Tim, I'm relatively new to this, but let me tell you what I know. If you are talking about shima nishiki (red and white), not all flowers will bloom with that mixed coloration. Do you have other buds on your plant or is that the only one? My shima bloomed with a pink flower (which in the light looked candy apple red). At first, I thought it might be a different plant. Then I went to the nursery where there were other shimas (some red/white, others red) and mine was exactly the same. Someone else told me that some of her flowers turn out pink.

If you're talking below the graft, then you suspect that what you have is an herbaceous peony flower, but that doesn't look herbaceous. It sounds like your tree has had setbacks but is finally settled in and beginning to thrive. That is a beautiful flower. 3 years is a long time to wait after having seen it bloom. What do you think happened to it?

Maybe that is what's happening. I hope so because my wife really loved the original flowers on it. It does have several more buds and maybe that will tell more of the story. The original stem died the first winter I planted it. It came back the next year with several new growths. Last year it put on lots of growth and several more eyes - so it seems to be happy now. This is my one and only tree peony and the first I've ever had so I really have no experience to call on with tree peonies.

Now that it has bloomed and is growing well I want to get another. A couple of local nurseries have some in 2 gallon pots about 30" tall for $40. I think I may have to get another one.

Great comeback for the tree then. A success story!

I'm all for buying more tree peonies :) I've had a few herbaceous blooms this year, and I have to say, I find the tree peony flowers more dramatic. I've become a big fan of them. The sturdiness of the itoh is winning me over, too.

Do post pictures of your other blooms.