Imagine standing in your garden each May as blooms the size of dinner plates—8 to 10 inches across—open in soft, layered shades of pink. ‘Zhao Fen’ (Paeonia suffruticosa) is a rare Chinese tree peony with a presence unlike anything in the average garden: a long-lived woody shrub that grows 5 to 6 feet tall and wide, holds its stems above ground all winter, and can outlive you by generations.
Plant this 2-to-3-year-old bare-root shrub where it receives morning sun and afternoon shade—tree peonies scorch in full sun, unlike their herbaceous cousins. Water deeply but infrequently, letting soil dry 4 to 6 inches down between waterings; consistently wet roots are the primary cause of failure. Feed with composted manure in spring and fall. Hardy in zones 4–9, and drought tolerant once established. Blooms April–May with light-to-medium fragrance, no thorns, and no toxicity concerns.
This is a preorder for fall 2026—a rare opportunity to plant a slow-growing, century-spanning beauty while it’s still available.
🍂 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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