(Also known as 'Niigata Akashigata'.) When these large, semidouble blooms first open, they are the color of pink champagne with reddish purple highlights in the centers. As they mature, the petals lighten to a pale pastel.

The Tree Peony is one of the most glorious shrubs known to horticulture. Its huge, silky flowers are similar to those of herbaceous Peonies. Mature plants reach 4–5ft and carry up to 50 of these exquisite blooms. Tree Peonies grow best in full sun or partial shade (required in the South and warm areas of western Zone 9) and evenly moist but well-drained soil with a pH close to neutral. We ship 3-year-old, grafted, 12–18in bareroot plants. They take a year or two to show what they can do. Hardy, disease- and (best of all) deer-resistant.