Most gardeners seem to have a moderate obsession with peonies - and who can blame them? With large flowers and elegant foliage, these plants are crowd-pleasers. Lesser known, however, is the tree ...

Q: I love peonies and would love to grow some of my own, but I don't have much space in my compact, urban backyard. Would it be possible to plant them in containers, to brighten the small patio area?

M.B. Any off-color or unusual growth coming from the base of a grafted plant such as a tree peony sounds like a sucker. Time to make a surgical strike against the invader with a sharp knife and steady ...