Pfeiffers PEONIES 
cftoiuers (soert/one Lfooes 
How and When 
to Plant 
PEONIES 
All Peonies are not alike any more than all members of the “white race” are the 
same. It is this individuality that first appealed to C. A. Pfeiffer as a home gardener 
and it is what we have devoted a great deal of time to developing in our Peonies 
grown here at Winona. In the varieties offered on the following pages you will find 
the Peonies that appeal to you most, the ones you will be proud to show to friends. 
A Peony Garden With a Wealth 
of Bloom 
For those of you who love flowers but have 
never yet grown Peonies, there is a world of 
pleasure awaiting you. If you do not now have 
a flower garden, but aspire to have one some day, 
a few Peonies planted this fall will make a splen¬ 
did beginning. Not until you 
grow these gorgeous flowers 
yourself can you know of the 
keen delight of watching the 
development of the seemingly 
insignificant bud into a mar¬ 
velously beautiful bloom, and 
of the enjoyable thrill of cut¬ 
ting these exquisite flowers for 
the house or for your friends. 
Peony Ratings 
The figures at the left in the 
Peony descriptions are the official 
ratings given by the American 
Peony Society; 10 points being 
perfect. Any Peony rating 7.0 is 
good, over 8.0 very good, and over 
9.0 exceptionally good. 
Hardy and Long Lived 
Peonies are easy to grow, per¬ 
fectly hardy and when established 
in the garden, become a permanent 
fixture in the landscape. They bear 
large and showy flowers of a great 
range of colors. Some are delicately 
scented, proving themselves to be 
ideal for cut flowers. 
Variety of Uses 
The Peony is fine as a specimen plant, for massing, for 
borders, for cover in front of shrubbery, and is one of the 
very best low hedging plants. It gives color and variety 
to every form of landscape decoration. It is hardy in al¬ 
most any climate and any soil, is easily established and 
requires a minimum of care. It is almost, but not quite, 
immune from plant diseases and insect pests. 
Size of Roots 
After many years growing Peonies, we have found by 
experience that a plant with 3 to 5 strong, well developed 
buds or eyes, and a properly balanced root system will 
produce the best results in the shortest time. 
Planting and Cultivating Peonies 
Peonies require a reasonably fertile, well 
drained soil and should have full sun at least 
part of the day. If planted in a shady place, 
plants are apt to be spindly, and will not pro¬ 
duce typical bloom. If possible, plant them in 
an open space away from trees and shrubbery, in 
the open sunlight. Plant so 
that the buds or eyes are about 
two inches below the surface 
of the ground. Deep planting 
is detrimental to their bloom¬ 
ing habit, and sometimes the 
cause of their not blooming at 
all. Space the plants about 
three feet apart. For hedge 
plant 24 inches apart. 
Fertilizing 
A little bone meal or prepared 
fertilizer scattered around the plant 
but not in contact with the stems, 
worked into the soil is beneficial 
for better blooms. Never let fertil¬ 
izer of any kind come in contact 
with the roots. 
Time of Planting 
Peonies planted in September 
and October become established be¬ 
fore winter sets in, and will usually 
bloom in the spring. We advocate 
fall planting for the amateur grow¬ 
er; hut they can be successfully 
planted in the spring providing the 
plants are dug in the fall and kept 
in a dormant condition over winter. Place the plants in 
your garden where they can remain permanently for 
8 or 10 years. Cover lightly with straw or coarse hay 
after the ground freezes, the first fall. 
About Ants and Bees 
When the buds begin to swell in the spring, they are 
frequently covered with ants and bees but do not become 
alarmed, as all these insects are after is the honey that 
exudes from the buds, and they will not cause any injury. 
Final—But Important 
While many Peonies will bloom the first year, most va¬ 
rieties will not reach their full normal development or 
produce typical bloom, until their third year. In cutting 
bloom, be sure to leave part of the foliage on the plant 
for the future development of the roots and buds. 
How to Plant Peony Roots 
Make hole deep and wide enough 
to accommodate the roots. Plant so 
that the “eyes” are NOT more than 
two inches beloiv the surface. TOO 
DEEP PLANTING IS OFTEN THE 
REASON WHY PEONIES DO NOT 
BLOOM. 
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