Few perennial can proffer what the peony does – beautiful , prolific flowers in other summer and good foliage afterwards . Once institute , peony will blossom for many years with minimal care . Moreover , they ’re unbelievably hardy and can easily stand firm cold northern winters .
The introductory types of peonies are herbaceous ( Paeonia officinalis ) , which rise to elevation of two to four feet ; fern - provide ( Paeonia tenufolia ) , with exquisitely dissected leave ; and bush or tree ( Paeonia suffruticosa ) , which may reach four to six groundwork . The latter bring forth many flowers on woody , shrub - like plants . Then there are the loan-blend with flower color of the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree peonies , yet the habit of the herbaceous peonies . These hybrids , and the tree diagram peony , often are quite expensive .
Most nurseryman seem to have good circumstances develop the herbaceous soma . However , do n’t reign out Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree peonies if they are hardy in your field . When to the full mature and in full heyday , they are spectacular .
Peonies are usually planted in the capitulation from bare source , although they may be purchased in the spring or summertime as potted plants . They should be plant in an expanse that receives at least six to eight hours of sun day by day . When grown in umbrageous area , they will produce good leafage but few , if any , flowers .
As with most perennials , a well - drain soil is the choice requirement for just growth and flowering . Before set , you may call for to add organic thing , such as uncouth sphagnum peat moss , rotted manure , or like stuff . Dig it in deeply .
When planting , mark the tuber ( thicken root ) of the herbaceous paeony so the buds will be between one and two column inch below the airfoil of the soil . Do n’t plant them any deeply because this will produce stacks of foliation but few , if any , flowers . The bud or “ eyes ” on the tubers are bright ruby-red and about one - stern to one - one-half inch long . Generally , herbaceous peonies from unornamented theme will blossom the second year after set .
Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree paeony are develop from come or grafts , though most domicile gardeners have great success with graft plant ( in which the desired variety has been attached to a different , often more vigorous , understock works ) . A grafted tree diagram paeony will take at least three years to flower . When plant the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree peony tubers , dig deeply enough to cover the graft with four or five inches of grunge . To settle the graft , feel the plant life to find the ridging on the bow and the dissimilar texture of the barque . The grafted section will establish its origin in the territory by engraft late .
After planting any peony , water thoroughly and mulch with two to three in of straw , chopped bark , or Mrs. Henry Wood Saratoga chip kept aside from stems . This prevents too much moisture and rots and prevents the buds of herbaceous types from being too deep .
Next spring , once the industrial plant grow and shoots attain three to four inches gamey , apply a consummate , dry plant food such as 5 - 10 - 10 or 6 - 10 - 4 at three to four Irish pound per 100 square feet of bed field . Or employ an organic fertilizer such as 5 - 3 - 4 , with about one - half loving cup evenly propagate around the plant . irrigate the plant food into the filth immediately after lotion . you may also use high - analytic thinking soluble plant food , enforce them at the charge per unit pass on on the container . Only one fertilizer practical program is generally needed per class to maintain sound plant growth and flowering .
Peonies tolerate low fertility but bloom of youth better with more . Too much , however , and you may end up with all leave and few flowers . Yearly additions of compost around plants may be all that is needed in fertile soil , and in any dirt , it is good .
If you have an old cultivar ( cultivate variety ) of peony , you may postulate to put a peony John Milton Cage Jr. or similar frame around plants in former summertime to fall tumble later . Newer cultivar have been bred to be more upright , sturdy , and rarely need stake .
think back peonies grow quickly and large too soon in the season , based on the salt away intellectual nourishment in the genus Tuber from the previous year . The vital time for this intellectual nourishment storage is early to mid - summer , so if conditions are dry , check that plants get plenitude of water system at this meter . This will result in secure blooms the following twelvemonth . When lacrimation , it is best not to water next to the radical , but rather in a circumference around the plant canopy . Providing goodair circulation , remove erstwhile or morbid flowers , and remove leaves in the fall will help oneself prevent leaf diseases and hoary mold on flowers . pismire on flowers do not harm , and are irregular , so should be ignore and entrust alone . These are merely after nectar on some flowers and possibly other attractants . They may even help open tight two-fold buds on some .
Peonies are easy to propagate , though usually , they do not need to be divided for 10 to 15 year or more . Divide by digging up the plant in fall and divide the tubers , ensuring each has three to five bud . Remove any damaged tubers or those with signs of disease . Plant the good genus Tuber as distinguish above .
PEONIESDr . Leonard Perry , Horticulture Professor EmeritusUniversity of Vermont
6/1/17Distribution of this firing is made possible by University of Vermont and Green Works — the Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association
