Giant tree peony FAQs

To help you get the best out of our stunning tree peonies we've put together some useful FAQs...

What will I receive? You'll get three bare roots in the following varieties: white Xue Ta, pink Rou Fu Ronge and red Hya Wang.

What size do tree peonies grow to? About 1.5m (5ft) in height.

How many blooms per plant? A mature plant can produce more than one hundred flowers.

How long will the blooms last for? The flowers will last for 3-4 weeks depending on the weather. When in bud, tree peonies create a colourful lollypop effect as they're perfectly round and the size of golf balls. The buds may stay on the plant for months. During winter, the leaves on the new-growth buds are bright pink in colour.

Are tree peonies perennial? Yes, they'll come back year after year.

Can I plant them outside straight away? You can plant bare root tree peonies during winter and early spring if the soil is unfrozen.

Where shall I plant my tree peonies? We'd recommend planting your tree peonies into borders or containers. They need plenty of space to grow, so don’t crowd them with other plants. You'll find your tree peonies extremely hardy and they'll survive in both sun and shade. However, avoid completely exposed situations where petals could blow away quickly and shorten the life of the flowers.

What soil do they like? Tree peonies are suited to fertile, well-drained soil. It's important that the soil doesn't get waterlogged in winter. Add some bone meal, general fertiliser or a small amount of well-rotted garden compost to the soil if you wish.

How deep do I plant them? These tree peonies are grafted plants and should be planted so that the graft union (the swelling on the stem a few inches above the top of the roots) is at least 7.5cm (3") below the soil.

What fertiliser should I use? Tree peonies do best when fed with bone meal every autumn. To help them flower, treat your tree peonies to an occasional feed in spring and summer with a high potash fertiliser, like liquid tomato food.

How often do they need watering? Tree peony roots establish themselves exceptionally well, so it's not usually necessary to water the plants frequently. However, for the first growing season when the new roots haven't yet fully developed, we'd recommend watering them during long periods without rainfall. Apply water very slowly and gently as too much moisture is detrimental to the plant.

What other plants complement tree peonies? For stunning perennial borders, plant them with roses, acers, lilies and other tree peonies. Tree peonies add height to borders, so they look good behind smaller shrubs and perennials like hemerocallis. Finally, grow climbers behind your peonies to complement their colours - wisteria, jasmine and clematis would be ideal.

Should I dead head my tree peonies? Dead heading isn't necessary.

How long will they last in their plastic container? Tree peonies will last for several years in a suitable container that's no less than 30cm (12") in diameter.

Are tree peonies poisonous to cats?  No.

Like what you see? Then snap up our tree peonies

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Comments

[Lesley Latham]

Richard,
Please help!
I bought the TSV 3x Tree peonies last year. Within months of planting ( in large containers ), I had a flower & bud on the pink peony, the other two made a fair bit of growth. They did not appear to thive!
Come the winter all leaves dropped off.
This year I have had leaves but no flowers and to be frank the plants look unhealthy ( leaves turning brown and battered!) Not something to be proud of!!
Have they been kept too wet & would you suggest the are planted in the border?
If so, when is the best time to do this ?

[David Pomfret]

Richard,
As with all the other posters, very disapointed with this TSV. Two managed to get into leaf, but no flowers. The third is clinging on for grim death, I don't think it will make it.
I honestly don't think I will be buying any more plants on line.
Regards
DP, Lancashire

[sue smith]

Hi Richard
Like many of the other people in the comments listing I have not had one flower this year from the tree peonies-lots foliage but not a flower in sight.
Are we all doing some thing wrong or do they take a year to settle
Would appreciate your thoughts
Sue Smith

[Carol Orr]

Hi Richard,
I bought these as the TSV and followed the instructions to the letter (very novice gardener). They look a bit dried up and dead but I'm not sure. Should I leave them in the containers outside all winter and see what happens in the Spring, do they need to be covered in anything?

[DELYSE WATSON]

hi richard
bought treepeonies tvs growing in tubs grown a little but did form buds then went brown HELP RICHARD please.I ALSO BOUGHT TREE LILYS OUT OF THIS WORLD THE GARDEN SMELT LOVELY DO CUT THEM BACK TO THE TOP OF SOIL ORDO I LET DIE LIKE DAFFS THANKS ALLYOUR HELP YOU GIVE ON THE SHOW I HAVE LEARNT A LOT

[Mrs Annette Tomlinson]

Hi Richard, I too brought these as the tsv,and have followed your instructions but they've done nothing,i grow Tropicol plants and my garden is thriving,why don't these grow ? very down hearted.

