By Ronnie Dauber, Garden Guides Contributor
About Peonies
Peonies are perennials that have earned their title because of
quality distinctions that rise the plant above other flowering
shrubs. These include their large full 5- to 7-inch flowers,
enticingly sweet fragrance and longevity of continued production.
They are the epitome of cut flowers and the legacy of flowering
shrubs. They possess attractive green foliage that remains a
beautiful garden centerpiece even after the blooms are gone.
Site Preparation
Peonies require soil that is rich, well drained and needs to be
cultivated each spring. The location must provide full sunlight
with a minimum of 4 to 5 hours of sunlight daily.
Special Features
These bush-style plants are known to live for years, some varieties
for over a hundred years, and others for a lifetime. Blooms in a
vast range of color and mixed color variations appear in early
summer and usually last for several weeks. The plants grow from 24
to 48 inches high and usually require staking due to the weight of
the blooms.
Choosing a Variety
There are many varieties of peonies that captivate an array of
color in both, single and double blooms, and they include bushes
and trees.
* Bush peonies (Herbaceous peony) come in a wide variety of colors,
ranging from white and yellow to pink and crimson to many shades of
purple. The blooms appear in late April to early May and last for
several weeks. They are noted for their thick, full blooms that can
appear in several shades and colurs within one bloom.
* Tree peonies (Paeonia suffruiticosa) also come in a large range
of colors and can live with low maintenance for over 100 years.
These rare colorful tree peonies originated in China and are known
as "The Emperor Flower." It can produce over 100 blooms of up to 10
inches across. When planted in loamy, well-drained soil, these
trees can live indefinitely.
Planting
Plant roots in rich, cultivated and well-drained soil in early
spring or late fall. Trees prefer to be planted to a depth of at
least 2 feet in loamy soil with lots of organic matter. Avoid
planting near large trees, which absorb the moisture and nutrients
from the soil. New plants can be grown from the older ones by
cutting off sections of the root in the early spring and planting
in a suitable location.
Care
They require very low maintenance. Mulch should be spread around
the roots in the spring to help keep the soil moist. Most bushes
will require staking in the early spring before the blooms appear.
