Peony (Paeonia)
Herbaceous （nonwoody) peonies are long-lives plants with attractive, shiny green leaves that form rounded shrubs 2 to 4 feet tall and wide. So-called tree peonies are actually deciduous shrubs that can grow to 6 feet tall and produce blooms the size of dinner plates. Tree peonies may also be damaged by late-spring frosts, need significant support for their heavy flowers, and are quite expensive, partly because they're difficult to propagate. Stick to herbaceous peonies until you're more experienced. You won't be sorry.
Intersectional hybrid peonies are a cross between a tree peony and aherbaceous peony. The tree peony is the pollen parent and theherbaceous peony is the pod parent. It has the flower and foliage of atree peony and the stem strength of a herbaceous peony. Unlike the treepeony, which retains its woody stems throughout the year, the stemswill die back to the ground in the fall like their herbaceous peonyparent. Also, intersectional hybrid peonies will grow two to threetimes faster than tree peonies.
FAVORITE SELECTIONS:
- "Nice girl" - magenta with big yellow centers and doesn't need staking.
- "Festiva Maxima" - double white flowers and good fragrance.
- "Sarah Bernhardt" - double, light pink, fragrant.
Plant with:
- foxgloves
- hardy geraniums
- Siberian irises
- roses
- clematis
- delphiniums
Where: Select a planting site carefully, as established peonies don't like to be moved. They require at least 6 to 8 hours of sun each day and well-drained, rich soil. Plant in borders or by themselves.
How: Dig a hole 1.5 feet deep and 2 feet wide. Fill it with loose, humus-rich soil enriched with superphosphate or bonemeal. Space plants 3 to 4 feet from other plants. This may seem like a lot of room at first, but the plants will fill in, and they need good air circulation to avoid foliar diseases. Plant so that the buds (the points from which stem and leaf growth develop) are no more than 1.5 to 2 inches below the soil surface; peonies won't flower if planted too deep. When in doubt, plant a little shallower. Water well after planting.
TLC: Peonies require patience. Do not expect much bloom until at least the third season after planting. Most types will need support- staking or hoops. Remove spent blossoms to prevent the formation of seeds and to put more energy into the root system.
RESOURCES:
- Swenson Gardens: has intersectionals.
- Golden Pond International: has large tree peony selections.
