Peonies were first grown in China thousands of years ago. They were exported to Japan in the eighth century AD, and then all over the world. They have been grown in Europe since the after 1700s, and many varieties grown in Europe and the United States are descended from peonies first grown on a large scale in Europe in the 1800s. Only two species of peonies are native to the west coast of North America, the brown peony and the California peony. Bro peN peony was harvested by Native Americans as an herbal remedy for lung health issues.
Types of peonies
There are three main types of common peonies: herbaceous peonies, tree peonies, and intersectional peonies (also called Itoh peonies). Herbaceous peonies are the most common in the West and are native to western North America and Eurasia, usually growing to about 2 to 3 feet tall. Tree peonies are native to China and are common in the Far East, but are grown all over the world. They are usually between 4 and 5 feet tall, some up to 7 feet. Intersectional varieties are intersections that share characteristics. They will resemble the herbaceous mother breed in size and stem length, and their flowers will resemble those of their tree-like peony ancestor.
Tree peonies will lose their leaves and flowers in winter, but the main structure of the plant remains sturdy and strong. The leaves and flowers return in the spring. Herbaceous and intersectional species seem to pass away completely in winter, wither and go completely dormant, but return to full strength in the spring.
- Paeonia Paeonia (Eurasian herbaceous Peonies)
- Paeonia Moutan (Tree peonies)
- Paeonia Onaepia (North American Peonies)
- Perennial
- Full sun
- Fertile, moist and well-drained soil from neutral to slightly alkaline (pH 6.5-7.0).
- Start seedlings, cuttings or seeds indoors in after autumn
- Transplant them into the garden in the fall of the next year.
- Directly sown peonies should also be started in the fall.
- Transplants can be started in the spring, but will develop slowly in the first year.
- Plant 36 ” apart for healthy shrubs.
Growing in containers:
Start individual plants in pots at least 12 “deep and 16” wide
Ensure good drainage and acidic soil
Water regularly, keeping the soil moist.
Climatic zones 3-8 for herbaceous plants, 4-9 for trees, 3-9 for intersections
Growing peonies
Overall, peonies are easy to grow, but be prepared to let them grow for a while. It takes a few years for them to begin to bloom, but they will last a lifetime and, at full size, produce many flowers every year. To keep them upright and the flowers displayed in the best way, you need a stand. It is highly recommended to purchase peony cages to support this multi-branched perennial.
Most herbaceous peonies are purchased as bare-root plants when they are about two years old. It is best to plant them in early autumn or after summer. This allows plants to grow their roots before the onset of winter. They can be started in the spring, but this will require regular watering for young seedlings, and they will not grow so fast during the summer months in the first year. It is important that the flower bed is placed so that it is in direct sunlight and drains well. In heat up climates, a small shade is acceptable. Intersectional peonies (hybrids) should be grown as herbaceous peonies. Some intersectionals will have more heat resistance, and some will do better than herbaceous types in partial shade. Plant them three meters apart. Usually it is in the third year of growth that the flowers begin to bloom in earnest.
Herbaceous peonies can also be grown directly from seeds. For direct sowing, plant the seeds from after summer to early autumn and let them germinate in the soil. Keep them well watered. This process allows hot germination and cold treatment during the winter months. They should germinate in the spring. Seeds can also be started indoors, in the fall. Use small starting pots, one seed per pot. Plant the seeds about 1 inch deep. Cover the pots and let them grow for about three months. At this stage, they need cold treatment. Place the young plants in the refrigerator for about three months or so. After the last frost has passed, plant the seedlings in the ground four feet apart. This will allow normal-sized shrubs to develop without replanting.
Usually, tree peonies are also started from bare root plants such as herbaceous peonies, although more space is needed, usually 4 to 5 feet between each plant. The use of cuttings and seedlings for tree peonies is also possible, albeit rare. Dried seeds need to be scarified, that is, lightly rubbed with sandpaper several times. This accelerates germination. Freshly harvested seeds do not need scarification. Seeds should be planted in pots to begin with and planted in after summer or early autumn of the following year. These should begin to bloom after about two to three years.
Cuttings are a little more difficult. In after spring or early summer, carefully dig around the base of a plant and select several healthy root sections. Cut each root to remove a 6 inch long cut. Divide this into two 3-inch sections. Be sure to mark or cut them to be able to distinguish the top from the bottom, it is important not to plant them upside down! Plant them individually in medium-sized pots. Use a compost mixture or other non-earthy means. Make sure that the top of the cut is on the surface. Start several cuttings, some are unlikely to germinate. Keep them heat (70 F Water to keep the soil moist. In early spring, some should have sprouted. Put them in the sun and, if they reach a few centimeters in height, transplant them into the garden bed, the following autumn. It may take several years for the peony cuttings of the trees to bloom, but it’s worth the wait!
Peonies can be easily grown in containers, but make sure each plant is in its large, well-drained pot. Ten liters or a little more is better. Plant the tubers an inch or two deep into the pot to start. The plant needs space to grow roots. Use prolonged-release fertilizer when planting. Water them when the soil begins to dry out, throughout their life. It is good to use a stand for potted peonies, just like garden flowers. Fertilize every spring. If you are in a colder climate, move the plants indoors during the winter.
Companion plants of Peony
Peonies go well with some companion plants. Some plants are good as ground cover around peonies, or as smaller plants that will grow under flowering peonies. For herbaceous varieties, it is important to leave the area immediately around the light peony so that they do not have difficulty returning in the spring. Some herbs such as sage and thyme are good as ground cover, and smaller succulents such as jade or aloe vera do very well. Hyacinth, hydrangea and even roses and lilacs are excellent choices. Peonies also do well around some trees, including conifers and dogwood, although it is important to remember that they need full sun.
Pests and health issues of the Peony
Most often, peonies will be health issue-free, but two fungal health issues that sometimes pose a problem are botrytis or phoph These health issues have very similar symptoms. Flower buds will not open and turn brown, the leaves will have black and brown spots. Botrytis can be treated with antifungal sprays, careful monitoring and careful pruning. Phoph This is another type of health issue. Plants infected with phoph The soil surrounding the plant must be dug up and replaced. Peonies have a certain susceptibility to wilting, scaling and cancer. They are basically pest-free. An interesting fact about peonies is that ants help rather than hurt. Ants crawling on peonies can actually help the flowers open and discourage other types of pests from disturbing the plant. They are not needed for flowering plants, but ants and peonies help each other!