Tree peony: the best varieties with photos and names, what it looks like, how to distinguish it from the usual one

Tree peony is a deciduous shrub up to 2 m high. This crop was developed thanks to the efforts of Chinese breeders. The plant came to European countries only in the 18th century, but due to its high decorative qualities it gained wide popularity. Varieties of tree peony with photos and descriptions will allow you to choose the best option for arranging your garden. This information will help when choosing a plant for landscaping the site, and will also allow you to determine the compatibility of several species by color and basic characteristics.

Full description of tree peony

This variety of culture belongs to the category of long-livers. A tree peony can grow in one place for more than 50 years.Moreover, every year it grows more and more. It is better to place the tree peony in partial shade, where the rays of the sun occur in the morning and evening. This significantly increases the duration of flowering.

The tree-like perennial is distinguished by a compact hemispherical shape of the bush, the height of which can be from 1 to 2 m. The plant forms erect and thick shoots that can easily withstand the load during the flowering period. The stems of the tree peony have a light brown tint.

The leaf blades are openwork, double pinnate, with large lobes. They are located on long petioles. The leaves have a dark green tint on top and a bluish tint on the reverse side.

As the shrub ages, the number of buds increases

Features of flowering

Tree peonies are characterized by a large diameter of flowers, which reaches 25 cm. The petals are dense and corrugated. They can be terry, semi-double and simple structure. Each of the flowers contains numerous bright yellow stamens. The first buds appear on the bush when its height reaches 60 cm.

Tree peony has a variety of varieties. The color of its petals varies from monochromatic to two-colored, with the shades smoothly blending into each other.

Petals can be:

white;
purple;
yellow;
pink;
raspberry;
burgundy;
almost black.

The buds of this variety of culture are formed at the end of the shoots. One tree peony can have from 20 to 70 buds. Flowering duration is 2-3 weeks. Then the bush produces edible fruits, shaped like a star. Inside each there are large dark seeds.

Important! The older the tree peony bush, the more abundantly it blooms.

What is the difference between a tree peony and a regular one?

Unlike the herbaceous peony, which has over 4.5 thousand varieties, the tree peony is represented by only 500. But the latter has much taller bushes, a larger flower diameter, and the shoots are harder and woody.

Flowering of the tree peony begins at the end of April, which is two weeks earlier than the herbaceous variety of the crop. And this period lasts 7-10 days longer.

The main difference between the tree-like species and the herbaceous one is that its ground shoots are preserved for the winter. Therefore, the growing season begins much earlier.

Important! There is no need to pick off the first flowers of a tree peony, as this does not interfere with the development of shoots and foliage.

Types of tree peonies

In the homeland of the perennial, varieties are divided according to the location of the provinces where they were bred. But according to the world classification, all types of this shrub are divided into three main groups depending on the country where they were obtained:

Chinese-European - characterized by large double flowers, the color of which can be from pale pink to fuchsia with a contrasting spot at the base of the petals;
Japanese - airy, floating flowers, their diameter is much smaller than the previous ones, their shape is most often simple, the surface is semi-double, reminiscent of a bowl;
hybrid varieties - bred on the basis of the Delaway peony and the yellow species, are most in demand, as they are distinguished by rare shades.

The best varieties of tree peonies

Among all the diversity, some varieties of tree peony can be distinguished, which are especially popular among gardeners. All of them are characterized by high decorative qualities, which significantly distinguishes them from the rest.

Giant from Chemosa

Giant of Chemosis belongs to the group of red tree peonies.It is characterized by a complex combination of shades, including pink, dark red and coral, as can be seen in the photo. The height of the bush reaches 160 cm, the diameter of double flowers is about 16-20 cm. It easily withstands drought. Forms a large number of buds.

Important! The giant from Chemosa is not picky about the composition of the soil, but it shows the greatest decorative effect when grown on fertile soil with a low level of acidity.

Giant Chemosa is a late flowering variety.

Chan Liu

Chan Liu or Spring Willow (Chun Liu) belongs to the category of rare species, as it has an unusual greenish-yellow hue and a pleasant aroma. The flowers have a crown-spherical shape, which can be seen in the photo; their diameter reaches 18 cm. They are characterized by medium-sized bushes, the height and width of which reaches 1.5 m.

