While peonies are renowned for their stunning beauty, they’re often misunderstood as being high-maintenance flowers. However, with proper care and attention, these vibrant blooms can be effortlessly integrated into your garden design. Whether you’re seeking a lush cut flower arrangement or a long-lasting statement piece, this guide is designed to empower you with the knowledge necessary to coax your peonies into their full glory.
Best Varieties of Peonies
When it comes to choosing peonies for your garden, you’re faced with three main varieties: herbaceous, intersectional, and tree types. While most people opt for the popular herbaceous option, each type has its unique characteristics that make them worth considering.
Herbaceous peonies (Paeonia lactiflora) are a classic choice, boasting large blooms with vibrant petals and a long-lasting display.
As their name suggests, they die back to the ground in autumn after flowering, only to re-emerge with new stems in spring. With varieties like ‘Hot Chocolate’ offering dark red flowers, ‘Pink Cameo’ showcasing massive, fragrant pink blossoms, and ‘Pillow Talk’ featuring medium pink powder puff flowers perfect for cutting, there’s something for every taste.
Tree peonies (Paeonia sect.
Moutan) are equally impressive, with some varieties reaching four feet tall and flowering from early April to late May. Unlike herbaceous types, tree peonies don’t die back after blooming; instead, their woody stem and foliage remain until the winter when the leaves fall.
Among tree peonies, ‘Dutchess of Kent’ stands out as a vigorous grower with bright pink-red blossoms, while ‘Shirley Temple’ boasts lovely baby pink flowers and ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ is a perennial favorite with full, ruffled blooms.
Intersectional or Itoh peonies offer a unique combination of characteristics from tree and herbaceous types. As a cross between the two, they feature a woody stem and large, bountiful blossoms that bloom later in the year.
With varieties like ‘Sonoma Sun’ offering sunny yellow petals with hints of red, ‘Watermelon Wine’ featuring bright wine-purple flowers, and ‘Love Affair’ showcasing pure white single flowers, these peonies are worth the slightly higher price tag.
How To Plant Peonies
When it comes to cultivating peonies, one of the most crucial decisions is selecting a location that meets their specific needs. These beautiful flowers thrive in areas with ample light and air circulation. Aim for at least six hours of direct sunlight per day, as insufficient lighting can hinder blooming and disappointingly reduce the vibrancy of those stunning petals. Peonies also require well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH, ranging from 6.5 to 7.0.
While they can tolerate clay or sandy soil, incorporating substantial amounts of well-rotted compost is essential for improving water retention and overall soil health.
Planting Seedlings
When purchasing seedlings, the process is relatively straightforward. Start by digging a hole that’s roughly twice as wide and about the same depth as the pot the plant currently resides in. Carefully remove the seedling from its container and place it gently into the prepared hole. Fill in around the roots with fresh soil and ensure the area is well-watered.
If you’re planning to use supports like trellises or cages to keep heavy flower heads upright during the growing season, now’s the ideal time to install them. It’s generally more challenging to add support once peonies start blooming.
Planting Seeds
When it comes to growing peonies from seed, it’s essential to understand that some hybrids may not produce true-to-type plants or can be sterile altogether. If you’re looking to grow a specific hybrid variety, it’s often more reliable and convenient to purchase a seedling from a nursery or store instead. Itoh peonies, in particular, are infertile, meaning they cannot reproduce through seeds. Plants grown from seed typically take around five years to reach full maturity.
For those who do choose to grow peonies from seed, harvesting the seeds is a straightforward process once the pods have fully opened and exposed them. To get started, plant the seeds about a quarter-inch deep in well-prepared soil during the early fall season. If Mother Nature doesn’t provide sufficient rainfall over the next few weeks, be sure to keep the soil consistently moist.
As the seasons transition into spring, seedlings should begin to emerge, marking the start of a new growth cycle.
Caring for Peonies
To keep your peonies thriving, it’s essential to monitor and manage their water intake. Aim for about one to two inches of water per week, which can be achieved through a combination of rainfall and targeted watering. If you’re unsure how much rain your area is receiving, simply insert your finger into the soil up to your second knuckle – if it feels dry, it’s time to add some moisture. Additionally, consider applying a layer of mulch to suppress weed growth and retain soil moisture.
