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Tree peonies in Austin/Central TX--how do they do, and sources?
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Posted by blackangus Austin, TX (My Page) on Tue, Aug 18, 09 at 15:37
| I would love to get some peonies to put in my garden in Austin, TX, but I've been told that normal peonies just won't bloom here. The only option seems to be tree peonies. I was wondering if anybody who has actual experience growing tree peonies in Central Texas can chime in with their experiences? These plants are expensive ($75 to $450 or so, depending on age), so I want to be sure they will perform well before I spend that much money.
Also, I am planning to do mail order because I can't find anybody around here who sells them, or even knows what they are. If there are any sources around Austin, San Marcos, San Antonio, Etc., I'd love to hear about it. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Tree peonies in Austin/Central TX--how do they do, and source
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| I would not gamble that kind of money on peonies in Austin Texas. Just not enough cold time for them. Plus, I am thinking they need a more acidic soil. If you can't find them locally, that should tell you something. There are many beautiful plants that would give the same effect as peonies. I imagine a good nursery could advise you on that. Janie |
RE: Tree peonies in Austin/Central TX--how do they do, and source
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| Well, I'm not thinking of peonies, I'm thinking of TREE peonies, which are a different plant supposedly, and which are usually rated as good for zones 2 through 9. I talked to one of the growers I was thinking of using today and she said that they bloom as long as you have at least 30 days around 40 degrees. In Austin, we only get about 11 days that low in an average year. I've researched it quite a bit, and a lot of the information is conflicting. Some say that you can grow them just fine in containers in warm areas, I guess because being above ground lets them cool off more than being planted in the ground. Also, I read that the trick is to force them to go dormant in the fall by cutting off all the leaves in November, by which point they would have dropped naturally in most locations. I did ask on the peony board also, but haven't heard, so I was hoping somebody who had actually tried it would be able to chime in. If not, I'll probably try one plant this year and see what results I get. The people at the nurseries around here had never heard of tree peonies, by the way. They are a rare-ish plant, so that could be because they just don't grow here, or because they are so uncommon. |
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