Question
My tree peony has finally started to grow well and has bloomed (1 beautiful huge flower!)for the first time in 9 years. (We have more sun in our garden now that some huge trees have come down.) After the blooming, there are big hard looking seeds (?), 5 of them, where the flower was. Are these seeds? If so, what can I do with them? Grow 5 more tree peonies, I hope. Thanks.

Answer
Hi Judy,
Thanx for your question.  Yes, it sounds like seeds.  

It isn't so much that it is difficult to grow tree peonies from seed but that it takes such a long time to get a flowering plant.  Here's what you do.

1.  Harvest seed as soon as it is ripe.
2.  Plant in situ (in a spot out in the garden that you can protect from weeds and varmints) or plant in a pot of good potting soil and plant the black or dark brown seeds down about 1.5 inches deep.  Cover and keep moist.  They will not germinate until they have gone through a cold winter and sometimes it will take a year or more to germinate.  The thing is, they need a long period of cold temperatures.  The tree peony does not grow in zones warmer than zone 8.  You can also put the seed in a damp paper towel and place it inside of a plastic baggie and leave it in the refrigerator for 4-6 months.  Remove the seed and plant as described above.  
3.  When the seed germinates, it will only grow roots the first year and then go through the winter in a dormant state.  The next spring, new leaves will emerge from the soil.  Allow the seedling to grow where it is until it is a manageable size and then you can gently prick it out of the soil and plant in a separate pot.  
4.  It will take 4 or 5 years to produce a bloom after the seed has germinated so it could take a total of 6 or 7 years.  It's not something for someone who wants something quick but I can see the interest in growing these from seed.

I hope this helps.
Tom