Pink flower ID

I've inherited some new plants. This beauty is blooming right now. The flowers are about the size of a dinner plate (10"). Attached is a photo of the flower and leaves.

Also - when do I prune it back and how much?

 

It's a peony. You don't prune them, except to remove the spent growth. Most commonly herbaceous peonies are planted, but there are woody types. Does your plant have a woody stem? If not it will die back to the ground in the fall and come up again next year.

I'm kind of thinking your plant looks like the woody, tree peony type.

 

Hello, the stem is definitely woody and it is quite tall - about 7 feet. Do you think I could prune it down to about half without killing it?

 

Very nice inheritance. Was it transplanted as well ?

 

Wondering because there could be some dieback, if transplanted, that may not show till it's well established. They are easy to prune in late winter before the buds break out.

 

It's well established in the ground. How aggressively do you think I could prune it? It's about 7' high.

 

Sorry, I don't know how hard you should prune it.

 

Best not to prune at all, except to remove any dead or diseased branches.

 

Even though it is about 7 feet tall and gangly?

 

A photo of the whole plant now may help, and maybe another in the fall after the leaves have dropped.
A little pruning may encourage some shoots from the base.
KelwaysPlants video with some tips on pruning deadwood.

 

If it has to be shortened, I wouldn't take any more than a third off the tallest growth this year, cutting back to about an inch (2.5 cm.) above a lower leaf or bud, keeping in mind the direction the new growth will take. The flowered terminals will naturally die back some so could be cut below the seed pods for now , unless you want seed. Other members may have better suggestions and experience. A photo of the whole plant could also be helpful.

 

Here is a photo, not great. It's the one with the pink flowers (a big purple flower rhodo is behind it).

Here is a photo. Not a great one. There is a big flowering purple rhodo behind it. The peonie is about 7 feet tall with fading pink flowers on it.

 

Thanks, it would likely benefit from less root competition, some compost, and maybe a little thinning out later after the leaves have dropped. It's hard to determine the branch structure , other than being quite upright, from the photo. Hopefully new growth from the base and lower parts of the plant would be encouraged with a little pruning. You will have to see how it responds to the changes, but it shouldn't die, and it may not flower as well for a while.