When it comes to fertilization, peonies require a balanced approach. Apply an all-purpose, continuous-release fertilizer once in the spring before blooming and again after blooming, when your plants may benefit from extra nutrients. Alternatively, you can side-dress your plants with well-rotted manure or compost on a monthly basis during the growing season. Beyond feeding your plant, pruning is also crucial for maintaining its health.
For tree peonies, this typically involves removing dead or diseased branches and shaping the plant to create an appealing silhouette – perform this task in late winter when buds begin to swell. Herbaceous peonies, on the other hand, require only deadheading; simply remove any dead leaves from the ground in the fall to keep your plants tidy and healthy.
Common Diseases and Pests to Watch Out For
While peonies generally thrive without major issues, even the hardiest plants can fall prey to certain pests and diseases. As with any living thing, it’s essential to be aware of potential threats to ensure your beloved blooms remain healthy and thriving.
Ants
For many gardeners, ants are an unwelcome but harmless visitor to their peonies. The sweet fragrance of these beautiful flowers is irresistible to ants, drawing them in by the dozen. Despite their presence, ants don’t pose a threat to your plant’s health and can even be beneficial. So, there’s no need to disturb them. If you do decide to bring some of your blooms indoors, simply hold the stems upside down and give them a gentle shake to dislodge any unwanted hitchhikers.
Alternatively, if you’re collecting peony buds for arrangements or cutting gardens, a quick rinse under water will suffice.
Thrips
Thrips are a distinct problem for peony plants, unlike ants which don’t cause harm. These tiny insects have a tendency to infiltrate the petals and foliage of your plant, leading to discoloration, deformed leaves, and even necrotic areas. To combat this issue, we recommend consulting our comprehensive guide for effective solutions.
Nematodes
In certain regions around the world, foliar and root-knot nematodes pose a significant threat to plant health. These microscopic worms can affect up to one-fifth of all nursery plants, with devastating consequences for flower production. Leaf nematodes induce curled and blackened leaves, while root-knot nematodes cause wilting and ultimately, plant death. The impact on floral development is equally concerning, as either type of nematode can prevent the formation of flowers altogether.
To better understand how to identify and control these pests, I recommend consulting our comprehensive guide.
Botrytis Blight
When cultivating peonies, one of the most prevalent issues is botrytis blight (Botrytis paeoniae), a fungal disease typically found in soil. This condition often strikes when the plant is weak and weather conditions are excessively wet. Moreover, botrytis can spread from other infected plants, emphasizing the importance of monitoring your peonies regularly for any signs of this disease.
Common indicators of botrytis include gray mold on shoots, brown buds and stems, leaf spot, and dropping petals. To effectively manage this condition, it’s crucial to promptly remove infected areas. Additionally, applying a copper-based fungicide or using a product containing the beneficial fungus Unocladium oudemansii (U3 strain) can help prevent the infection from spreading further.
Peony Leaf Blotch
Peony leaf blotch is another prevalent fungal disease that affects these plants. Caused by Cladosporium paeoniae, this infection manifests as glossy purple-brownish spots or streaks on leaves. The primary indicator of the disease is the appearance of these characteristic lesions. To prevent peony leaf blotch, it’s essential to maintain good air circulation around your plants. This can be achieved by keeping them well-spaced and regularly pruning them.
Additionally, it’s crucial to minimize wetting of the leaves, as this can exacerbate the problem. Furthermore, using fungicides is an effective way to control the spread of the disease.
Harvesting Peonies
For those looking to cultivate their own floral arrangements without breaking the bank on cut flowers, growing peonies is an excellent choice. This perennial flower provides a seemingly endless supply of fresh blooms, perfect for creating your own bouquets at home.
To reap the benefits of these beautiful flowers, simply snip them just as they begin to unfurl or when they’re still in bud form and place them in a vase.
It’s best to harvest during the morning hours when stems are at their plumpest and most hydrated. This ensures that your bouquet will remain fresh and vibrant for days to come.
Alternatively, you can cut the flowers and store them in the refrigerator until they’re needed – be it for a special occasion or as a thoughtful gift for a loved one’s birthday.
When provided with optimal growing conditions and proper care, peonies are capable of blooming for an impressive 100 years.
With such longevity, these stunning flowers will provide you with a constant source of beauty and inspiration.
