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Northern Gardening: Peonies have timeless potential

Fashions come and go, even in flowers, including perennials. One perennial that has never gone out of fashion is the peony. There are peony cultivars still popular today that date back to the 1800s.
Peonies

Fashions come and go, even in flowers, including perennials.

One perennial that has never gone out of fashion is the peony. There are peony cultivars still popular today that date back to the 1800s.

Paeonia lactifolia, a scented white species from Siberia, China and Japan, brought into cultivation in the Orient in the 5th Century BC, was introduced into Europe in the late 1700s.

Herbaceous peonies die down to the ground in winter and emerge in spring to grow into a one- to four-foot
 bushy plant, depending on the variety.

The shortest, earliest and most unique is the fern-leaved peony, with finely cut foliage and crimson single or double flowers. The more familiar herbaceous peonies come in colours ranging from white to pink, red and purple. The familiar full double flower is most popular, but there are other attractive forms including singles, semi-doubles and Japanese or anemone-flowered peonies.

The chief complaint about peonies is that they bend and even break in the rain when in full bloom, which invariably happens during rain season. However, this is only true for the large, full double blooms. The other forms keep their blooms upright on sturdy stems.

Some people do not like peonies because ants like to collect the nectar on peony buds. However, this is a short-term phenomenon. The ants are soon gone.

To grow peonies, plant the thick roots in a spot that receives at least six hours of sun, in well-draining soil. Peonies will grow in sandy or clay soil that is amended with organic material. Allow enough space for the plant to grow, and it can stay in place for years without division. The eyes – small, pointed red nubs on the roots – should be planted no deeper than 5 cm below the surface of the soil. If planted deeper your peony will not bloom.

A recent development in breeding is the Itoh peony. This is a cross between the herbaceous peony and the tree peony. Tree peonies are not hardy for us, but the Itoh peony dies back like the herbaceous peony, and is hardy. It comes in a wider variety of colours including yellow. My yellow Itoh peony has survived three winters now, including last winter, which killed some other perennials with the lack of snow cover. It has bloomed for two years, first with one bloom and last year with two gorgeous blooms. I’m hoping for at least three blooms this year.

If you wish to purchase a fern-leaf peony or an Itoh peony, be prepared to spend some money. They are expensive, but they are long-lived and easy care.

Horticulturalist Mary Wright lives in Denare Beach and shares her passion for gardening with Flin Flon Reminder readers.

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