Paeonia delavayi
Delavay tree peony
- 9cm pot
- £14.99
- available to order from spring
- 2 litre pot
- £39.99
- available to order from spring
Delivery options
- Standard £5.95
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: fertile, moisture-retentive yet well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: April to June
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Prized for their blowsy, glamorous blooms and glossy, deeply cut foliage, peonies are held in deep affection by many gardeners, despite their short flowering season. It's easy to see why. The young leaves of this tree or shrub peony are flushed burgundy and in late spring, lustrous, single, maroon flowers appear among the handsome dark green foliage. This magnificent tree peony is ideal for a sunny border, planted among shrubs that flower later in the summer. Plant spring bulbs around the base to prolong the season of interest.
In the early spring, our potted bare root plants can be lightly rooted so can be kept in their pots for a few weeks, or planted out, avoiding frosty or waterlogged conditions taking care not to damage the emerging roots. Plant into well-prepared soil enriched with plenty of organic matter, and like herbaceous peonies, make sure that the highest bud on the crown is no deeper than 5cm (2in) below the soil surface as this will reduce flowering. In growth, keep well fed and watered, and remove spent flowers after they have faded. In each subsequent spring, apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser around the base of the plant and lightly mulch with well-rotted compost or manure but not too deeply as this can smother the roots and reduce blooming. Older stems have a tendency to become brittle and snap so cut these back by a third or to the ground in autumn every two or three years. Tree peonies are deep-rooted, and do not make good plants for containers.