Perhaps shocking , but indeed perplexing , too early sprouting of tree peonies!

I'd mentioned in the weather topic I'd guess, my concerns for some perennials breaking their dormancy much earlier than normal and the possible risks to the early growth as sometimes very cold weather returns even in mid spring here sometimes, and to my dismay after uncovering the container baby peonies , I can see the new shoots are growing already, and most likely will require me to uncover all now, so they can get the needed light, even though some brutally cold weather could kill the new shoots entirely. I will admit I've seen some really hard freezes hit late in the spring here a few times and those shoots that tend to sprout early in mid April here, seem to take the cold with no problem., but of course not nearly as cold as it could still get here in March, and perhaps a ten degree colder situation might be more than they could tolerate.  The option of course is too take a chance that growth will stay on "hold" for the next month or so til their normal sprouting season arrives, so they won't need to be uncovered from their leaves, or to hope for the best, but the worst alternative having to uncover and recover them constantly for the next month or so , just to be safe.  Much too much work in my mind, and I had a similarly irritating thing happen, when I had to move young seedlings to a makeshift cold frame one spring , when they outgrew their space indoors , and even had to put heavy blankets and a quilts on top of those many nights, since we were getting very hard freezes.  I'd call it a major headache that year, and don't wish to go through that with my young peonies.  Oh well--------------, but that's mother nature some years here in Michigan, and I would say those peonies are starting at least a month too early!

I don't know what to say in this case, as our peonies here are pretty frost tolerant and need no special treatments.

I'll agree that in general the peones seem to be very frost tollerant in most cases, but I'd guess there are some limits as to how cold ttemperatures must get before the cold can damage, them and just about every plant has a limit for cold tollerance, even the most cold tollerant of deciduous trees in some cases.  Mine thus far have tollerated temps dipping into the low twenties F or perhaps upper teens in some cases , but much colder than that.  It would not most likely kill the plants entirely , but all new growth for the season perhaps!  Hard to say, but after some effort at growing the very slow growing things, I guess I'll keep my eye on the thermometer perhaps and play it by ear! I did note though , some slight discoloration of the new leaves in those peones that got frozen even into May some years, though they grew just fine afterwords.

I can relate to your concern MrS.  My hostas which are very frost, cold tolerant plants but we have had late freezes that have made some very ugly hostas. 

I am not familiar with peony habit but hostas are all about the leaves.  Do the damage leaves effect the bloom quality? 

Yes, as the blooms form at the tips of the leaf stalks, if they freeze you won't have buds.

Thanks smurfboy, that is good to know.  I have not had any peony in 15 years I ripped out all that was running down the side of my old property because I had ants coming in the house.

I now have enough room to plant them further away from the house so I am going to try them again.

Aud, I'm so glad you're trying peonies again.  I have such appreciation for them since watching a flower documentary & discovering varieties that aren't the big pompom that flatten to the earth during a good rain.

 

MrSeedy, I'm sorry to hear that yours have emerged.  We are expecting a cold snap soon and I couldn't possibly cover everything.  shame

I am giving them a try Boo but the minute I start to get ants in the house they will be history.  I had such an infestation I had to call the exterminator.   Imagine sitting on your couch and 10 ants coming running out to greet you. 

Ah, Mr. Seedy, I was wondering the same thing.  I have 2 tree peonies and the buds seem to be swelling on them.  No actual leaves yet but I thought it was too early for them to break dormancy.   They're not seedlings like yours, but one of them is young and I was hoping to see the first bloom this spring.  But, wait, the tree-type bloom earlier than the herbaceous ones so maybe they're supposed to be waking up now??   Time will tell if the blooms have been damaged, I guess.