Schizophrenic Tree Peony
20 May 2010 17:58:51
tree peony 2009********tree peony 2010
Now I don't blame you if you don't believe me on this one but here's the story.
Last year, for the first time, my 2nd tree peony flowered. Unfortunately I don't know its name (I know the name of the 1st tree peony that has never flowered as luck would have it). The 2nd tree peony was in the ground for about 2 years before it flowered in 2009.
To tell the truth, I was quite disappointed with its single pink flower. Some of my herbaceous peonies are a lot prettier and I was wondering why I had bought such a plain one but, as I couldn't find the label, I accepted it in good grace....
This year I noted buds on the same tree peony but was more excited about my herbaceous peony buds. Until this morning...
I wandered over to the part of the garden where this tree peony resides and was gob smacked by the beauty that greeted me. A fabulous double white flower with delicate pink flecks in the centre. Now that looks more like what I would have bought!
Now, I have not made a mistake. This is the same tree that produced the pink flower last year (see left of photo merge) and this year it has produced a beauty (right of photo merge).
I suppose that the more sumptuous bloom was grafted onto less extravagant root stock. There are other buds on the tree so I will have to wait and see if I actually get both types of flower on the same plant this year! What a surprise!