tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa), photographi

How to Grow Tree Peony

Paeonia suffruticosa · Zones 4-8

Tree Peony is grown for its root. It's hardy across USDA zones 4 through 8 and stands up to deer. Its summer flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees, even though the root is the prize.

Tree Peony — the short answer

Tree Peony: grown in zones 4–8, part sun.

USDA zones
4–8
Not verified
Sun
Part Sun
We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.

Plant data: Growable Ground Plant Database, compiled from FAO ECOCROP, USDA PLANTS and university Extension sources — each tile names its own row's source, because per-field provenance varies.

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Score Tree Peony on your exact land.

Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether tree peony actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score tree peony against your land's real conditions.

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What Tree Peony is

Tree Peony reaches around five feet at maturity. It blooms in summer. It's also deer-resistant.

Mature height, bloom period and deer resistance: We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.

How to grow Tree Peony

Tree Peony grows in USDA zones 4 through 8. Tree Peony does best in part sun — at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.

USDA Zones

4-8

Not verified

Soil pH

Data pending

Sun

Part Sun

We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.

Drainage

Data pending

Mature Height

5 ft

We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.

  1. Sow directly

    Sow tree peony seed straight into the bed — root crops germinate fast and resent transplanting. Give them part sun. We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.

  2. Match the soil

    Pull a soil test from your local Extension lab to confirm pH and drainage match tree peony's needs before planting.

  3. Water steadily

    Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet. Match watering to the plant's drainage preference and your local rainfall.

  4. Harvest at maturity

    Pull while roots are young and tender — sweeter than oversized ones. Local Cooperative Extension guides publish timing tables.

Where Tree Peony thrives

Tree Peony is hardy across USDA zones 4 through 8. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.

A USDA zone is a 10°F band of average annual extreme winter minimum, so zones 4–8 spans average winter lows from -30°F to 20°F (USDA PHZM 2023). Across the 50 states and DC, that band covers 25 outright and splits 26 more down the middle — and which side of that line your land sits on changes the answer.

Zones 4–8 highlighted on the USDA national hardiness zone map

Zones 4–8·Where Tree Peony growsOpen map →

This map is derived from the USDA ARS / PRISM Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) and is not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

Where Tree Peony stands, state by state

Tree Peony is rated for zones 4–8 — a cold floor USDA puts at -30 to -20°F. Across the 50 states and DC, 25 sit fully inside that band, the line runs through 26 more, and 0 sit outside it — and inside every split state, the same line runs on at county grain.

Fully inside zones 4–8

25 states

3 of 25 shown

The line runs through

26 states

3 of 26 shown

Tree Peony’s band covers part of each of these states — which side of the line your county sits on changes the answer, and each state page draws it.

State zone extents: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PHZM) 2023. A zone is a 10°F band of average annual extreme minimum temperature, so a state that splits the band contains the boundary — its own page draws the county line, and a parcel report resolves which side your land sits on.

Good to know

One caution for pet owners — tree peony is toxic to dogs and cats (mild severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.

Tree Peony offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.

Your land is one point inside Tree Peony's range

This page resolves to the species. Your state page draws the county line, and a report reads the parcel — the soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost dates on your exact ground, which no species average can see.

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See if Tree Peony will thrive on your land

Zone averages are a start. Your soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether tree peony actually takes. We score it against the mapped and modelled conditions at your address.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

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How we know this about Tree Peony

The figures above are cited per row, not per site: the pH band names this plant’s own source column, the three temperature figures each carry their own, and days-to-maturity cites the publication that actually lists it. All of it comes from the Growable Ground Plant Database — a compilation over FAO ECOCROP, USDA PLANTS, and university Extension sources, published openly with per-field provenance.

Grounded inUSDA PLANTS Database

Frequently asked questions

Can I grow Tree Peony in my zone?

Tree Peony grows in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 8. Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.

When should you plant Tree Peony?

Time tree peony to your own season rather than the calendar. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.

How much sun does Tree Peony need?

Tree Peony does well in partial sun — around 4 hours of direct sun, and it takes some afternoon shade in stride. We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet. That flexibility makes it a good match for a bed the house or a nearby tree shades for part of the day. A Growable Ground report maps how the sun actually falls on your land, hour by hour, so you can set it where the light lines up.

What soil does Tree Peony need?

Specific pH data for tree peony is pending. A soil test from your local Extension lab confirms what your site needs.

Does Tree Peony attract pollinators?

Yes — tree peony's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees. We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.

Is Tree Peony safe for pets?

Tree Peony is toxic to dogs and cats with mild severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.