Non flowering Paeonia tenuifolia

[Tristan_He]

Hi there, I'm looking for advice on this. The plant is in a sloping area of the rockery with a good depth of soil. It was planted there when youngish (I bought it as an immature plant at the AGS Kendal show in 2016 I think) and is growing fine.... but no flowers! It is in good light with a northwesterly aspect.

I am now thinking that it's probably best to move it because this is quite a valuable spot which I don't want to waste on a non flowering specimen. But should I wait another year...? If I move it, what sort of location would give the best chance of flowers?

Thanks, Tristan

[Maggi Young]

The best  Paeonia tenuifolia I  have  ever  seen were  in a  Czech garden, in full sun, being  roasted  in the  heat  - they  were  FABULOUS! Those  with good  flowering  clumps  in the  UK seem to have  them in very  warm spots.   Rob and  Jackie  at  Potterton's have  some  good  ones - may  be  worth asking  them exactly where  they have  it.

[brianw]

I have 2 plants of this Paeonia. 1 grown from seed from Nargs a number of years ago. It is in a 9" pot and no doubt very neglected as it is I think dated 2006. It has very fine leaves but rarely flowers. Another bought from a now closed nursery ~3-4 years ago, but planted out, is much larger and flowers profusely but has much less finely divided leaves. I expect this says more about my treatment than anything but different forms may be better than others for flowering.
How many forms/sub-species of the plant are recorded?

[Gail]

I bought 2 seed-raised young plants with me to Norfolk, planted one in what is basically builders' rubble by the front door - south facing, the second one is planted in decent soil but round the back where it doesn't get much sun. The one in full sun is a nice compact plant and flowered, the one at the back is twice as tall but no flowers... (leaves much the same)

[ArnoldT]

My P. tenuifolia get full sun for 7-8 hours.  The heat does shorten the flowering period.

[David Nicholson]

Some of this information might be helpful

http://peonies.org/P_tenuifolia.html

[Tristan_He]

OK, thanks everyone, that's brilliant. I'll move it somewhere it gets cooked in summer (at least so far this is possible). Actually we have quite a thin soil so there are a few suitable places I think. Will report back!

[Hannelore]

My P. tenuifolia stands on a place with many gravel and a little bit of clay in full sun all the afternoon. It has never had stalks but flowering ones.


It lookes a bit weird because we hat more than 20 l rain since yesterday 5 pm   

Hannelore

[ruweiss]

I remember about a lecture by a Russian Rockgardener (cannot remember the name anymore) at the
last International Czech Conference in Pruhonice. A very impressive picture showed a wide steppe, covered
with thousands of  Paeonia tenuifolia plants, for me an unforgettable sight. At some places in the Pruhonice Park
dry places were planted with seedlings of this plants and the gardeners hope, that they will develop a solid population
there.
Today I phoned with Vojtech Holubec and mentioned this thread. He told me, that he also found many of these
plants at the Iguepi Steppe near Gori in Georgia, Russia. Beside the usually colored flowers were some lighter
and darker, even in white.
Hope, this will give some suggestions for the cultivation of this fine plant.

[Catwheazle]

My two tenuifolia (different clones) are also on a south-facing slope, dry. Full sun.
Soil is loamy gravel that dries very quickly.
But my plants seem to have huge roots.
They bloom very well.

Bernd