Publication Date: September
10, 2004
There are two types of peonies, tree peonies and herbaceous peonies. Both are easy to grow, long lived and perfectly suited for our foothill climate with its pronounced winter chill.
Tree peonies are deciduous woody shrubs growing
slowly to 3-6 feet tall and as wide.
The beautiful flowers, borne in March or April, are very large, up to
one foot across, and range from single anemone like to fully double ruffled
blooms in shades of white through yellow and peach, pink, red and purple.
Herbaceous peonies grow from a thick tuberous
root. The tops die to the ground each
winter and new shoots appear each spring.
Clumps grow 2-4 feet tall and spread wider over time. The spectacular blooms, from 3-6 inches
wide, come in single, semi-double and double forms and in shades of white, pink,
salmon, red and, rarely, yellow. Many
have the fragrance of old fashioned roses and make wonderful cut flowers.
It is best to buy dormant roots in fall or very
early spring, either from local nurseries or from mail order catalogs. Herbaceous rootstocks should have at least
three buds or eyes. Container grown
plants can be planted at anytime except the heat of summer.
Because both types of peonies are so long lived, 50
years is not unusual, and dislike being disturbed, it pays to prepare the soil
well at planting time. Pick a sunny
spot and amend with organic matter to make a rich, deep, well drained soil to a
depth of one or more feet. Plant tree
peonies at the depth planted in the growing field. The soil line is usually easy to see on the trunk. Herbaceous peonies are more particular. The dormant root has red buds, called
eyes. The buds should be planted no
more than 2” below the soil surface or the plant will not bloom. To be sure, take a tape measure and plant at
about 1” to allow for the soil to settle.
Peonies are relatively easy to care for. They need regular summer water and an annual
application of fertilizer in spring.
Make sure that nitrogen fertilizers or manures do not directly contact
the roots or stems. In the fall after
herbaceous peonies have died down, cut off stems at soil level, being careful
not to damage next year’s buds just below the surface. Make sure clumps are marked so you know
where they are.
Leave tree peonies until spring when buds on
branches start to swell and cut back dead growth to these buds.
Remove any shrivelled flower buds or distorted stems
and clean up fallen leaves in fall to avoid diseases.
Plants may not bloom the first year after planting
but, once established, will provide bounteous spring blooms for many years to
come.