With so many different types of plants, shrubs, flowers, or trees available, it can be difficult to decide which ones you should plant in your backyard. The tree peony is a popular choice nowadays since it’s a non-dominant shrub that only grows about 3 meters.

If you have decided to add these plants to your home, here are six tips for planting tree peony seeds.

Tip 1: Get The Tree Peony Seeds From A Reputable Source

First, we need to focus on getting the right type of tree peony seed. There are a lot of online stores out there that sell all kinds of seeds, but they’re not always the best quality.

That is why it is so important to find a reputable source; otherwise, even if you invest time and money into growing a tree peony from seed, it will ultimately fail because of the bad seed.

So, do your research beforehand to find a reputable store for seeds or other garden-related products. Remember, it’s also possible to harvest the seeds yourself if there are tree peonies in your area.

Extra tip: Soak the seeds in water for one or two hours before planting them.

Tip 2: Use A Seed-Starting Pot

With the tree peony seeds ready, it’s time to get the equipment. 

It’s best to use a simple seed-starting pot; one around 10cm to 12cm (4-5 inches) is good enough. Make sure it has enough holes in the bottom for proper drainage.

Next, once the pot is filled with a garden mix, you can drop in the tree peony seeds. And again, pour some garden mix to cover them. Or, you can make holes in the soil and add the seeds directly into the hole. 

Note: Only one seed per hole!

Tip 3: Don’t Overwater

Once the tree peony seeds are planted, you will need to water them regularly to keep the soil moist at all times. Although you have to be careful of overwatering as this can quickly kill your seedlings. Dry soil can also cause problems.

Tip 4: Remove Any Rotting Seeds

You planted several seeds in one pot for a good reason. Not all of them will succeed. So, check on the tree peonies daily and make sure to remove any rotting seeds

Tip 5: Tree Peonies Will Germinate After 4-12 Weeks

Depending on factors like temperature, moisture, and sunlight, the tree peony seeds will start germinating between the 4th and 12th week. We suggest that you keep them indoors, at least until they begin to sprout. 

Tip 6: Separate The Seeds After They Sprout

Once the roots start to show up over the soil, it’s time to separate the seedlings into different pots. You can use any smaller but deep enough pot to fit the roots and use any kind of potting soil mix you have.

Final Words

By following the tips in this guide, you’ll indeed have several seedlings ready to be potted or planted outside in the spring. Once they get their first leaves out, ensure they get enough sun throughout the first couple of weeks and keep the moisture high.

After two or three seasons, you should see flowers sprouting.

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Author’s Bio

Tony Manhart is the founder and editor in chief at Gardeningdream. Tony’s enthusiasm and rich experience in all things related to growing plants have led him to share his knowledge with gardening aficionados all over the world. When he is not working around his garden, Tony spends his time writing tips and tricks on various subjects related to plant cultivation and soil maintenance.

Editor’s note: It’s also important to keep in mind that peony seeds need a warm-cold-warm temperature sequence to break dormancy and start growing. More information about that sequence can be found on the site.