PEONIES
What’s not to love? Peonies have gorgeous single and double blooms in multi colors, and are highly scented. They are beautiful lush perennials that grow into a 3 foot tall green plant most of year. I put a peony cage over mine to keep those beautiful flower heads up. Once planted and established, they can live 100-plus years. And, good news for those of us in Rim Country: Elk and deer DON’T EAT peonies!
Peonies grow in Zones 2 – 8, and need 6 or more hours of sunlight per day. Planting is very easy. Plant the eyes, the point where new growth emerges, no more than 2″ deep. If planted too deep, you will have little to no flowers. Cut them down to ground level in late Fall. A yearly application of all-purpose fertilizer is recommended.
You will usually see ants all over peony buds. They are eating the sugary syrup produced by flower buds, but are not harming your plant.
Peonies rarely bloom the 1st year. They may take up to 3 years before you see an abundant display of flowers.
The Peony or Paeony is native to Asia, Europe, and Western & North America. They come in 3 main types: Herbaceous (most common), tree and Itoh (pronounced “ee-toe”). Tree Peonies are more expensive and grow slower, eventually reaching up to 5 feet tall. Itoh peonies are herbaceous/tree hybrids. They usually produce yellow and orange flowers.
The flowers are edible and are used for a variety of aliments: grout, arthritis, respiratory track infections, menstrual cramps, liver disease, seizures, nerve pain & migraines. Peonies are widely used in skin care products.
In Victorian times Peony represented romance and love, and are considered a good omen for a happy marriage. They are the traditional flower for 12th wedding anniversaries.
Holland is the largest producer of cut peony; Alaska is catching up.
I have a friend in Estes Park, Colorado that has over 400 Peony plants. He would let Garden Club members take a 5 gallon container and cut as many flowers as we wanted. And we all learned about this wonderful plant!
Unfortunately the flowers are not long lived, but while they’re in bloom, they’re spectacular!
Submitted by Yvonne Bickford