I was given this as a seedling a few years ago - might even be 3 years. I was told me it was a tree peony, likely yellow, and I have been patiently waiting for it to bloom. Nothing so far, and no sign of blooms again this year. It is about 4' tall and starting to get woody at the lower end. Looking through your pics, I'm not quite sure this is in fact what I have. Can anyone confirm that I am babying a tree peony along, or if not, ID whatever it actually is? When can I expect it to bloom? Thanks for any help.
I want to live in a world where the chicken can cross the road without its motives being questioned.
It is a tree peony. Likely a species Lutea which will have yellow flowers. Should do well for you and make a large plant. The flowers may be smallish. I like it for the tropical like foliage rather than the flower.
I don't know why sometimes they take a few years to bloom. Make sure it is planted deep enough, that can be one thing they aren't happy about. It looks large enough to me to think you should have blooms next year. You'll have to let us know.
The flowers may be small and a yellow that is close to the stem color. You have better weather than we have here but here P. lutea is grown more for the foliage. If it blooms it is a major event. Don Hollingsworth had one bloom a couple of years ago that had been in ground for several years. I seem to remember 10 years. Allow it to become woody.
I have 3 that are very similar to yours, 1 bloomed in its 3rd year, the other 2 in the 4th year. Mine have white blooms, definitely not as impressive as the Itohs and most of the herbaceous....But they grow so fast and early in the season that it's always my favorite promise that spring is actually going to happen! The only thing in my yard that bloomed earlier than those tree peonies is a Clare de Lune herbaceous, the trees are certainly more impressive if only for the foliage and size!
