The Captivating Beauty of Red and White Peony Trees
Peony trees with stunning red and white blooms bring majestic elegance to any garden, These unique flowering shrubs provide gorgeous color along with delightful fragrance Read on to discover why you need a red and white peony tree for your own landscape
What Are Red and White Peony Trees?
Peony trees, also known as tree peonies, are a type of woody shrub related to the more common herbaceous peony. While regular peonies die back each winter, tree peonies maintain their woody stems year-round with new growth emerging in spring.
These peony shrubs grow around 5-6 feet tall and wide. Their flowers are often larger than herbaceous types, sometimes reaching over 10 inches across. Blooms appear in late spring, showing off shades of white, pink, red, purple and yellow.
One popular variety is the Shimanishiki tree peony. This Japanese cultivar produces stunning red and white striped flowers. Petals start out creamy white near the edges then fade into bold red stripes toward the center. It’s an eye-catching bicolor display.
Where to Grow Red and White Peony Trees
Red and white peony trees thrive in USDA zones 4-9. Pick a spot with full sun to encourage the best bloom production. They prefer moist, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Space trees 4-6 feet apart to allow room for growth.
To showcase the vivid flowers, try displaying a Shimanishiki peony as:
- A focal point in a perennial bed
- Planted along a walkway
- In a foundation planting near the entrance
- Flanking a bench or arbor
- A dramatic container planting on the patio
Pair it with roses, catmint, coral bells and other spring-blooming companions. It also pops beautifully against evergreens like boxwood, spruce and juniper.
Caring for Red and White Peony Trees
Red and white peony trees are relatively low maintenance once established. Follow these care tips:
- Apply a balanced fertilizer or compost in early spring.
- Water weekly if rainfall is less than 1 inch.
- Stake taller plants to protect from wind damage.
- Prune right after flowering to shape and improve air circulation.
- Mulch around the base to conserve moisture and reduce weeds.
- Monitor for issues like botrytis, root rot or scale infestations.
- Propagate by grafting to replicate the variety.
With proper site selection and care focused on their basic needs, these stunning peonies will thrive for years to come.
When Do Red and White Peony Trees Bloom?
One of the best assets of the Shimanishiki peony is its long bloom season. Flowers start opening in late April or May depending on your growing zone. Peak bloom typically lasts 2-3 weeks.
Scattered blossoms continue into early June with regular deadheading. The flower buds emerge wrapped in fuzzy silver husks, then unfurl their beautifully striped blooms.
Up close, the delicate petals have a lightly ruffled, crepe paper look. The eye-catching contrast of bold red stripes over creamy white really makes these flowers pop in the landscape.
Add Fragrance and Charm with Red and White Peonies
There are many reasons to love peonies, from their sumptuous flowers to easy care nature. But the Shimanishiki red and white tree peony offers something extra special.
Its enormous striped blooms provide captivating color along with a light, sweet scent. Display one of these beauties in your garden to enjoy months of floral magic. Let the elegant red and white peony tree become your new garden focal point and springtime treasure.
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Truly gorgeous, reliable and long-lived in the sunny perennial garden, the Peony family has a myriad of varieties, colors, and habits to choose from. Bush or classic garden peonies produce, 2-3′ tall and wide, rounded mounds of lobed foliage and 3-6″ wide, fluffy, fragrant flowers in shades of red, pink and white. Peony trees grow 3-5′ tall into an erect, openly branched shrub with 6-8″ wide, exotic colored blossoms ranging in red, pink, yellow and white. Itoh peonies are essentially a cross of bush and tree peonies with a shrubby, round habit, sturdy stems, and large, repeat blooming, exotic colored blossoms in violet, red, pink, orange, yellow, and white. They are excellent deer- resistant plants, too. Shop our selection of peony varieties online now.
Plant in well-drained, nutrient rich soil amended with organic matter like Petitti Planting Mix. Water well after planting; maintain 1” of water, once a week the first year. Use Plant-tone and Iron-tone in spring or at planting; apply Osmocote in summer. Mulch 1-2” to suppress weeds and retain soil moisture. Divide in fall when necessary.
- Sunlight Needs Sun to Part Shade
- Bloom Time Spring and Summer
- Height 2-5
- Width 2-5
Plant with cut flowers such as Baptisia, Garden Phlox, yarrow, and Lilies.
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Peony Spotlight | How to Grow and Care For Itoh, Bush, and Tree Peonies
Watch this video with Noelle to learn the difference between Tree, Bush, and Itoh Peonies, along with tips for growing them in Northeast Ohio
Peony Spotlight | How to Grow and Care For Itoh, Bush, and Tree Peonies
The Peony family has a plethora of varieties, colors, and habits to choose from, but whats the best one for your garden? Watch this video with Noelle to learn the difference between Tree, Bush, and Itoh Peonies, along with tips for growing them in Northeast Ohio. She also talks about the relationship between peonies and ants plus talks about the best time to divide and transplant these beautiful perennials to help them flourish.
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How To Divide Hostas (and Other Perennials)
Watch this video with Noelle, Horticulturist, and Education Manager with Petitti Garden Centers, to learn more about the best method and time of year to divide hostas and other perennial favorites.
How To Divide Hostas (and Other Perennials)
Want to divide your overgrown hostas but arent sure where to start? Watch this video with Noelle, Horticulturist, and Education Manager with Petitti Garden Centers, to learn more about the best method and time of year to divide hostas. Actually, most perennials can be divided in this way! Noelle also explains which perennials are tricky with their dividing and transplanting requirements (peonies, poppies, and Iris) and how to best tackle those projects.
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Shade Loving Perennials
Get that pop of color youve been looking for in your shade garden with these perennials.
Shade Loving Perennials
Do you have lots of shade in your yard? Get that pop of color youve been looking for in your shade garden with these perennials.
Planting Peonies (Plants & Tubers) in My Garden! // Garden Answer
FAQ
Where is the best place to plant a peony tree?
- Plant in a sunny or lightly-shaded position.
- Tree peonies are very hardy, but the foliage and flower buds can be damaged by late frosts so avoid frost pockets.
- Choose a sheltered position to prevent damage to flowers and foliage by strong winds.
What is the difference between a peony bush and a peony tree?
Bush or classic garden peonies produce, 2-3′ tall and wide, rounded mounds of lobed foliage and 3-6″ wide, fluffy, fragrant flowers in shades of red, pink and white. Peony trees grow 3-5′ tall into an erect, openly branched shrub with 6-8″ wide, exotic colored blossoms ranging in red, pink, yellow and white.
What is the rarest color of peony?
These popular plantings flower in a rainbow of hues—every color, that is, but blue. Purple is the most rare peony color.
Why are tree peonies so expensive?
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The Columbus Dispatchhttps://www.dispatch.comTree peonies slow but worth wait – The Columbus DispatchMay 15, 2011 — One reason for the high cost is that tree peonies are sometimes propagated by being grafted upon roots of herbaceous peonies, and 50 percent success…
