centers. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Cricket Hill Garden in Connecticut is the only U.S. importer of
Chinese tree peonies.
by CNB