Chang Liu is characterized by densely packed buds

Deep blue Sea

The variety is noticeably distinguished by the rich purple-red hue of the petals with a lilac tint, which have a pink shape (you can clearly see this in the photo). Leaves are rich green. The height of the bush of the Deep Blue Sea (Da Zong Zi) variety reaches 1.5 m. The diameter of the flowers is 18 cm.

White strokes can sometimes be seen on the petals of the Deep Blue Sea variety

Coral island

A vigorous variety of tree peony, the height of which reaches 2 m. It produces large crown-shaped flowers. The first buds of the Coral Island (Shan Hu Tai) variety appear on the plant in late May - early June. The shade of the petals is coral-red with a pale pink border around the edge, which can be seen in the photo. The height of the tree-like shrub is about 150 cm, the diameter of the flowers is 15-18 cm.

The edges of the petals at Coral Island are scalloped

Pink Zhao

As you can see in the photo, this tree peony is distinguished by lush bushes. The Pink Zhao Fen variety is one of the oldest and has not yet lost its relevance. Its large flowers are distinguished not only by their soft pink color, but also by their delicate aroma. The height of the bush is 2 m, and the width is about 1.8 m. The diameter of the flowers is more than 18 cm.

There is a reddish spot at the base of the petals of Pink Zhao

Peach under the snow

The tree peony Peach under the Snow (Covered with Snow) is distinguished by medium-sized bushes, the height of which varies from 1.5 to 1.8 m. It is characterized by dense flowers of a delicate color, which can be seen in the photo below. Closer to the center of the petals the shade is rich pink, and noticeably lighter towards the edges. The diameter of the flowers is 15 cm.

Peach blooms profusely under the snow

Imperial crown

The Imperial crown variety is characterized by huge semi-double flowers (this is clearly visible in the photo), the size of which reaches 25 cm. They exude a rich aroma. The color of the petals is purple-red, with the side ones having a darker shade. The height of the tree-like shrub reaches 170 cm, and the width is 120-150 cm. The beauty of the Imperial Crown variety can be seen in the photo.

Important! The variety forms buds on last year's shoots.

The Imperial Crown has central petals longer than the side petals.

Green beans

The elegant variety Green Bean is characterized by compact bushes about 90 cm high. The petals are distinguished by a corrugated edge and have a light green tint, which is rare for peonies (this can be seen in the photo below). During the flowering period, the shrub emits a delicate aroma. The diameter of the flowers is 17 cm.

The Green Bean variety is a late flowering variety.

Blue sapphire

The Blue Sapphire variety (Lan bao shi) is considered one of the best. It is characterized by large lush flowers, the diameter of which exceeds 18 cm. The color of the petals is delicate in pink watercolor tones with bright purple splashes at the base, which is noticeable in the photo. Numerous yellow stamens are located in the center, which gives the flowers a special originality. The height of the bush reaches 120 cm.

Blue sapphire is distinguished not only by beautiful flowers, but also by carved foliage

Yaos Yellow

This is a yellow variety of tree peony, as seen in the photo. Belongs to the category of rare species. Yaos Yellow (Yaos Yellow) is characterized by medium-sized bushes, the height of which reaches 1.8 m. The flowers are densely double, 16-18 cm in size. The shade of the petals is soft yellow, which is clearly visible in the photo. The flowering period begins in mid-May and lasts 15-18 days.

Yaos Yellow is considered a fast growing representative

Secret passion

The Secret Passion variety (Cang Zhi Hong) belongs to the early category; the first buds on the bush open at the end of April. The height of the plant reaches 150 cm, the diameter of the flowers is 16-17 cm. The color of the petals is purple-red, which can be seen in the photo.

Important! The flowers of this variety are slightly hidden in the foliage, which creates the impression of a huge bouquet.

The flowering period of Secret Passion lasts more than three weeks

Snow Tower

The flower shape of the tree peony Snow Tower can be in the form of a lotus or anemone. The color of the petals is soft white, but there is a light orange smear at the base (you can see it in the photo). Snow Tower forms vigorous bushes up to 1.9 m high. The diameter of the flowers is 15 cm, the variety is considered to bloom profusely.

The first buds at the Snow Tower open at the end of April

Pink lotus

Tree peony Pink lotus (Rou fu rong) is interesting not only for its bright flowers, but also for its yellow-green dissected leaves, which gives it a special decorative effect. The perennial is distinguished by spreading bushes, the height of which reaches 2 m. The flowers have a bright pink hue; when fully opened, a golden crown of stamens becomes visible in the center, which can be seen in the photo below.

