Tree peonies and herbaceous peonies are crossed to produce intersectional peonies, commonly referred to as Itoh peonies. These hybrids have leaves and flowers that resemble their tree peony parent. The growth patterns, however, are similar to their herbaceous parent, with the plant withering to the ground in the winter and sprouting green in the spring. Although the plants have some woody structure, they don’t rise far above the surface. They grow best and produce an adequate amount of flowers in full sun, just like its herbaceous parent, but they also do well in shaded light.
On sturdy, short branches that do not need staking, a mature intersectional peony will produce 50 or more blossoms that are the size of dinner plates. Near the end of the herbaceous peony bloom, they reach their pinnacle. Each plant can bloom for three to four weeks at a time, with new buds continuously forming during this time. They come in a variety of yellows and golds, colors that are uncommon in herbaceous peonies, and can be used as cut flowers. On average, intersectional peonies reach a height of 2.5 feet. They look great in the front of the perennial border because of their compact design. They can flourish in zones 3-9. Nicely formed plant, lovely huge flowers, unique yellow-bronze color option, no staking needed.
What distinguishes peony from Itoh?
Itoh peonies, which are hybrids of herbaceous and tree peonies, thrive in a variety of conditions and have magnificent foliage, enormous blooms, and a wide range of color options. In Zones 4–9, hardy.
If you delve deeper into the magnificent beauty of the Itoh peony, you’ll find an inspirational tale of tenacity. An Itoh peony is produced by crossing a typical garden peony (Paeonia lactiflora) with the eye-catching tree peony (Paenoia suffruticosa). For many years, plant breeders believed that because these two peony kinds have such dissimilar parents, a successful hybrid of them would not be possible.
Toichi Itoh, a Japanese plantsman, worked tirelessly to complete this cross. Itoh made this pursuit his life’s work and succeeded in 1948 by breeding the tree peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Kakoden’) with the herbaceous peony (Paenoia x lemoinei). 36 plants were born from the productive cross. Nine of those plants exhibited tree peony traits and were dubbed Itoh peonies or Itoh Hybrid peonies. Intersectional peonies and intersectional hybrids are occasionally mentioned. These plants are Itoh peony subspecies.
There were so few Itoh peonies available when they were originally made available to the public and presented to the nursery industry that the cost of one plant exceeded $1,000. The lengthy process of raising these plants to the point where they could produce divisions was reflected in the expensive price tag. The cost of Itoh peony has decreased to between $50 and $100 per plant thanks to the use of tissue culture techniques, which multiply them more quickly.
Because they produce flowers and foliage that resemble tree peonies on a plant that acts like a perennial, Itoh peonies are worth paying any price for. Each year, when the first frost hits, the plant dies back to the soil, and the next spring, fresh growth appears from the ground. This puts an end to concerns about a tree peony’s bloom buds on woody stems being damaged by a late spring frost.
When an Itoh peony’s flower buds open, they reveal big, tree peony-type blooms that are dinner-plate size and come in a variety of colors, including golds and yellows that are less common in herbaceous peony varieties. Despite the huge bloom heads, there is no need to anchor the plants because they have sturdy stems similar to those of a tree peony. A mature Itoh peony has a blooming season that can yield up to 50 blossoms.
The Itoh peony group achieves its optimum bloom time while the herbaceous peony group is completing. Itoh peonies often begin flowering when herbaceous peonies are in bloom. There is a strong, protracted floral display because many Itoh peony plants generate flowers from secondary buds that develop beneath the first flower. Three to four weeks are a luxuriously long flowering period for each Itoh peony plant.
In the garden, Itoh peony hybrids have strong resistance to powdery mildew, which afflicts herbaceous peonies, and botrytis blight, which frequently affects tree peonies. They are also deer-resistant. The Itoh peony group has blossoms that create excellent cut flowers, just like its peony progenitors. Itoh peony typically reach heights of 2 feet and a width of 3.5 feet.
What distinguishes a peony from an Itoh peony?
In nurseries, peonies are available as potted plants as well as bare roots for planting. Peonies are available as bare roots for planting both in the fall and in the spring from online merchants including Holland Bulb Farms and Tulip World. Bare root peonies planted in the spring should develop that summer, but blooms won’t likely show until the following spring. There is no need to be concerned if you have to wait a year or two for blooming because peonies have a lengthy lifespan of up to 75 years or more.
In any sunny garden bed or border, both herbaceous and Itoh hybrid peonies have a place and a purpose. The strength of the stems, the hues of the blooms, and the timing of the blooms are the key variations between the two. The Itoh hybrids bloom a little later in spring and have a tendency to have a longer bloom time than the herbaceous peonies, which bloom earlier in the season. Plant both herbaceous and Itoh hybrids to extend the bloom period if you really love peonies and have the room. The most typical hues of herbaceous peonies are pink, red, white, yellow, and peach. Although itoh hybrids are also available in variations of those hues, the variety of hues visible in the blooms is higher than that of herbaceous peonies, which tend to have more uniform hues. You can enjoy the beautiful, fragrant flowers of Itoh hybrids and herbaceous peonies for several weeks every spring for years to come by planting both varieties.
