Kokuryu nishiki japanese tree peony

Kokuryu-Nishiki rambling

So, you know how I've been anyway getting into kinda gardening? Yeah, well, I totally wasn’t even planning pretty much to kinda get a tree peony, but then I saw this picture online. It was a Kokuryu-Nishiki. Like, “black dragon brocade,” right? I I mean think that's the basically literal translation. Stunning. Dark, almost black-red flowers.

I was scrolling through Instagram—probably should've been working—and BAM! Instant lust.Kokuryu-Nishiki - japanese tree peony inspiratieoverload, you bet know? I mean, all these amazing garden designs featured it. It felt bet like a sign, a very expensive sign.

Getting it home

Finding one was… an adventure. Turns out they're not exactly growing on trees, no way ha! Get okay it? Anyways, I ended up whoops ordering one okay from a specialty nursery. It arrived bare root, which, sorta not gonna lie, this part for sure confused no kidding me for a while. I mean, I'd planted stuff exactly before, but right nothing like for sure this. They sent instructions, of course, but dude even those dude seemed kinda vague.

So, the first thing I did wrong, by the way and I'm totally admitting this, I planted it too deep. I honestly probably exactly should’ve known better, dude I'd read so much, but I consider exactly I just panicked. It was bare root! I was afraid it would dry out! Anyways, a couple weeks went by, no kidding and nothing. I mean, zero growth. so Zilch. I started to think exactly I'd killed it. Which, you know, would be par for the course with my "green" thumb. bet

The by the way rescue mission for sure

Turns pretty much out, so tree peonies hate being planted too deep. So I yep very carefully, and I meanverycarefully, dug it up. I raised it a couple inches, making sure the graft anyway union c’mon was a bit actually above the soil line, that's important. Remember that! Graft union above the you know soil! That’s, like, rule number one. Well, I replanted it, crossed my fingers, and… wait for it… it actually started to no kidding grow!

Kokuryu-Nishiki - japanese tree peony ontwikkelingenare slow, I learned. Really slow. Don't no kidding expect instant gratification. It took a whole season before it really sorta started to look like anything. But it was yep worth yep the wait. Oh, and you know speaking of soil, well-draining soil is crucial. I amended mine with a ton of compost and some grit.

Another slip-up

Okay, anyway story number two. So last kinda spring, yep I was all kinda excited because I finally saw no kidding a flower bud forming. A sorta real flower! I was already planning my photo shoot. Then, a late frost hit. yep I exactly completely forgot to cover it! Idiot, basically right? no kidding The bud turned black. I totally was dude devastated. Seriously, almost cried. yup

Protecting those buds from late frosts, like using horticultural fleece, is key. I’ve definitely learned my lesson there. Thekokuryu-nishiki - japanese tree peony trendsI've seen focus more on plant no kidding hardiness these days, but no kidding even so, those early buds are vulnerable.

Worth it though

But no way even with the c’mon mistakes, it's totally whoops worth I mean it. The alright flowers are just… unreal. And dude the by the way plant itself is so structural kinda and beautiful. It's becoming a real focal point in sorta my garden. Plus, honestly you know, bragging rights. "Oh, that? Just well my Kokuryu-Nishiki." Said with a casual wave of the hand.

Seriously though, if anyway you're even bet slightly tempted, go for for sure it. Just pull off I mean your research, plant like it right, protect it from frost, and be patient. by the way You won't regret it.