Paeonia suffruticosa 'Lilith'

Search PlantFinder Names

Paeonia suffruticosa 'Lilith'

(0 ratings) --- Rate this plant / Read comments

Kemper Code: L410

Common Name: tree peony
Zone: 4 to 8
Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
Family: Paeoniaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: None
Height: 3 to 5 feet
Spread: 3 to 4 feet
Bloom Time: May
Bloom Color: Pink (single)
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium

Plant Culture and Characteristics

Sources for this plant

View our source(s)

Uses:		Wildlife:	Flowers:	Leaves:	Fruit:
Hedge	Suitable as annual	Attracts birds	Has showy flowers	Leaves colorful	Has showy fruit
Shade tree	Culinary herb	Attracts	Has fragrant flowers	Leaves fragrant	Fruit edible
Street tree	Vegetable	hummingbirds	Flowers not showy	Good fall color	Other:
Flowering tree	Water garden plant	Attracts	Good cut flower	Evergreen	Winter interest
Gr. cover (<1')	Will naturalize	butterflies	Good dried flower		Thorns or spines

General Culture:

Best grown in deep, fertile, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Tolerant of summer heat. Add compost as needed before planting. Larger shrubs appreciate some shelter from strong winds. Unlike herbaceous peonies, the stems of tree peonies (which are woody shrubs) do not die to the ground in winter and should not be cut back after frost. No pruning is required, except to cut out dead wood or suckers (early spring best). If plants become leggy, a moderate pruning in early fall can be done to shape and to encourage additional growth on the lower part of the plant. Remove spent flowers after blooming. These long-lived plants usually take several years to establish, and are best left undisturbed once planted. Moreover, plant roots go deep and transplanting can be difficult. Appreciates some winter protection in USDA Zone 4 and the colder areas of Zone 5.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

This tree peony cultivar is a deciduous, woody shrub that typically grows 3-5' tall with a 4' spread. Each single flower (6-8" across) features large, pink petals which surround a bushy center clump of yellow stamens. Blooms in spring (May in the St. Louis area). Medium green foliage is deeply divided into oval to lance-shaped leaflets and remains attractive throughout the growing season. This cultivar was originally introduced as 'Lady of the Lake.' (Gratwick).

Problems:

Tree peonies are considered to be relatively pest free. Some susceptibility to canker, leaf blight, stem wilt and scale. Ants on peony buds are common and totally harmless.

Uses:

Excellent in borders as specimens or in groups. Also effective as accents or hedges along fences, sidewalks, driveways or walls. Flowers are extremely showy, and foliage remains attractive throughout the growing season, either alone or as a frame or backdrop for other flowering plants.