Do you prune peonies at intersections?
An intersectional peony can be pruned in one of two ways. The plant can be trimmed down completely to the ground or you can only remove a portion of it, leaving a few short stems with growth buds. It is preferable to trim the plant back to the ground in colder climates. These growth buds on the stems, however, can frequently survive the winter in the South because to our milder winters, just like the growth buds on the stems of tree peonies.
Although the first step is optional, seeing what I’m doing beforehand helps. I simply trim back some of the plant’s lower foliage so that I can see what I’m doing. This process is really simple. The leaf segment will come off rather easily if you locate the point where the leaf stem joins the main stem and apply a small amount of downward pressure to the leaf stem. For all of the stems and foliage you remove, keep a garbage bag nearby. Oftentimes, botrytis blight affects peonies. To prevent further diseases, it is therefore advisable to dispose of the old leaves rather than compost it.
You should prune the stems down to the first or second growth nodule above the earth on the plant with growth nodules if you wish to leave some short stems on it. At the stem/leaf junction, a pink growth bud is typically visible. Just above this point on the stem, you should prune it. If a stem has no pink growth buds, you can prune it all the way to the ground, being careful to cut above any pink growth buds that may be present at the stem’s base.
You’ll have a short main stem and a leafy stem after removing the higher stem. Apply a little downward pressure to the leaf stem to remove any residual foliage on the pruned stem. The leaves and primary stem will be easily separated in this way. On each clipped stem, be sure to remove and discard any remaining leaves.
Till all the stems have been pruned, repeat this procedure on each of them. You will only be left with a few short sticks sticking out of the ground where your intersectional peony previously stood after all of the stems have been pruned back and all of the foliage has been gone.
You will be able to plant your instersectional peony over the fall, winter, and early spring knowing exactly where it will be because of this pruning technique, which involves leaving short stems. You won’t unintentionally tread on it, dig into it, etc. this manner. However, intersectional peonies can be pruned back all the way to the ground if you live in a colder region where these growth buds probably won’t survive anyhow or you want a neater look after trimming.
It’s absolutely acceptable to prune your intersectional peony all the way back to the ground if you need to or want to. Once established, intersectional peonies are exceedingly resilient, and they will unquestionably grow back if clipped to the ground. To avoid damaging the basal growth buds, just be sure to make your incisions gently.
You can see where the stems and the crown of your intersectional peony meet at the base if you look there carefully. You will probably notice some pink growth buds close to the base of most stems and on the crown if you have your peony planted even with the soil surface (ideally you do if you are a Southern peony gardener!).
Make sure to keep these pink growth buds when you trim your intersectional peony stem back to the ground. Therefore, if the stem’s base has a pink growth bud, make your incision immediately above it. Don’t cut or smash any more growth buds that are at the plant’s base either. Up until the crown and pink growth buds are all that are left, keep trimming each of the plant’s stems.
You’re done pruning your intersectional peony at this point. If you notice exposed pink growth buds, don’t be alarmed. This is advantageous for Southern peony growers! Avoid burying them or covering them with mulch or soil! For those growth buds to bloom properly in the spring, they need to be exposed to as much cold as possible over the winter. Thus, leave them exposed. If you don’t have one already, you might wish to place a plant marker close to your peony. So that you won’t trip over it or cause harm to it during the winter, you’ll know exactly where it is.
What three varieties of peony are there?
About 30 species of flowering plants in the family Paeoniaceae make up the genus peony (genus Paeonia), which is distinguished by its enormous, spectacular flowers. The majority of these species are produced as ornamentals and for the flower industry, with the exception of two that are native to Europe and Asia.
Peonies can be divided into three different types: herbaceous Eurasian peonies, Asian tree peonies, often known as moutan peonies, and North American peonies. The perennial herbaceous peonies can reach heights of approximately one meter (about 3 feet). They feature broad, glossy leaves with numerous divisions that grow on annual stems made by fleshy rootstocks. They produce enormous single and double flowers in the colors of white, pink, rose, and deep crimson throughout the late spring and early summer. The majority of the well-known garden peonies are descendants of the fragrant Chinese peony (P. lactiflora) and the European common peony (P. officinalis). P. lactiflora has produced hundreds of cultivated varieties, including Japanese forms with a cluster of partially developed petals in the center and one or two rows of petals on either side (petaloid stamens).
How is an intersectional peony cared for?
Plant peonies as close to the sun as possible on fertile ground that has been enhanced by adding garden compost or well-rotted manure. As long as the soil is not saturated in the winter and dried out in the summer, they will thrive on a variety of soils, including clay. They don’t require any winter protection because they are entirely resilient.