The petals of the Pink Lotus are slightly serrated

Kiao Sisters

Sister Qiao's tree peony (Hua er qiao) looks especially elegant, as its flowers combine two contrasting shades. Despite the fact that their diameter does not exceed 15 cm, they densely dot the entire bush. The color of the petals is unusual: on one side it is in milky white and pink tones, and on the other it is bright crimson (you can see it in the photo). The height of the bush reaches 150 cm. The flowering period begins in the second half of May.

Buds of different colors can open on one plant

Red giant

The Red Giant variety (Da Hu Hong) is distinguished by its compact bush shape with short shoots, the length of which does not exceed 1.5 m. The species is a late flowering species, and the first buds on the plant open in early June. The color of the petals is bright scarlet, as can be seen in the photo. Crown-shaped flowers reach a diameter of 16 cm.

The red giant is growing rapidly

Kinko's

The Kinko variety (Kinkaku-Jin Ge) belongs to the category of yellow tree peonies. Obtained as a result of crossing a regular and terry species. Characterized by the bright yellow color of the petals, reminiscent of the color of lemon. There is a red border along the edge, which gives the flowers additional volume. The height of an adult shrub does not exceed 1.2 m. The diameter of the flowers is about 15 cm.

Kinko is classified as a rare species

White Jade

White Jade (Yu Ban Bai) is one of the oldest varieties of tree peony, which is distinguished by its snow-white petals (you can see in the photo). Lotus flower shape. Their diameter reaches 17 cm. During the flowering period, they exude a delicate, unobtrusive aroma. The height of the bush reaches 150-170 cm.

White Jade produces narrow, stiff branches with sparse leaves

Scarlet Sails

The Scarlet Sail variety is distinguished by its early flowering, and the buds on the plant open in late April - early May. The color of the petals is deep purple. The beauty of this tree peony can be seen in the photo below. When the buds are fully open, a crown of bright yellow stamens stands out noticeably in the center. The height of an adult bush reaches 1.2 m, and the width is 1 m. The diameter of the flowers is 16 cm.

Important! The tree peony Scarlet Sails exudes a rich aroma that spreads throughout the garden.

The Scarlet Sails variety has beautiful carved leaves.

Fen He Piao Jiang

The tree peony variety Fen He Piao Jiang (Pink Powder) was bred in China. It is characterized by an average flowering period, so the first buds on the bush open in mid-May. The height of the plant does not exceed 1.2 m. The shape of the flowers resembles a lotus. The color of the petals is soft pink, but there are dark burgundy strokes at the base, which is noticeable in the photo. In the center of the flowers there are numerous orange stamens.

The diameter of the flowers of Pink Powder is 15 cm

Shima Nishiki

The Japanese variety of tree peony Shima Nishiki (Shima-Nishiki) forms bushes up to 1 m high. It is characterized by large flowers, up to 18 cm in diameter. It is distinguished by an unusual combination of shades, including white, red and pink, which is clearly visible in the photo.Begins to bloom in mid-summer. At the same time it emits a subtle aroma.

Shima-Nishiki's flower shape resembles a rose

Red Wiz Pink

Medium-sized variety of tree peony. The height of the bush reaches 1.2 m. Red Whis Pink (Dao Jin) is distinguished by large, semi-double flowers with a wavy edge of the petals. The color is variegated, including shades of white, dark red and soft pink, which is clearly visible in the photo.

Red Whis Pink does not tolerate transplantation well

Twin Beauty

Twin Beauty is a classic Chinese variety of tree peony. It has an unusual two-tone color. The petals on one side have a dark red tint, and on the other - white or pink (this can be seen in the photo). During the flowering period they emit a rich aroma. The shape of the flowers is pink, the surface is terry, the diameter reaches 25 cm.

Important! With a lack of light, the contrast of shades is lost.

One plant of the Twin Beauty variety can have flowers of different shades

Lantian Jay

Medium flowering variety of tree peony. The height of the bush does not exceed 1.2 m. The main color of the petals is light pink with a lilac tint. The diameter of the flowers reaches 20 cm. Lantian Jay is characterized by abundant flowering, which begins in mid-June.