[Mrs Pat Lewis]

Hi Richard
I bought the tree peonie TSV for my husbands birthday. None look as if they are doing anything at all, I have had many plants from QVC and never had a prob in fact the tree lillies he got for my birthday have been far better than I thought for the first year. Can you taell me if there is anything I can try to improve them, and should I try bringing them into the greenhouse for the winter.

[Martha Hockley]

My brother-in-law and I also bought the tree peonies last year. The red one of his has died and mine has had about a dozen leaves last year and this, and doesn't look very healthy. None of them, his or mine have ever flowered, despite being fed with tomato food - spray and grow etc. The majority of questions have been about how long they will flower - mine is - will they ever flower or were they just a waste of money?

[eleanor cummiskey]

bought 2 peonies rosesfrom you 3months a go one bloomed brilliant the other died they cost 16 pounds each what a dissapointment eleanor cummiskey glasgow

[Amanda Prophett]

I bought my three plants this year and planted them in about March. They look like little bonsai trees at the moment and I know they are doing okay as I can see baby new leaves growing. However, will I get flowers this year or not??

[Carolyn Lee]

I bought the TSV and planted them in large pots. Lots of lovely leaves but no flowers. One of them did come in to bud but then it just went brown and died. I have fed them on a regular basis. What is wrong?

[Bridget Hedges]

Hi Richard,
I bought the tree peonies when they were TSV I have some nice green foliage but no sign of flowers.
Where did I go wrong? Also how long before my wisteria tree flowers

[Mrs M McMillan]

Hi Richard,
I also bought the tree pheonies, the pink one had 2 buds which just stayed tight and turned brown,the other 2 it is just foliage, 1 in particular in pretty poor state, followed all advice and I usually can grown most plants, I am keen gardner and my garden is lush and fertile,pretty well protected and south facing,appreciate any feed back.

[Chris Cove]

Hi,
I purchased a peony tree recently and I haven't a clue if I have planted it correctly or not. I put it into a large Terracotta pot. I put the roots and some sort of manuer pile underneath the compost just leaving two branch looking stems above it. They are approximately 5" and 4" above the compost level. It has now been 10 weeks and nothing except maybe the two branches may have lengthened a fraction.
Could you please tell me if I have planted them correctly please?

Thank you.
Chris Cove

[Jean Gibbs]

Hi Richard.

I have the same problems as many of the others.

Lots of leaves no flowers(not even buds)
Potted in large containers. Right soil, fed with
Flowe power. very dissapointed, What am I doing wrong?
Jean.

[Tammy Bower]

I bought 3 peony trees; a tvs. Two leaved out, and one looks like it is dead. Now the other two look sick. I have them planted on the east side of my house. Please Help!!

[Janice Barnfather]

This is my second year with tree peonies. I planted them as per instructions, the graft area below the surface of the soil planted in tall containers to give them max root area. I am extremly dissappointed still no flowers. The yellow plant looks weak but the other two have lots of leaf. They are fed weekly. Please help. What have I done wrong.
Janice. Milton Keynes

[Rosemary Jenkins]

Hi I purchased the Yellow Hai Huang Tree Peony Super Hardy we are now in the middle of june and it looks the same now as it did when I planted it after following all your instruction. Could you please reply to let me know what I can do. I am very disappointed and feel I have wasted my money.

[Julie Hirst]

I too am disappointed with the TSV none of the 3 plants have flowered at all, they all look healthy but no flowers. Is this normal

[Diane Hayes]

I too bought the TSV earlier this year. I planted the all in containers and so far only one plant has leaves on it - no where near flowering; the others certainly look dead - very disappointing - advice please.

Many thanks

[elizabeth Hunt]

Not happy with my peonies bought this year. Followed the instructions re: pots, compost and position but have had no flowers. One had 4 buds which failed to open and none on the other 2 plants, and although not very big all appear healthy. What went wrong?

[Mrs. V. Truman]

ONE OF MY TREE PEONIES IS DEAD, THE OTHER TWO STARTED LEAF GROWTH WHICH DROOPED AND DIED, SOME LEAVES CAME FROM THE BASE OF THE PLANTS BUT DON'T LOOK TOO WELL ! WHAT IS HAPPENING TO QVC'S PLANT QUALITY?

[Marie Stein]

I too purchased the TSV Tree Peony and am a little disappointed. They are all healthy plants and I have followed all of Richards' advice about planting them and feeding them, but only one of them (the Xue Ta) has bloomed - 4 pretty if quite small flowers. The other 2 are very short shrubby plants which burst into leaf on Easter weekend but haven't really grown in height and have shown no sign of flowers.
I appreciate that peonies often don't always bloom in the first year and I would like to know what I can do to ensure that all 3 of my peonies flourish and produce flowers in future years.

