Peony question for Palustris?

[jennym]

Would be ever so grateful if you could confirm this is Paeonia lutea ?

[jennym]

[Palustris]

Looks like it to me!

[Ceratonia]

I have dozens of seedlings of this about to go on the compost heap, so if anyone wants a couple.....

[Garden Manager]

I have dozens of seedlings of this about to go on the compost heap, so if anyone wants a couple.....

Yes i might be interested. Could you tell me a bit more about the plant first though? You say 'dozens of seedlings', are these self sown ones or did you grow them?

it looks a nice plant

Cheers

[jennym]

Well, I like it - might not be to everyones taste though. mine is about 3 or 4 years old and was a self sown seedling bought from a church fete.
In leaf, it has a certain architectural quality I think, mine is about 4 ft tall now. I will try and get a photo to show you its form. There are nicer ones than the one I have, I'm sure Eric would know of them.

[Ceratonia]

Yes i might be interested. Could you tell me a bit more about the plant first though? You say 'dozens of seedlings', are these self sown ones or did you grow them?

The original plant was grown from seed itself and looks exactly like jennym's photo. Around 5ft high, 5ft wide, unscented yellow flowers in mid-may, attractive foliage, interesting shape in winter. See no reason why the seedlings wouldn't come true in terms of the flowers - it's not a named cultivar or anything, but it will be a few more years before they flower.

There are a few self-sown seedlings around the plant itself, but most are in pots, grown from seed my youngest collected in a margerine tub a couple of years ago (the seed is a black ball about rosehip size, so quite easy for little fingers). I've had no problems transplanting them in previous years.

[Garden Manager]

So is it worth giving 'garden room' to? I dont have a lot of free planting space available, so a plant would have to earn its keep.

You say it gets to around 5'x5'? can it be pruned to restrict its size?

Thanks

[jennym]

Well, I haven't pruned mine and to be honest, it may look "stubby" if pruned I feel, but someone else may be able to advise better. This is a pic of mine:

[Ceratonia]

I prune mine lightly - remove crossing branches and shortening those branches which stick out over the drive. As you can see from Jenny's photo, it is a 'v' shaped shrub, so you can grow things underneath - it's only 5 feet wide at the top. It doesn't need full sun, either.

I like it a lot, but if you want stuff to 'earn its keep' it's worth pointing out that it only holds onto the flowers for 2-3 weeks - first high wind and they're all gone. And if you bought a named cultivar, you could get much nicer flowers.

[Mrs Ava]

ooo, oooo ceratonia, if you have any left, I wouldn't mind a baby.  :)

[Garden Manager]

How would one do in a container I wonder?

(You may notice from my postings I would like one but am not sure if i can have one and am trying to persuade myself to say yes please to one!)

[sarah]

ceratonia i would love a seedling if it is not too cheeky to ask while garden cadet dithers  ;) ;D.

[Deeds]

Oh yes please if you still have some left, just let me know what you would like in exchange.  (masses of seeds and some nice unusual plants etc)

[tezz brown]

So is it worth giving 'garden room' to? I dont have a lot of free planting space available, so a plant would have to earn its keep.

You say it gets to around 5'x5'? can it be pruned to restrict its size?

Thanks

garden cadet,..there was one of these in the botanical gardens of Durham City a couple of years ago and it was in excess of 10 feet high and growing,..

[Garden Manager]

Ceratonia:

Just to put you and everyone out of thier misery, I think I'll pass on the tree peony. It sounds too big and too fleeting in flower for my garden I dont realy think I have the room.

Thanks anyway.

[Ceratonia]

How would one do in a container I wonder?

A google for "tree peony container" suggests that they can be grown quite well in relatively small containers, so I may give that a go myself. Have PM'd those who requested seedlings.

[Yuet_Lee]

Ceratonia,

it look gorgeous! I especially love yellow flowers.
it is too late to ask do you have any seed left? please I would like one if you have any spare ;)
How long does it take to grow that big ???