Paeonia suffruticosa Xue Ta

Paeonia suffruticosa 'Xue Ta', sometimes marketed as 'Snowy Pagoda' or 'Jing Yu', named after its Chinese creator, is one of the most refined tree peonies.  This variety stands out with truly exquisite flowers that are large, round, well-filled, beautifully formed, long-lasting, subtly coloured, and delicately scented. Elegantly displayed, sometimes crowned, or in the shape of a lotus or anemone, they go from creamy white to pure white while maintaining a pink glow at the centre which gives them a unique personality. This bush, in full bloom in early May, offers a breathtaking sight at maturity, deserving a prime location in the garden. It is not only a beautiful plant, but no more difficult to grow than a perennial Chinese peony.

The 'Xue Ta' tree peony, introduced in 1978, is a beautiful descendant of the Paeonia suffruticosa or tree peony, native to central China. This extraordinary species, cultivated for about 1500 years in China and two centuries in Europe, has given rise to numerous cultivars with single or double flowers, in all colours except true blue. The wild form, very enigmatic, has never been formally identified. In contrast to herbaceous peonies, Paeonia suffruticosa produces a woody framework with one or more small trunks, and sparsely branched knotty branches that persist all year round, like shrubs. Its foliage is deciduous, emerging in spring and falling in autumn, often taking on beautiful hues at the end of the season. All these plants, originating from the Far East, are very hardy. They belong to the family of Ranunculaceae. 

'Xue Ta' slowly forms a sparsely branched, upright and rounded bush, reaching about 1.30 m (4ft) - 1.40 m (5ft) in height and 1.10 m (4ft) in width under favourable growing conditions. The short, upright, very rigid, brownish, somewhat knotty branches bear an abundance of deeply dissected, undulate, lanceolate-shaped leaflets, strongly veined, reddish at budburst, quickly turning fairly dark green on the upper side with violet tints, and more glaucous underneath. 

The abundant flowering of this 'Xue Ta' variety lasts for about 3 weeks in April-May, in the middle of the tree peony season, earlier or later depending on the climate and the year. A 3-year-old plant will produce a single flower in the first year, but 50 after 20 years of cultivation, and well over 100 at an advanced age. It starts with very large, solitary, rounded buds that appear at the end of reddish shoots in late winter. They open into very double corollas, borne upright or horizontally, measuring 16cm (6in) in diameter and 9cm (4in) in depth. Their shape varies but often consists of a row of flat, thin, soft outer petals topped with numerous long, narrow, slightly dentate petals, mixed with a few stamens. The base of these numerous small petals is flesh-coloured pink. The heart of the flower, more or less visible through the petals, is tinged with red-pink. At full bloom the flower is almost white. The fragrance is pleasant but light. These flowers are pollinated by insects. The fruits are green, five-loculed capsules that dry and open to release round, black, shiny seeds.

The tree peony is not a plant for impatient gardeners. It takes its time, but years of patience are rewarded with the fabulous spectacle created by this opulent shrub laden with huge flowers, albeit somewhat ephemeral in spring. In the garden, the 'Xue Ta' tree peony will be sumptuous as a solitary specimen against a wall, in the foreground of a hedge or in a bed, under tall trees, but always sheltered from winds and in a bright, airy location. Its dreamy flowers will be enhanced by those of other red, purple, pink, or mauve peonies, or early-flowering China roses such as Old Blush or Tess of The d'Ubervilles. This variety also pairs well with other perennials such as garden irises, columbines, perennial geraniums, or bellflowers. You can also create magnificent bouquets with its sumptuous flowers.