Herbaceous peonies (Paeonia sp.) are among my favorite flowers.
Peonies are easy to grow and will reward you with armfuls of luscious blooms
every May into June in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Once established, the
only care they need is to cut back the dying foliage in autumn.
Select a sunny,
well-draining spot in your garden for your peonies. Be sure to give them space
to grow as well, since this perennial grows to shrub-like proportions in a single
season. Having said that, herbaceous peonies really do play well with others in
your perennial borders, combining well with roses, catmint, salvias, and
clematis.
The only “trick” to
herbaceous peonies is not to plant them too deep. When you get a peony root
division, you will see the reddish “eyes” (new emerging plants). Plant them
with the tips of the roots pointed downward and the eyes set just below the
surface of the soil. Amend the planting hole with peat and then mulch it over very
lightly with leaf compost. Do not add in any fertilizer.
Herbaceous peonies
are shallow-rooted, so try not to dig or bother the plants too much around
their crown area. When you weed around it, just cut the nearby weeds off at the
soil level.
You may have to
give the heavy blooms some staking and support, but I find that if I cut them
at the bud stage to enjoy indoors often enough, I don’t have to worry about the
characteristic peony flop.
If a storm is
brewing and your peonies are in full bloom, run out and cut all the blossoms
that you can. A hard rain can often pummel and destroy these beautiful flowers.
Peonies are
long-lived plants. Some can last for a century or more. They are also great
plants to divide and share with other flower lovers. Whether you choose an
heirloom peony like ‘Festiva Maxima’ or a newer selection such as ‘Green Halo,’
a peony is a must-have addition to your garden.
Herbaceous Peonies - You Can Grow That!
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