Paeonia suffruticosa Lu He Hong - Tree Peony

Paeonia x suffruticosa 'Lu He Hong' is an excellent variety of tree peony in every way. Vigorous and opulent, with a strong framework against the wind, it bears beautiful, fragrant flowers that resemble enormous roses. Its silky petals blend different shades ranging from bluish pink on the periphery to deep pink towards the center, passing through true pink. Its early spring flowering allows it to withstand dry summers, during which it rests with a certain serenity. This flowering shrub offers a breathtaking spectacle when mature. Give it a prime location in the garden, either as a specimen or at the forefront of a shrub border.

The tree peony 'Lu He Hong' is a Chinese horticultural hybrid that has the genes of Paeonia suffruticosa, native to central China.  This extraordinary species, cultivated for about 1500 years in China and two centuries in Europe, has given rise to numerous cultivars with single or double flowers, in all colours except true blue. The wild form has never been formally identified. In contrast to so-called herbaceous peonies, Paeonia suffruticosa produces a woody framework, one or more small trunks, and sparsely branched knotty branches that persist all year round like shrubs. Its foliage is deciduous, emerging in spring and falling in autumn, often taking on beautiful colours at the end of the season. All these plants, native to the Far East, are very cold-resistant. They belong to the family of Ranunculaceae.

'Lu He Hong' slowly forms a relatively branching bush with a rounded habit, reaching about 1.30 m (4ft) in height, slightly less in width, and even up to 1.50 m (5ft) in height under good growing conditions. The short, brownish, sturdy, and erect branches bear heavily dissected leaves with long lanceolate leaflets, toothed edges, smooth texture, and prominent veins. They are reddish when buds burst open, quickly turning dark green on the upper surface and occasionally tinged with purple, with a glaucous green underside. The foliage of this variety is very dense and ornamental even outside the flowering season.

The flowering of this 'Lu He Hong' variety takes place for 3 weeks in April, sometimes starting at the end of March, at the beginning of the tree peony season. A 3-year-old plant will bear a single flower in the first year, but 50 after 20 years of cultivation, and even more than 100 at an advanced age. It starts with very large solitary buds that appear at the end of reddish new shoots. They open into double, globular corollas, upright or horizontally carried, measuring up to 18 cm (7in) in diameter and 7 cm (3in) in depth. They are composed of multiple crumpled petals. The range of pinks includes lilac pink, dominant true pink, and deep pink towards the base. The centre of the fully open flowers is occupied by golden yellow stamens. The scent of the flowers is quite noticeable.

The tree peony is not a plant for impatient gardeners. It takes its time, but years of patience are rewarded by the fabulous spectacle created by this opulent shrub laden with huge flowers in spring. In the garden, the 'Lu Mu Ying Yu' tree peony will be sumptuous when planted against a wall, at the forefront of a hedge or in a border, under tall trees, but always sheltered from winds and in a bright and airy location. Its magnificent flowers will be enhanced by those of other white, pink, or mauve peonies, clusters of mauve or white lilacs, or early-flowering China roses (Old Blush). This variety also pairs well with other perennials that bloom before or after it, such as garden irises or campanulas.