HOW AND WHEN 
TO PLANT 
PEONIES 
A LL 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 splendid beginning. Not un¬ 
til you grow these gorgeous flowers 
yourself can you know of the keen 
delight of watching the development 
of the seemingly insignificant bud 
into a marvelously beautiful bloom, 
and of the enjoyable thrill of cutting 
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, perfectly 
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 scent¬ 
ed, proving themselves to be ideal 
for cut flowers. 
VARIETY OF USES. The Pe¬ 
ony 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. 
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 produce 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 
blooming 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 fertilizer of any kind come in 
contact with the roots. 
TIME OF PLANTING. Peonies 
planted in September and October 
become established before winter 
sets in, and will usually bloom in 
the spring. We advocate fall plant¬ 
ing for the amateur grower; but 
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 be 
gin 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 varieties 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 enough and wide 
enough to accomodate the roots. 
Plant so that the “eyes” are NOT 
more than two inches below the sur¬ 
face. TOO DEEP PLANTING IS 
OFTEN THE R E A SO N WHY 
PEONIES DO NOT BLOOM. 
Just a Few of the Many Medals and Cups Awarded to Pfeiffer Nursery Flowers. 
