Some Paeonia plants are grown for the size, colour and scent of the flowers. This picture caught my attention with the dark red leaves on the three year old tree turning a magenta red offset by the orange red of the Geum Mrs J Bradshaw. Tip Select your Geums with care as many of the 50 species are weeds called Avens.

Tree Paeonies make handsome shrubs up to 6 feet high with very large decorative flowers. A couple of varieties have AGM including the large yellow flowered Paeonia Lutea ludlowii and Paeonia delavayi with crimson flowers are attractive anthers.
Various named varieties can be found in shades of pink, yellow and red and have deeply cut leaves. Look out for the fragrant ‘Souvenir de Maxime Cornu’ or the double yellow Chromotella.
Protect young plants from severe frost but mature specimens will be reasonably hardy.