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Paeonia -
Peony |
| The Peony |
| Peonies are one of the easiest perennials to grow. With minimal care they
provide years of enjoyment. I have quite a few customers who can trace a peony in their
garden back 50-75-even over 100 years in the same family. "My Grandma Johnson's dad
got this from his cousin William .....". |
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| Planting |
The peony you plant may outlive you. Give it a proper start with careful
planting.
The best time to plant peonies is in early autumn. This allows the plants to establish
themselves for spring sales. Your fall potted plants will usually flush out larger than
spring potted material. Planting in Pots - Select the proper size
container from my suggested container size chart. Use a good quality
potting mix. Position the peony in the container so the eye is not more than 2" below
the soil surface. Pack the potting mix firmly around the peony root. Water. Place the
potted peony in a mulch bed or unheated poly house for the winter. Make sure the winter
storage site is well drained. Place bait for mice as necessary. Keep from freezing and
thawing.
Planting in the Landscape - Select a well drained site. Full sun is
generally recommended but most will do just fine in light shade. Light afternoon shade
will prolong the bloom season and reduce the bleaching of the red and pink blossoms.
Peonies prefer a slightly acid soil (pH 5.5 to 6.5). Dig a hole 18" x 18". Dig a
larger hole for 9/14 or 15/25 eye clumps. Add organic matter, bonemeal, or fertilizer as
needed. Keep the tender peony roots from coming in direct contact with the fertilizer.
Give your peonies plenty of room (3-4 feet each) between plants. Position the peony
root so the eyes are facing upwards. They should be no more than 2" below ground
level. A little less deep in warmer climates is fine. Do not plant the peonies
too deep! Backfill the hole and firm the soil around the peony root. Water and mulch.
Tree peonies prefer a position shaded from the hot midday sun. They can also be planted
deeper (3"-4" up to 7" depending on the graft.) below the grafting
point. Space 4' or more.
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| Care |
| Water during dry spells. Do not allow the soil to become waterlogged.
After several years your peonies may benefit from a topdressing of fertilizer. Apply after
flowering. Yearly mulching helps retain moisture. Stake the peony with a metal support if
needed. Dead head (removing flowers when they fade) during the bloom season. Cut off the
dying foliage in the fall at ground level. Discard the stems and leaves to reduce the
chance of disease. Mulch for winter protection the first winter after planting. |
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| Division |
| Peonies can live many, many, many years without being divided. If you find
it necessary to move a peony, it can be divided into several plants. In early fall, lift
the plants from the soil while retaining the tuberous roots. Carefully wash the soil from
the roots and then allow the roots to sit in the shade for several hours. The roots
will soften and be easier to divide with a sharp knife. Cut the roots into pieces
making sure that each piece has at least 3/5 eyes. The first year after division the peony
plants may not bloom or the blooms may not be typical of the previous years bloom. They
should return to normal the second year after replanting. |
| Diseases |
| Botrytis blight, a fungus causing stems and buds to wilt, is the most
common disease. Cool damp air and wet leaves encourage botrytis. Plant peonies 3 feet
apart to encourage air circulation. Water the ground not the leaves. Fungicide sprays are
available. When the foliage dies, discard the stems and leaves to reduce the chance of
disease. |
| Pests |
| Ants are commom on peony buds. They are attracted to the sweet syrup on
the peony buds. The ants do not harm the plant and a peony will bloom with or without the
ants. Rodents love peony roots. They often cause damage to potted peonies stored in
polyhouses during winter. Use rodent bait. Deer and rabbits are not attracted to
Peonies. Nematodes are the most serious pest. They cause roots to grow irregular, gnarled,
and with pea-sized swellings. If you suspect nematodes, destroy the plant and others
nearby. Then replace the soil. More detailed information or for control on a larger scale
for nematodes is beyond the scope of this website. |
| Avoid |
| Wet soils, overfertilizing, planting too deeply, rodent damage,
unnecessary transplanting, windy locations. |
| Peonies |
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| Paeonia albiflora
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Paeonia lactiflora |
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| Paeonia anomala |
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Zone 4 |
Ural Peony |
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3' |
| Paeonia lactinflora |
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Zone 3 |
Chinese Peony |
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3 1/2' |
| Paeonia mlokosewitschii |
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Zone 5 |
Caucasian Peony |
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2 1/2' |
| Paeonia officinalis |
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Zone 3 |
Common Peony |
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3' |
| Paeonia suffruticosa |
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Zone 4 |
Tree Peony |
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4-5' |
| Paeonia tenuifolia |
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Zone 4 |
Fern-leaved Peony |
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1 1/2' |
| Paeonia wittmanniana |
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Zone 5 |
Irangold Peony |
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3' |
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Peonies
grown by Sherman Nursery |
| Double Red |
Double Pink |
Double White |
| Carolyn Mae Nelson |
Auguste Dessert |
Avalanche |
| Caroline Mather |
Autens Pride |
Couronne D'Or |
| Cherry Bomb |
Christine Gowdy |
Diana |
| Crimson Jet |
Coral Queen |
Dr. F. G. Brethour |
| David Harum |
Deer Creek |
Dr. J. H. Neeley |
| Felix Crousse |
Dr. Alex Fleming |
Duchesse De Nemours |
| Felix Supreme |
Duchess de Orleans |
Elsa Sass |
| Francis Ortegot |
Edulis Superba |
Evening Star |
| Grover Cleveland |
Grace Batson |
Festiva Maxima |
| Harry L. Richardson |
Hermoine |
Francess Willard |
| Jake's Tall Red |
Humei |
Golden Dawn |
| Judy Becker |
James R. Mann |
Henry Sass |
| Kansas |
Lady Alexandra Duff |
Judge Snook |
| Karl Rosenfield |
La Perle |
Kelway's Glorious |
| Le Martin |
Lillian Gumm |
Le Cygne |
| Longfellow |
Marietta Sisson |
Mme. De Verneville |
| Lora Dexheimer |
Martha Bulloch |
Mrs. A. B. Franklin |
| Louis Van Houtte |
Minuet |
Mrs. J. V. Edlund |
| Mary Brand |
Mme. Ducel |
Mrs. James Kelway |
| Modesta |
Mons. Jules Elie |
Nebraska |
| Mons. Martin Cahuzac |
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt |
Nick Shaylor |
| Philippe Rivoire |
Myrtle Gentry |
Reverend H. N. Tragitt |
| President Roosevelt |
Pink Baroness Schroeder |
Shriley Temple |
| Rachel |
Queen of Hamburg |
Victory |
| Richard Carvel |
Queen of Sheba |
Walter Gumm |
| Rosabel |
Rhine Hortense |
White Edge |
| Tempest |
Rosa Bonheur |
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| Thor |
Sarah Bernhardt |
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Sarah M. Napier |
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Solange |
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Souvenir de Louis Bigot |
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Therese |
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Tourangelle |
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Walter Faxon |
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Single Red |
Single Pink |
Single White |
| Arcturus |
Pink Dawn |
Exquisite |
| Imperial Red |
Seashell |
White Swan |
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Japanese Red |
Japanese Pink |
Japanese White |
| Fuyajo |
Auroelin |
Buttercup |
| Japanese Beauty |
Dia Jo Kuhan |
Good's Gem |
| Mikado |
Do Tell |
Polar Star |
| Mrs. Wilder Bancroft |
Lou Schenk |
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| Nippon Beauty |
Philomele |
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| Okinawa |
Prairie Afire |
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| Pride of Shenandoah |
Romance |
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Tree
Peonies - colors available |
| Red |
Pink |
White |
| Yellow |
Purple |
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Peony photos
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