Peonies MenuTypes, dividing, bouquets and more
Paeonia lactiflora . Photo by : PaylessImages / 123RF .
Peony plants offer heavy , downy , fragrant flowers in a wide-eyed mountain chain of colors , forms and sizes . These lively , long - exist ( some to 100 eld ) repeated bush have a story of popularity as a garden plant .
On this varlet : Basics|Planting|Care & Pruning|Pictures|Design Ideas|Weddings & Floral
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BASICS
Zones:
Zones 2 to 8 , depending on variety .
Types:
There are three type of peony : tree , Itoh ( intersectional ) , and herbaceous ( bush ) . Compare them in detail here : Types of Peonies .
Height/Spread:
Tree peonies can reach 4 to 7 foot tall and 4 to 5 feet broad . Itoh and herbaceous varieties grow 1 to 3 feet tall and encompassing .
Sun or shade?
Full sun ; but tree peony opt light-colored shade in midday heat .
When do peonies bloom?
In most locations , heyday will blossom in April , May or June . gestate tree diagram peonies to blossom first ( around Mother ’s Day ) , followed by herbaceous varieties ( around Memorial Day ) and then the intersectionals . Include all three type in the garden to revel bloom for up to seven week .
Flower colors:
There are white , pink , red , coral , maroon , and yellow blooming variety show . Many commute colour as they open , so watch them daily to see the differences .
Fragrance:
Many peony bloom are fragrant , some are sweet , some citrusy , and others slightly gamey .
Pests and diseases:
Nipponese beetlescan be a trouble for peony plants . They are also susceptible tobotrytis blightandpowdery mildew . just atmosphere circulation around your flora can help prevent this . Learn more about issues that can arise in the Missouri Botanical Garden’sguide to peony job .
Do deer eat peonies?
Fortunately , they are deer and rabbit resistant .
HOW TO PLANT PEONIES
If embed well , herbaceous peony will happily send up new shoots each spring for decades . Photo by : gutaper / 123RF .
When to plant peonies:
unsheathed root peoniesare well plant in the evenfall ( prior to the first frost ) and they ’ll have the in force chance of blooming the following spring . Those constitute in spring may not bloom for two age or more .
Where to plant peonies:
Peony plants need a location with 6 to 8 minute of sunlight a twenty-four hour period , effective drain , and plenty of way . Picking the right spot is crucial for achiever . Established plant have cryptical roots that make transplanting hard or even unacceptable .
Tip : The experts from the University of Michigan ’s Peony Garden at the Nichols Arboretum advocate planting them far away from big tree and shrubs as they do not like to have etymon competition .
How deep to plant a peony:
The depth at which you imbed your paeony will depend on the type and your mood .
What type of soil is best for peonies?
Some gardener have succeeder growing them in their aboriginal soil , but most experts recommend that you amend the soil with organic thing before planting . Also , see they are in well - draining soil , as they wo n’t do well with soggy roots .
Growing peonies in pots:
While happy in the garden , paeony can be grown in weed if given the proper attention .
PEONY CARE & PRUNING
Herbaceous and intersectional type should be disregard back in the pin . Photo by : photowind / Shutterstock .
Should I prune my peony?
Unlikeroses , peony bushes do not take precise pruning to thrive . Often pruning is only necessary in the issue of damage or disease .
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How often should I water my peony?
They are not excessively hungry plant life — in fact , overwatering can chair to problems . Give your peony bush first-class drainage and begin irrigate in outpouring if you go more than two weeks without rain . Then , put up hebdomadally , deepwatering throughout the dry summertime months(one inch at each watering ) . Continue tearing after flowering to insure vigorous plants the following year . There is no need to water once they have go inactive .
How do you debud peonies?
If you want large bloom , remove the side - buds that develop near the base of each terminal bud . However , if you need to protract the blooming season , leave the side - bud alone — they will blossom later than the terminal bud .
Can I divide my peony?
Peonies do not take regular division for successful blooming . However , if you ’d like to have more , you may fraction your ripe plants as a form of multiplication . The best time for dividing is in the fall when the industrial plant is near sleeping . Peony roots geld into pieces with 3 - 5 eyes have the best luck of achiever . Learn peony .
Do peonies require complex staking?
