The Gardener's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Trees & Shrubs

Extrait :

PAEONIA LUTEA VAR. LUDLOWII
YELLOW TREE PEONY
Paeoniaceae
Deciduous
A handsome peony with yellow summer flowers.
Origin The basic form is from the Yunnan in China and the form P. l. ludlowii was collected in Tibet.
Use As a freestanding shrub on its own, or in medium-sized to large shrub borders.
Description Flower Medium-sized, 2-21/2in (5-6cm) across, golden yellow, saucer-shaped flowers, produced in terminal clusters in early summer. Foliage Leaves large, lobed and cut, pinnate, up to 8-10in (20-25cm) across, each leaflet 2-4in (5-IOcm) long. Light green to mid green, giving some yellow autumn colour. Stem Stout, upright, grey-green shoots with leaves borne at end, forming round, slightly spreading, large shrub. Maintained throughout winter. Medium to fast growth rate. Fruit Green fruit pods in late summer, early autumn which, when opened, contain 3-5 large, round fruits.
Hardiness Tolerates 14'F (-10'C).
Soil Requirements Most soils, showing chlorosis only on extreme alkalinity. Dislikes waterlogging.
Sun/Shade aspect Full sun to light shade.
Pruning Beginning 3-5 years after planting, remove one-third of oldest flowering shoots each year in early spring, to encourage new growth.
Propagation and nursery production From seed. Purchase container-grown. Moderately easy to find. Best planting heights 1-2ft (3Ci60cm).
Problems Young plants may be offered as a single shoot.
Varieties of interest P. delavayi Flowers blood red with golden stamens, supported on mid to dark green foliage. Shrubby, branching effect to one-third average height and spread. Rather hard to find from non-specialist sources. P. suffruticosa (Japanese Tree Peony, Mountain Peony) Large, double, cup-shaped flowers up to 6in (15cm) across, produced in midsummer in a range of colours from white through flesh pink, rose pink, red to dark red, or pale yellow to yellow, depending on variety. Foliage pinnate, 10in (25cm) long with leaflets 2-4in (5-10cm) long and two lobed, basal leaflets. Grey-green tinged with red, especially along veins. Upright in habit, spreading to form a goblet-shaped shrub with time. Rigid when young, drooping slightly with age. Young foliage may be damaged by spring frosts. Half average height and spread.
Average height and spread
Five years
5x6ft (1.5-2m)
Ten years
8xl3ft (2.5x4m)
Twenty years
or at maturity
12xl6ft (3.5x5m)

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