Earlier last week I posted pics of this tree peony, Zi Yao Tai, or Purple Abode



and itoh, Singing in the Rain



Yesterday when I returned home from work the tree peony buds had opened







Beautiful and fragrant. This particular tree peony was the hardest hit by the late hard freeze this spring and while it bloomed, it was nothing near it's normal bloom. I ended up cutting the dead buds and scions off early in August. Lo and behold, the new growth started popping out. I don't know that this variety is known for fall blooms. I am still waiting to see if the itoh bloom opens up before we get a frost.

Wow, what an awesome treat! They are beautiful and so rare to behold them in the fall! Thanks for sharing!

I agree. What a surprise. I know woody plants like and thrive on pruning but I would think all the buds would have been trimmed off. Awesome indeed. Thanks.

Congratulations! Gorgeous blooms, hopefully you’ll be posting SitR blooms soon!

Awesome Gary!! Congrats!

Just an update. I know I posted pics of the tree peony blooms. I also had a bud on the Singing In The Rain itoh. It is 11/25 and here is that bud






If you look closely, you can see the leaves on the stem are withered from frost here. But the bud is opening. Temps here are going to be in the 60's this week so it will get to open. The bud has heavy pink tips on the bud. Will show some updates when opened.

Gary, this is awesome! Right before winter! Thanksgiving present to you!

Did you cut your SitR back at all last summer, Gary? I've been told by a few people that pruning sometimes makes them bloom in the fall, I've never tried it though. So nice to see a bloom, all of mine are dried and brown....

That is amazing. The Peony Farm that I visit also had quite a few Itohs rebloom this Fall. None of mine did.

Very cool, Gary. I would assume my northern climate is too cold for second wind of blooms to ever happen. Nice to see there is potential!

Wow, that is so good to know that itohs can rebloom in the fall. I can't wait to see your bloom opens! Liz, I may take up your tip next year and prune a few of my established peonies early to trigger rebloom. I wonder if doing so will affect the following year's blooms. I have two Bartzellas so I can try one to see what happens.

kousa said:Wow, that is so good to know that itohs can rebloom in the fall.

. . .

I have one Itoh, Bartzell too. But I was a bit disappointed, although VERY beautiful, the blooms only lasted a couple days. But this upcoming season, even though I'm in a colder zone, I may try gently pruning mine to see what happens. I'm amazed at the other perennials, if I cut them back, will rebloom again in fall.

I too had Bartzella bloom for the first time this spring, Teresa. I've had several roots of it that have failed to thrive but FINALLY got a good root lasted in an optimal location and had 2 blooms, worth the trouble and wait! I'm digging out part of the wide walkways left between the beds in that optimal location and have already moved 11 roots that were overcrowded or doing poorly to that spot, will move more today. I'll have to leave room for 3 new plants, though.....you guys posted too much about the Adelmans sale! My resolve broke—ordered another Smith Family Yellow to replace the mis-ided one from Select Plus as well as Lunar Glow and another Sonoma Welcome. The SW I got from the Bannister's retirement sale still hasn't bloomed and the vast number of mis-ids from that sale has me concerned that it might be something else, anyway.....
Karen, sounds like you have a good situation to test the Itoh pruning suggestion! Looking forward to hearing the results. It'd be interesting in more ways than just for fall blooms—I'd think it'd be an indicator for blooming propensity in the south as well.

Karen, how long have you had your Garden Treasure? Mine was in the ground about five years when I dug it up this fall. It bloomed last in my garden but was prolific in blooms and the blooming lasted at least a couple of weeks. And it was in a spot that didn't get sun very early in the day. Then as the summer progressed it got lots of sun even though the days were growing shorter from June 21 on.

I have three nice plants now, all showing pips before snow fall. Have hopes of a lovely trio of blooms in front of a large rock with full sun next summer. Zone 4

Mary, I think you mean my Bartzellas? I got my Bartzella from Solaris Farms in Fall 2012, so that makes it about 5 years. It was divided two years ago and I got 3 divisions, 1 large and 2 small. I kept a small one and gave the other one away. Strange as this may sound the small division is pretty much caught up to the the large one in term of growth. I think your Garden Treasure will make a stunning show in maybe not this spring but the following one. The itohs do sulk a bit the first year transplanted as they rebuild roots. But they will come around the second year and you will certainly be rewarded a spectacular show in the third year.

Liz, I may also fertilize it after pruning just to help it a bit.

I cut all my itohs back usually in August. By then, here in the south, the bush is pretty ragged. I just think the weather this fall was wet and in the 70s and the plants loved it. Once the bloom is over, I will cut back again. It is in the high 20s and low 30s at night here.

Oh heck. You're right Karen. I have no idea how I got derailed from Bartzella to Garden Treasure. lol. Well they are similar in appearance.

The bloom has been open for several days now.









Blooming for 3 days now. Beautiful bloom, but small compared to spring blooms. Wonderful surprise for December.

Nice! Unusual pink color for Singing in the Rain. Gary, you are so lucky to have time between peony blooms twice shorter!

Amazing! A Peony blooming in December!! I would be so excited.
Congrats!!

If you are on FB you should go post this on the Planet Peony page.