Tree Peony: Sahohime or "Princess Saho"

Flower Color:Blush-white petals and double form.

Bloom Time: Late Spring/Early Summer for 2 to 3 weeks.

Mature Size: 3-5' tall and wide.
Uses: Perennial bed, shrub border, hedge or as an accent or specimen plant.
Hardiness: Zones 4-9

Large, blush-white blossoms are the main feature of this Tree Peony. Blossoms are large, about 8-inches across. Sahohime blooms in late spring to early summer for 2 to 3 weeks, depending on the weather. When the temperatures are cooler, the blossoms last longer.

Tree Peonies are slow growing, but very hardy plants. Unlike regular peonies, Tree Peonies are actually woody plants with stiff stems that don't die back over the winter. They grow like a typical garden shrub, albeit slowly. Tree Peonies often will bloom the first year they are planted. And each year as the plants grow larger, they produce more blossoms. A mature plant (5 to 10 years old) can produce over one hundred flowers!

The plant can grow up to 5-feet tall and wide, depending on the conditions in which it's grown. In nothern climates, it will take a number of years to reach this size. In warmer climates where there is a longer growing season, it will reach mature size sooner than in the north. The foliage on a tree peony has pointy leaves in a greyish-green color, often with reddish stems. The shrub has a full, mounded shape that is attractive even when not in bloom.

We've found that the rabbits, mice and deer leave tree peonies alone! Yippee! They are also very easy to grow. They grow best in full sun (at least 6 hours each day), in average, well-drained garden soil (high organic matter always helps). Tree Peonies are very winter hardy to Zone 4. They also grow well in warm climates to Zone 9. Very long-lived plants.

What you'll receive: 1-year, field-grown, grafted plants with 6 to 8-inch long stems, shipped bareroot (no soil or pot) and dormant (no foliage). Learn more about our plants.

Shipping: $0-$75=$12.00, $75.01-$125=$15, $125.01-$200=$20, >$200=10% of total. Shipped UPS Ground in spring from early April through mid May.

[Catalog #FS78]

Tree Peonies do best in a sunny to partly shady site, in average, well-drained, evenly moist garden soil that has a neutral pH. Space plants 3-feet apart for a hedge. Tree Peonies rarely need pruning, except to maintain a desired shape and size or to remove damaged canes.

Our Tree Peonies are grafted plants. Plant the graft union 4 to 6 inches below the soil surface as shown in the photo to the right. This helps the plant develop its own roots in addition to the grafted roots.  The graft union looks like a bulge on the main stem just above the roots.  After planting, only an inch or two of the woody stem may show above the ground. So, be sure to mark where you planted it!

Tree Peonies are slow-growing plants that reach mature size in 5 to 10 years. Try not to transplant them, as this will slow their growth as they reastablish their roots in the new location. Tree Peonies can live up to 100 years or more!

Soil: Tree peonies tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, but do best with soil that’s high in organic matter to help provide the nutrients needed for blooming.  Add compost or rich, black soil to the soil mix used in the planting spot.

Fertilizing: Don’t add fertilizer right after planting.  Wait a month and then use a well-balanced, natural or organic granular fertilizer applied to the soil surface.  Follow the instructions on the fertilizer package.  Also add a shovel full or two of compost around the base of the plant to add organic matter, improve soil structure and provide slow-release nutrients.

• More growing tips

What's a "bareroot" plant?

"Bareroot" is a term that describes how a plant is shipped to you. A bareroot plant is not in a pot, and is usually dormant (not actively growing). See the photo to the right that shows what a bareroot Tree Peony looks like. The bareroot plants that we ship to you were harvested in the fall and placed in cold storage over the winter to keep them dormant. In the spring, we ship the bareroot plants to our customers, from early April through mid May.

Bareroot plants are easy to grow. We include planting instructions with your order. When you receive your plant, take it out of the packing material and place it in a bucket of water so that the roots are completely covered. Let the roots soak for 4 to 24 hours, then plant it in your garden. Full planting instructions with photos are available on our Planting Roses page.