Tree Peonies can be massively tempermental I have found and it apparently takes them quite a while to settle down after being planted bareroot , as can herbaceous peonies. Worth it for the flowers though i think.

You could try giving them a feed of high potash food such as tomato food as you say they have put on a large amount of lush growth but no flowers.

I wouldnt give up with them just yet.

How big are your 'good size' pots Martha? A tree peony gets to a considerable size before it flowers...

One reason and the most common reason, according to the Peony nurseryman I was talking to recently, for peonies failing to flower is because they have been planted too deep. The top of the crown needs to be only about 2 inches below the surface. Don't know if that applies to you.

I think there is conflicting advise on the depth of planting tree peonies. I was told to plant,by the specialist nursery that i got it from, my tree peony so that the graft union was well below the surface much like you would with a clematis. This was to ensure that the scion developed good roots of its own.

Your info applied to Peonies Inverglen but not to Tree Peonies which need deeper planting. A Tree Peony can easily take 5 or 6 years to reach flowering size.

Monpairen you may find the information on the Kelways website useful copy and paste the link below into your browser

http://bit.ly/kvKvTe

The ancient label on my tree peony says and I quote 'the grafted section of the plant should be at 6 cms BELOW the soil line. In cold areas protect with straw or mulch ( possibly means the graft area).Fertilise in August. Best in open sunny location. I have read some good stuff on here about pruning them too....they do not need to be huge to give good flower. No more than 3 good branches should be adequate.

I'd have said 8cm Dorjac but otherwise totally agree. Though B. and I allow ours to put up as many stems as they like :-) Oh and invariably forget to fertilise lol!

I was going to prune my tree peony Moon grower but stayed the loppers. Poor thing was dragged out of its pot 3 years ago for not flowering properly. Then the drought we have had in Essex for months on end meant only six flowers this year. It is possible some plants grow better in some gardens than others.

Yes I think tree peonies and rhododendrons are happier in our cooler, damper northern climes. I know we can grow some alpines that our friends in the south of England really struggle with.

thanks to all of yous ill try some of these hints