You’ll catch the scent before you see the bloom — a soft, lingering fragrance rising from flowers nearly 10 inches across, in deep inky tones that justify every bit of this variety’s poetic name. “Inky Crown Jade Pearl” (*Paeonia suffruticosa*) is a rare Chinese tree peony with roots in centuries of cultivation, and it behaves nothing like the herbaceous peonies you may have grown before.
This is a woody shrub that keeps its structure year-round, ultimately reaching 5–6 feet tall and wide over decades — potentially a century or more. Shipped as a 2–3 year old bare root plant at 10–29 inches, it blooms May through June in part shade; afternoon shade is essential, not optional. Hardy in zones 4–9, it tolerates harsh winters and hot summers with ease once established, developing genuine drought tolerance over time.
Water deeply but infrequently — soggy roots are the primary cause of failure. Feed with composted manure in spring and fall. Watch for botrytis in wet springs and remove any affected tissue promptly.
Plant it where you intend to keep it. This peony outlives gardens.
🍂 Shipping & planting window
Peonies ship in fall (September–November) when fully dormant and bare root. This is the only window we ship.
Fall planting gives roots a full season to establish in warm soil before winter. Cold stratification triggers strong, healthy spring growth and reliable bloom production. Spring-shipped peonies experience root damage during active growth, transplant shock during their bloom cycle, and often lose an entire growing season.
📍 Local pickup available year-round in Bellevue, WA.
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