Hi Liz. Me again. I am the one who separated the tree peony from the herbaceous root stock. When I took both out of the ground, it was obvious what was herbaceous and what was tree peony. All survived replanting. I can tell you all, the difference will be obvious which is tree and which is herbaceous. The look, grow, and appear completely different. If you have to ask yourself which it is, it is probably herbaceous. Anyway, if you pinch off the herbaceous growth, it hasn't solved the problem of planting the tree peony deeper. Frank, you need to separate the tree and herbaceous rootstock. The herbaceous will outgrow the tree and eventually kill it. If they have any roots at all on their own, they will survive the separation. Both tree and herbaceous peonies are very hearty.
