Garden Notes

Old fashioned peony blooming in front garden

Is there anything more lush and elegant than a peony (Paeonia valbiflora or Paeonia officinalis) in full bloom? Since their flowers get so large and full, I use peony rings to keep my plants erect and even then some blooms escape and bend toward the earth. Some of my peonies are the ones I remember from my childhood and it only adds to the their attraction for me.

I currently have six garden peonies with colors alternating between creamy white and bright pink that get about 3 feet tall. They are situated in front of our house, follow the curve of the garden bed and are visible from the street. When they burst into bloom, all else pales in comparison. There is just not other flower in my garden quite as spectacular. The peony blooms last about a month with some plants blooming a bit earlier than others. When they are finished, I cut back the blooms and rest of the plant stays as a green, shrub-like backdrop in the garden.

Peonies are long-lived perennials and their colors include white, black, coral, cream, pink, red, rose, scarlet and yellow. The ideal time to plant peonies is early fall – September or October is best. The planting site should have well-drained soil and some protection from strong winds. Peonies like full sun but will tolerate light shade and their flower size will be larger if they don’t have to compete with nearby trees and shrubs. They grow best in cool climates and require winter cold to flower so it is best not to mulch peonies in winter.

Research – Care and Maintenance

• Apply a low nitrogen fertilizer such as 5-10-10 in the spring when the stems are about 2 or 3 inches high. Over-fertilization, especially with nitrogen, can result in weak stems and reduced flowering.
• Remove flowers as soon as they fade to prevent seed development, leaving as much foliage as possible to replenish the plant for next year.
• In fall, after a heavy frost, remove and destroy the stems of garden peonies down to 3 inches from the soil surface to eliminate the possibility of the fungal diseases overwintering. Tree peonies should not be cut back in the fall.