One of the most beloved flowers in the world, peonies have delicate petals and a sweet aroma. Peonies usually have a brief but spectacular flowering season that peaks in May, although they may be found in flower stores and on farm stands as early as late March. There are several methods to cultivate and tend to these exquisite blooms since they come in a multitude of varieties, including herbaceous, tree, and the massive hybrid of the two. In fact, any kind of peony may continue to bloom for over fifty years if given proper care from the beginning.
A robust flowering display can be achieved with a few easy but important steps, most of which relate back to planting, which requires careful consideration and attention to detail. If you get it wrong, you’ll be disappointed; if you get it right, the relatively tough and surprisingly forgiving Paeonia will take care of itself.
In the UK, how are peony grown?
Depth of planting
Planting too deep might be a typical reason for a season without flowers. Herbaceous peonies need the chill of winter to indicate when it’s time to move on, so you should always make sure their “crowns” are no deeper than an inch below the ground! Given that most cultivated plants are grafted onto rootstocks, tree peonies may and should be planted a bit deeper. To assist the grafted plant to grow its own roots, make sure the graft union is slightly buried. Plant both in the fall, when the earth is still warm, to give them plenty of time to establish themselves before the next spring.
Peonies grow best where?
circumstances
Give light to herbaceous peonies! For the finest blooming show, try to get six hours of it every day, but the more the better. Dappled light is what makes tree peony the happiest. To prevent their roots from resting in water, make sure the soil is both healthy and freely draining for both types. For the claggier soils, mixing in organic matter and grit before to planting might be beneficial.
Ways to take care of peonies?
Water and food
Feed peonies with a high-potash fertilizer in the fall before to support a robust blooming season; bonemeal is a good slow-releasing choice. Potash will stimulate the growth of flowers. Take care not to overwet! As was previously indicated, peony prefer not to be waterlogged and should only need irrigation during prolonged dry spells.
Upkeep
When the blossoms start to fade, deadhead and trim back to a robust leaf bud. Autumn is the time to trim back and remove the leaves from herbaceous peonies. By doing this, you may prevent the deadly Botrytis that might cause peony wilt.
Be patient.
Peonies take a while to fully develop. The more time a plant has to mature before making a great show, the younger (and less expensive) the plant. Enjoy the brief blooming season and make use of the cut flowers (however try not to cut flower stems during the first year of the plant’s life). First thing in the morning, cut lengthy stems when the buds are still relatively tight, and submerge the stems right away in cold water. To ensure that your cut peonies last as long as possible, keep the vase out of direct sunlight in a cool location, change the water every day, and trim off any lower foliage. As they finish their spectacular cycle of opening and then losing all of their magnificent petals, that will guarantee the finest display of peonies.
Which peonies to plant
Select the traditional, traditional cultivars that have magnificent, totally double blooms, such as the crimson-magenta “Karl Rosenfield,” the ice-white “Duchesse de Nemours,” and the delicate pink “Sarah Bernhardt.” Or the more open single varieties with gold center bosses, such the scarlet “Lord Kitchener” and white “Late Windflower.” The intersectional group has some of the most exquisitely colored peonies. Two examples of these colors are the coveted “Julia Rose,” with its silky, semi-double raspberry pink flowers with buff tones (the peony counterpart of the tulip “La Belle Époque”), and “Kopper Kettle,” with its coppery apricot blossoms.
