Sorry about your loss. I would not expect the broken branch to root. I would make a clean cut where the branch broke off. The plant will do just fine without the broken branch. Al

It won't root in water. Place it in a free-draining soil like a cactus mix and keep it damp but not wet. Remove most of the leaves because they will die anyway. It might root but don't get your hopes up. If it roots, it will take several years to properly establish but you will then have two identical tree peonies.

Don't worry about a broken branch. A major one broke out of mine due to heavy winter snows, (and I suspect my husband threw more compacted snow on top of it while shoveling the walk). I was devastated but, lo and behold, it prompted the plant to send up 3 new healthy stems from the very bottom. Tree peonies are much tougher than I was led to initially believe.

Cher

Thanks for the advice all! I was really disappointed with what happened but things do go wrong sometimes. I am sure the original plant will grow back to its former size next spring.

A deer ate some of a pink one the other day but has not bothered it since. So far they do avoid peonies. They did not touch them last year but the pink peony was new this year. But the day lilies, they are lucky to get a bulb. The wonders of sharing my land with the animals!

Thanks again!

Oh my, I received 3 tree peonies in the mail and one had a broken branch, so I put the branch into water. It is now forming buds and some little green shoots. Does your earlier discussion mean I am not going to get any roots to grow a new plant? Do I still have a chance if I put it in the cactus mixture?

Thanks !!

I doubt it. You may try grafting one if you have herbaceous roots stock, though.