The first buds of Lantian Jay open in mid-June

Purple Ocean

An original variety of tree peony with a red-purple tint of petals. White stripes or spots are clearly visible in the center of the flowers, which is clearly visible in the photo. The height of the bush reaches 1.5 m. The flowers of the Purple Ocean variety (Zi Hai Yin Bo) have a crown shape and their size is 16 cm.

Purple Ocean has increased endurance

Sunrise

This unusual variety was obtained thanks to the efforts of American breeders. The yellow peony Lutea is used as a basis.The Sunrise variety is characterized by a yellow-pink hue with a carmine border along the edge of the petals, which emphasizes the lush shape of semi-double flowers. At the same time, in the core of each there is a crown of bright yellow stamens, which is noticeable in the photo. The diameter of the flowers is 17-18 cm, the height of the bush is about 120 cm.

Sunrise shows maximum decorativeness in sunny areas

White Phoenix

A vigorous early variety, the height of which reaches 2 m. Forms simple flowers consisting of 12 petals. The main color is white, but sometimes there is a pinkish tint, which can be seen even in the photo. The diameter of the flowers of the White Phoenix (Feng Dan Bai) variety is 18-20 cm.

Important! The variety easily adapts to any climatic conditions, therefore it is recommended for beginning gardeners.

The White Phoenix's flowers point upward

Dao Jin

The Dao Jin (Yin and Yang) variety belongs to the fast-growing category. The flowers of this shrub are located on the sides. This species is distinguished by the contrasting colors of the petals with an original combination of white and red stripes, as can be seen in the photo below. The shrub grows up to 1.5 m in height and its width is 1 m.

The flowering period begins in July

Green ball

An original variety of tree peony, in which, when the buds open, the color of the petals is light green and then turns pink. The shape of the inflorescences is crown-shaped, they are densely double. Their diameter is about 20 cm. The flowers of the Green Ball variety (Lu Mu Ying Yu) exude a persistent aroma. The height of an adult shrub reaches 1.5 m.

Green ball - late flowering variety

Hinode Sekai

A Japanese variety of tree peony, which is distinguished by its compact bush shape. Its height does not exceed 90 cm.Hinode Sekai features simple flowers in a bright red hue with small strokes of white.

Hinode Sekai is ideal for small flower beds

Smell of Lily

Fast growing early variety. Produces a large number of flowers. The main color of the petals of the Smell of Lily (Zhong sheng bai) variety is white. In the center of the flowers is a bright yellow crown of stamens. The height of the bush is about 1.5 m, the diameter of the flowers is 16 cm.

The Smell of Lily variety is easy to care for

Winter-hardy varieties of tree peony

You can often hear that these varieties do not tolerate low temperatures well, which leads to freezing of shoots in winter and lack of flowering. Indeed, this is possible if the winter hardiness of the shrub is not taken into account when choosing.

For regions with harsh climatic conditions, it is recommended to select varieties that are resistant to low temperatures. Then, when growing a tree peony, there will be no special difficulties.

Varieties that can withstand frosts down to -34 degrees:

Chan Liu;
Red Wiz Pink;
Pink Lotus;
Purple Ocean;
White Phoenix;
Green ball.

Application in landscape design

The tree peony is a long-liver, and with proper care it can grow in one place for up to 50 years. This makes it a promising plant in landscape design. This crop is suitable for decorating not only household plots, but also parks and squares. The photo below shows how the tree peony looks great in the garden.

He can perform as a solitaire and participate in group compositions. The tree peony looks impressive in combination with silver spruce trees, against the backdrop of architectural structures, near statues, which can be seen in the photo.

Landscape designers recommend planting this shrub between blueberries, tulips, daffodils, and crocuses. When the early spring bulbous flowers fade, the tree peony will completely fill the vacated space.

When using different varieties, it is necessary to take into account the height, flowering period and color of the petals. With a successful combination, such a composition can decorate the garden from May to June.

Important! Most tree peonies bloom at the same time as chestnuts and lilacs, so it is recommended to place these plants nearby.

The tree peony looks great against the background of a green lawn

Also, crop varieties can be placed near the house

Ornamental shrubs also look good against the background of architectural buildings

Plants of different colors create bright accents in the garden

Conclusion

Varieties of tree peony with photos and descriptions will help you understand the variety of varieties of this crop. Such information will be useful for every gardener who plans to grow this perennial on his site. After all, among garden crops there is hardly a plant that can compete with it in unpretentiousness and longevity.