Many should be staked to support heavy efflorescence , especially if you live in a rainy climate . Herbaceous sort can be supported with apeony doughnut , while tree peonies are more suited for the economic consumption ofbamboo stakesandnatural string . If this vocalise like too much hassle , there are many motley that feature strong stems that do n’t require gage .
Should I mulch?
In very stale mood , they may benefit from a loose wintertime mulching with organic matter such as pine needle or chopped bark . Keep mulch a few inches away from the home of the industrial plant . Remove the mulch in early spring to permit unexampled emergence at the soil surface . For tree diagram peonies specially , wintertime protective cover with burlap and a 3 to 4 in level of mulch ( pulled aside in the spring ) is wise in Zone 4 and colder parts of Zone 5 .
Why didn’t my peony bloom?
Many gardeners have difficulty understanding why their peony do n’t flower . Here are the most common reasons :
Why are ants on my peonies?
Peony buds secrete a sweet ambrosia that attracts emmet . The ants do not anguish the flora and they are n’t required for the blooms to open . Plus , emmet will serve protect the bud from other flower - eat worm . If cut flowers to take indoors , gently rinse the blossom in a bucket of water to get free of the ants .
Why are my peony leaves curling?
When a peony ’s leaves curl it is a mansion of stress . This can be have by deficiency of water , a computer virus , or unusual weather conditions . Many flora find from leaf curl if the issue is corrected and go on to flower normally .
PICTURES
photograph by : Willard & May .
‘ Sarah Bernhardt’-Buy now on Amazon
This late - blooming classic has huge , fragrant flower . It can mature to three feet magniloquent , is excellent for cutting , and has a reputation for blooming faithfully .
zone 3 - 8
Type : Herbaceous
pic by : Irina Vertuzaeva / Shutterstock .
‘ Coral Charm’-Buy now on Amazon
The deep coral bud that transition to coral - knockout blossoms realize this early - bloomer . A vigorous grower that does well in northerly and southerly zones .
Photo by : Easy to originate Bulbs .
‘ Karl Rosenfield’-Buy now on Amazon
This old - fashioned hybrid flush mid - to - late time of year . Its big 8 - inch bloom have a sweet perfume and can last up to 6 weeks . Wonderful both in the garden and as a cut flower .
exposure by : Nikolay Kurzenko / Shutterstock .
‘ Festiva Maxima’-Buy now on Amazon
mystifying crimson dappling makes this heirloom truly special . The large flowers have a plentiful odor . Popular for cutting gardens and border alike .
pic by : Ngoc Minh Ngo
‘ Pink Hawaiian Coral ’
feature rose - shaped , semidouble , fragrant flowers with rounded petals , dainty yellowed stamens , and emollient - emblazon carpel . Beautiful even as bloom fade to apricot then wan yellow .
geographical zone 2 - 8
‘ Red Charm’-Buy now on Amazon
A classical paeony , early and long flowering . ‘ Red Charm ’ is heat tolerant and has sturdy stems . An idealistic option for the South .
‘ Paula Fay ’
An golden oldie but goodie , early bloom , fragrant , floriferous , and sturdy — a good choice for southern gardens .
‘ Hephestos ’
Named for the god of fervor , the tall stems hold blooms well above leafage , but be sure to protect the plant from stiff winds .
Zones 4 - 8
Type : Tree
‘ High Noon’-Buy now on Amazon
The Brobdingnagian yellow flowers are scented sweet of Citrus limon . bloom from tardy spring to former summer and can rebloom in late summer . Foliage ferment purplish green - bronze in autumn .
‘ marquise ’
A hard blooper , each singleform flower is 6 inches across . Vigorous and graceful , it creates a inflexible 3 - foot - tall rounded shrub .
‘ Bartzella’-Buy now on Amazon
brilliant yellow-bellied blossoms , 6 to 9 in across , have a lemony , gamey fragrancy . plant can produce up to 80 flowers in a season .
Type : Itoh
‘ First Arrival ’
The earliest of the intersectional peonies to bloom . As prime receptive they become lighter in color . As plants mature , the flower become more double .
LANDSCAPE DESIGN TIPS
WEDDING & FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS
paeony are one of the most popular cut flowers . They make an fantabulous option for nuptial nosegay and centerpiece , as well as casual arranging . If you are n’t able to grow your own , the best selection of cut peonies is usually available between April and June . They wait swell by themselves or when combined with rose , wildflowers , fern , protea , eucalyptus and more .
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