[Jane]

I bought the TSV this year and all but one are doing well. The leaves on the white one are curled up, and although new shoots are appearing, the plant does not look happy.
I have fed anad watered it and kept it in a sunny position on the patio. Have I watered and fed too much perhaps?

[Mrs, Betty Owen]

Hi Richard,
I bought the 3 tree peonies last spring but as yet I just have lots of leaves but no sign of any flower buds, I have used spray & grow and Bill's fertilizer is ther anything else I need to do please to get them to flower.
Thank you.

[Averil Prinnce]

Hi Richard I bought tsv tree peonies they look healthy but havent grown any bigger am I doing something wrong?

[DorothyMorris]

Hi Richard
Bought 3 Tree Peony in Feb two look ok but one is about two
feet high all branch afew leaves on the top with one white
flower on top.Have followed all instructions for planting
The plant does not look right to me .Can you help.

[Charlene Martucci]

I bought the TSV this year. I planted two of the Peony trees and gave one to my daughter-in-law to plant. we followed directions and all three appear to be dead. Are they dead or should we wait to see leaf growth? I'm not sure what to expect, but in reading the comments above, it looks like we should at least see leaves on them by now. Can someone let me know? Thanks so much.

[Rosemary Jenkins]

Hi Richard

I purchased the Yellow Hai Huang Tree Peony Super Hardy Bare Root planted it as instructions feed with flower power but as yet it still has not made any progress. Could you please help and tell me what I can do!!!!

[Shani Newman]

I bought the TSV tree peonies and planted them as instructed,I have given them flower power but as yet they does not seem to be anything happening, when will they produce flowers, or is there more I can do? Also I have a dwarf pear tree, the other dwarf fruit trees that I bought are blossoming but the pear tree is still as i bought it, what should I be doing?

[maureen baughen]

i am having the same problem as many of the people above. one is in bud and looks like it will bloom any time now, another one has leaves but no buds, looks like it is suffering and the third one has done nothing at all. i would like to know what i can do to revive the two that are struggling.

[lily jones]

hi richard.bought tree peonies this year and planted as you instructed.One has already died and i only have buds on one.please can you advise.

[dorothy young]

bought these tsv and have flower buds on must be flower power and spray grow cannot wait to see flowers come out love your shows richard keep up good work
love dorothy

[Mrs Joan Aspin]

Like Amanda Spiers the yellow one looks like it has failed could you please help me so that i can bring it back into leaf i have put all 3 in my front garden so the soil is the same and i cant understand why this has happened

[Amanda Spiers]

Hi Richard,
I bought last year's TSV Tree Peonies, and I know they will not flower until this, or next, year. However, the yellow one does not appear to be leafing, even though the pink & lilac ones are. Has it failed, or can I bring it back?

I was really looking forward to the yellow flowers, it was the only one I kept for myself because you made it sound so delightful. The other two were given away on Mother's Day and it looks like I won't get to enjoy them.

Can you help?????????

[Roswitha Bonthrone]

Hello Richard,
I just could not resist the temptation of ordering the TSV of Peony Trees. I have already bought a pale pink one about 6 years ago and in May/June when the flowers open I am as excited as I was the first year when only two flowers unfolded. They are huge and every year I have taken the camerea into the garden, it is always the highlight of the garden in any year! It is a pity the spectacle only lasts about a week though. The red peony tree has never flowered yet but this could perhaps be partly due to the fact that it is in a more shadowy spot. This year however, it already displays one big bud.
Well done to bring the peony to QVC. The flowers have not multiplied as mentioned on your show. Maybe because I have never fed them or done anything to them, but last year I had 5 flowerheads. Wish I could send you one of my photographs. Best wishes, Roswitha

[Darren Hasley]

When they flower how long will they flower for? Will the plant have flowers all summer long?

[Dave Ferguson]

What period do they flower and for how long?

[Mrs Harper]

I have ordered the tsv today. Could you please tell me how long the tree peonie will be in flower for. They start flowering in May but how long are they in flower for. Thankyou. Mrs Harper in Lincoln.

[Vanessa Burke]

As I also bought tree peonies last year as a TSV (which are currently in pots), I would be interested to know if they (and these) will need pruning - obviously when they have grown a bit larger.

[Sandra Walker]

Do Tree Peonies need to be supported, with canes or such like?

[Gerry Hendry]

How long do they bloom for as normal peonies which are lovely don't last very long.?

[Robert Lawson]

I had the tree peonies last year.Grown in pots and I only had one bud which fell off, never had any flowers at all why.Living in Cornwall

[jacqui]

can you say how long the blooms will last ? do they give a wonderful display for only a short time ?