Peonies Rediscovered 



KAREN CAST 



Peonies are one of the most timeless gar 

 den plants. When spoken about, they 

 are often discussed as a category in- 

 and-of-themselves, not as a woody 

 shrub or an herbaceous perennial. Even 

 though peonies have had enduring 

 popularity, they've been seen as a traditional old- 

 fashioned plant. They can usually be found in the 

 landscape of older homes in the northern United 

 States and Canada and in many cemeteries. In 1994, 

 Martha Stewart featured peonies in Martha Stewart 

 Living and since then, peonies are being rediscovered 

 as a cut flower and a landscape plant. 



As a landscape plant, they are a nice shrubby pe- 

 rennial that easily fits in a mixed bed. They provide 

 a beautiful display of fragrant flowers early in the 

 season and green foliage for the rest. Peonies are a 

 very adaptable plant that will grow and bloom un- 

 der a wide range of climatic conditions. Most com- 

 mon species and hybrids require cold temperatures 

 to fulfill a chilling requirement before they will reli- 

 ably bloom every year. Hardiness Zone 5 is about 

 the warmest the climate can be for the plants to 

 bloom. They can be grown in the south but usually 



will not bloom. In talking with peony growers fur- 

 ther north, most have said that the colder it is, the 

 bigger and better the plants and blooms are. 



As with any perennial, the planting site and soil 

 bed preparation are of utmost importance — especially 

 since they may be in the ground undisturbed for 

 many years. The ones at my grandparents' grave are 

 more than sixty years old. Ample sun and a well- 

 drained heavier soil are keys to site selection. The 

 bed should be well dug and the plants placed with 

 the growing points (or eyes) facing up about two 

 inches below ground level. Roots are usually dug in 

 the early fall and planted soon thereafter, although 

 fall planting may not be possible in northern areas. 

 Once planted, peonies usually do fine on their own. 

 There are different schools of thought about how to 

 fertilize peonies. It usually depends on how they are 

 being used. If they are being used for cut-flowers, 

 root production, or forced in pots for spring bedding 

 plant sales, a fertilization program will be part of the 

 production practices. For the home landscape, 1 must 

 relate a story I heard about a well-known peony 

 breeder, Myron Bigger. When someone asked Mr. 

 Bigger about fertilizing peonies, he asked them 



THE PLANTSMAN 



