I have an opportunity to buy a couple of seed grown woody peonies...but I am not sure what is a reasonable price. One is a Rockii, would that be more? They are smallish in quart pots. I am told these are fragrant, but everyone detects scent differently.

Sounds fun, Annie.

The APS seed program just opened yesterday. It's for members only, but you might want to try to grow from seeds yourself.

https://americanpeonysociety.o...


Page 8 has the woody peonies.

Tree peonies have very strong scent/smell: they make beetles go completely crazy.

I think you are aware peonies propagated from seed don't stay true to form, so you may get something that looks pretty different from the parents. Also are those grafted? Tree peonies usually are.

Annie, I bought some woody peony seedlings from a grower and they were 3 for $60 in 2019. Parentage is unknown.

They haven't bloomed yet but they are all coming up this Spring.

Annie, I was trying to germinate tree peony seeds for 3 or 4 years. I am still trying, but it did not work out for me so far. I suggest to try with something cheap for a first batch or two. They germinate more easy when plucked right from tree peony and the color of the seed is just changing and the outer peel did not harden too much. I am amazed that some are having such luck in germinating them because for me it was such an embarrassment with my growing skills.

These are some of my seedlings from 2 years ago since I was away, stuck in Sydney, last year so I am not sure how many survive, will find out in a few weeks Have about 10 bags going on a heating mat, Will post a picture later.

Congrats Oscar. It will be fun to watch them.

It looks you are having fun with them, Oscar! Do you have a pollination program or collect on a whim?

Quart pot seedling tree peonies shouldn't be that expensive, I'd think less than $40. I've purchased larger seedlings before that had already bloomed so were a known commodity, those were around $100 from The Tree Peony Garden when she was open. As far as Rockii being more expensive I don't see why, they are more hardy to cold but you wouldn't care about that! Unless they've bloomed and proven to be unique I'd think they'd be around the same price. Maybe if the parents were proven to have nice seedlings?

Alex, the first tree peony seeds I planted were from the APS seed program. I planted them outside in a shady spot and just left them alone, I had seedlings germinate and emerge over the next 4 years. Crazy, huh? The few that survived our CO weather are in AL now, hopefully I'll see them in a few weeks.

Liz, I think rockii peonies grow much slower than other woody peonies, that's why they are more expensive.

I've heard Rockii are more difficult to graft.

I have Rockii seedlings grown from APS seed and a member here, they germinated the same as the others and didn't seem to grow any slower. None of mine have made it to bloom yet though. The seedlings in the OP were young, haven't bloomed yet. If I were selling and there was no different effort and unproven blooms I'd sell for the same price. Actually I'd probably never sell if they haven't bloomed, I'd be too curious about what the flowers would look like!

I've not tried grafting at all so have no clue about that yet!

Rockii tree peonies germinate no more difficult than any other. The timeline on seed to bloom on rockiis in my experience and from experiences I have heard of growers is faster than say, suffruticosa. Those suffruticosas can take 7 years as I have found out first hand. Of course though, seeing that first bloom is well worth it. Once you reach that second year in growing that seedling, I feel you are in the clear and all you need to do is wait patiently for flowering!

As for price to pay, I have given a way seedlings that size that were unbloomed. Now if it is blooming sized, having bloomed, that price would go up to at least $40 would imagine. It all depends on what you find worthwhile.

My Rockiis are not growing slower than other TPs. perhaps they are growing faster.

AlexUnder said:It looks you are having fun with them, Oscar! Do you have a pollination program or collect on a whim?

I do pick and choose but there no science to it,I just don't have the year. I am happy with any things that makes it


Some of the seeds I have going this year,another few days on the heat mat,Monday they go into the fridge till about may

Oscar, it looks you are way deeper in hybridizing than me. In the last couple of years I was just trying to germinate the seeds that were given to me for free.

Found a place that has both woody (seed grown) and species peonies, decided to order here...15% off $19(per plant) at Arrowhead Alpines. They are well reviewed in the green pages and I decided to take a chance. When I asked about their fragrance via facebook, they said these had lovely fragrance. Shipping is reasonable even across the US.

I've actually visited Arrowhead Alpines, my MIL/FIL used to live in Fowlerville. Very pretty nursery, didn't purchase anything on my visit but it was in late summer, don't remember seeing any peonies in the ground but it was 20 years ago!

I actually ordered a "Paeonia suffruticosa ssp rockii" from Arrowhead Alpines on 2015. The plant arrived at March and very small leave bud, and died at June and never got a leave. The shipping fee is $15, plus the plant, a total of $34.

I complained to them, but didn't get any reply or replacement.
So I would not recommend them.

Is this Arrowhead Alpines? Cannot see peonies
https://arrowheadalpines.com/s...