There’s something quietly extraordinary about watching a centuries-old flowering tradition unfold in your own garden. “Yao’s Yellow” (Yao Huang) opens to blooms measuring 8–9 inches across — soft yellow petals brushed with white, carried on woody stems that never die back to the ground. Unlike herbaceous peonies, this is a true tree peony: a living structure that remains upright through winter, eventually reaching 6–8 feet tall and 5 feet wide, and known to live a hundred years or more.
Plant in part shade — afternoon shelter is essential — in well-draining soil where sprinklers won’t reach. Water deeply only when the soil is dry several inches below the surface; consistently wet roots are the primary cause of failure. Fertilize with composted manure in spring and fall. Blooms arrive May–June with light to medium fragrance. Hardy from Zone 4–9, tolerating temperatures from -45°F to 113°F.
Ships as a 2–3 year old bare root plant, 10–29 inches, already bloomed. Plant the graft union at least 4 inches below soil level.
This is a — a worthwhile wait for a plant that outlives gardens.
🍂 Shipping & planting window
Peonies ship in fall (September–November) when fully dormant and bare root.
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.
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