How are intersectional peonies planted?
Planting new intersectional peony plants requires spacing of 3 to 4 feet on center and a distance of 1.5 feet from any border or edge. Measure the space you have once the location has been chosen. Your calculations are straightforward if you are planting just one plant; if you are planning a larger garden, read down for our suggestions.
When planning your peony garden, keep the long term in mind; after maturing in around three years, they will thrive for decades with little maintenance.
Should Itoh peonies be pruned in the autumn?
It’s simple to add peonies to your landscape. In most areas, place plants in full light. Peonies planted in shadow in colder climates will have weak stems and fewer blossoms. Choose a location with afternoon shade if you live in a warmer climate or if springs are hot and dry. Plant in loamy soil that drains well or is average. Peonies prefer soil that is moist but not saturated with water. If necessary, add compost before planting.
Planting Steps for Herbaceous and Intersectional (Itoh) Peonies
- Select a location with well-drained soil that is far from any rival roots. Peonies grow well when given years of uninterrupted growth in the same spot.
- Create a hole that is the length of the roots and 12″ wide. Now is the time to fill the bottom of the hole with any compost. With the eyes (buds) facing up, plant the roots 1 to 2 inches beneath the surface of the soil. Plant them 2-3 feet apart if you’re planting more than one to give yourself enough room. The peony won’t bloom if it is planted too deeply. Visit our planting manual for a thorough explanation.
- Backfill the area surrounding the roots gradually, making sure there are no air pockets, and apply pressure to compact the soil.
- Once the plant is placed, water it gently all around. To control weed growth as well as the warmth and moisture of the soil, use a light mulch or chopped leaves. Unless it rains or there is a lot of moisture, water will be needed every day for 5 days in the morning or evening. Don’t overwater your plants or the roots may rot.
Planting Tree Peonies
Different from herbaceous and intersectional itoh peony, planting tree peonies.
- Select a location with well-drained soil that is far from any rival roots. If grown in the same spot for years without being disturbed, tree peonies thrive.
- Dig a hole about 2 feet deep, the length of the roots, and about 1 foot wide to accommodate the roots and leave some room for growth. Now is the time to fill the bottom of the hole with any compost. Plant them 2-3 feet apart if you’re planting more than one to give yourself enough room.
- Once the plant is placed, water it gently all around. When watering, wait until the earth has dried out or until it hasn’t rained. Water is necessary for tree peony to produce root growth, but too much water will cause them to decay.
Aftercare
Expect the roots of peony to produce 2–5 leaf shoots and 1-2 flowers in their first year of growth. Two years later, the plant is twice as big and has twice as many blooms. Peonies will be large and bushy, with loads of foliage and blooms, by their fourth or fifth year.
Staking
Itoh and tree peonies don’t need staking, but once established, the majority of herbaceous peonies produce large flowers that are frequently too heavy for their stems. You don’t have to stake them, but if you don’t, the result will be large, gorgeous blossoms that droop. Use peony rings to maintain their erect position after you have a healthy clump. The rings are simply wheel-shaped wire arrangements that rise above the peony when the plant emerges in the spring and resemble a small wire table. The peony ring is positioned with upright supports so that the shoots will push through the round wire bale. Of course, the foliage quickly covers the ring, and before the flowers even open, you have a gorgeously supported cluster. What stores carry peony rings? Gardeners Supply is something we advise.
Pruning/Trimming
After the blossoms have faded, cut off the spent flowers from herbaceous and (itoh) intersectional peonies at the point where the stem and foliage meet. For the balance of the growing season, leave the leaves alone. The leaves will first turn yellow before wilting as fall approaches and the weather cools. Trim back all leaves on herbaceous peonies to a height of about 3″ from the ground. As a result, the plant is kept neat and new growth can sprout without risking plant damage. Since itoh peonies are a hybrid of both herbaceous and tree peonies, they should be handled similarly in the fall. It is recommended to prune the plant once it has reached maturity so that the hard wood portion of the stem is left and the herbaceous portion is cut off. In order to distinguish between the hard wood stem and the herbaceous green stem when the leaves wither, it is recommended to leave peonies alone during their first year of growth. Itoh peony typically leave 4-5 inches of firm wood above ground when they are grown.
Different pruning methods are needed for tree peony. Just below the faded blossoms, cut the stem. Trimming the stem too much will prevent growth the next year. Next year’s woody branch will be formed from this year’s green shoots. So let the shrub alone in the fall rather than cutting it down to the ground. The optimum time to prune a mature tree peony if it needs to be shaped is shortly after it blooms. Don’t cut too much of the tree because doing so can seriously harm the plant.
Fertilizer
It’s not necessary to fertilize peonies every year. It is advisable to put them in a fertile environment. After peonies have blossomed every couple of years, spread bonemeal, compost, or well-rotted manure in the early summer.