Leona Howard
1. Shallow planting
The best time for planting peonies is between October and March. Some sources advise against planting in December, but in 30 years and eight different gardens, I've never noticed a difference. The important thing is how deep you plant them - too deep and they will fail to flower. Herbaceous peonies need to be planted with the eyes (the budding stems) no more than 2cm beneath the surface of the soil.
2. Make sure you cover the basics
Despite the myths that surround them, peonies are easy plants to grow if the basics are in place. They need plenty of water as long as they don't get waterlogged at any time in the year, so plant your peonies in soil that drains well. Clay is fine as long as it doesn't stay wet.
Peonies also love to be in full sun and will flower at their best in that position, but they will tolerate light shade.
3. Patience is key
Peonies may take three years to hit their stride and be flowering freely, but then they will live for up to 50 years. If you move house, simply take your precious peonies with you and they'll adapt to new surroundings.
4. Move them at the right time
The best time to move them is when the plant is dormant, sometime between October and March. Dig around the roots, disturbing as little of the rootball as possible and transplant them to their new home. Peonies can even be divided to make new plants when you lift them. Be sure to cut them cleanly with at least three clear eyes (stem buds) on each section.
5. Make sure you cut them properly before arranging them in a vase
Peonies make wonderful cut flowers and last longer in a vase than garden roses – up to 10 days. The blooms are large, soft, silky and romantic.
If you want to grow peonies for cutting, patience is needed. Generally it will take up to 3 years for the most cut varieties to produce enough blooms for cutting. But as the flowers are large, the average vase really only needs one or two flowers to look both beautiful and opulent. Amongst the very best varieties are 'Monsieur Jules Elie', pure white 'Festiva Maxima' and the famous 'Sarah Bernhardt'.
6. Know what to do with ants
People often ask how to get rid of ants on peony flower buds. The answer is: don't. In my experience, ants do no harm. Appearing as the bud swells, they feed on the sugary substance it exudes, and may even help the bud to open properly. As soon as the buds start to open, the ants disappear.
7. Take a walk on the Intersectional Side!
A quiet revolution has been taking place in the peony world. Breeders have crossed tree peonies with herbaceous peonies to produce what are known as Intersectional peonies.
These new introductions are rare and are more expensive than herbaceous peonies, but they have twice the flowering period, wonderful green, leathery foliage and appear completely disease-free.
My favourite intersectionals include the 'Bartzella', which has large, gentle lemon-scented, frilly, yellow flowers with a flare of magenta around the delicate stamens. I also love the 'Julia Rose' which has rose-pink flowers with an inner glow of gold emanating from the depth of the petals.
8. Consider their scent
Many peonies are fragrant. In some varieties the scent is light, in others it is released only after the flowers have been picked and placed in a vase. The scent depends on the time of day, the temperature and, of course, on your nose!
Some of the best for scent include the soft pinks 'Alexander Fleming', 'Edulis Superba' and 'Raspberry Sundae'; the white 'Festiva Maxima' and 'Krinkled White'; creamy 'Laura Dessert'; the soft yellow 'Honey Gold'; and the fuchsia pink 'Tom Eckhardt'.
Finally… did you know that peonies are rabbit-proof
If you have rabbits that like nothing better than to nibble from your borders, get planting peonies! Rabbits do not like the taste of plants with large, blousy flowers such as peonies, irises, lupins, oriental poppies and kniphofia, and won't be tempted to snack on their roots, stems or blooms.
The best time for planting peonies is between October and March. Some sources advise against planting in December, but in 30 years and eight different gardens, I've never noticed a difference. The important thing is how deep you plant them - too deep and they will fail to flower. Herbaceous peonies need to be planted with the eyes (the budding stems) no more than 2cm beneath the surface of the soil.
2. Make sure you cover the basics
Despite the myths that surround them, peonies are easy plants to grow if the basics are in place. They need plenty of water as long as they don't get waterlogged at any time in the year, so plant your peonies in soil that drains well. Clay is fine as long as it doesn't stay wet.
Peonies also love to be in full sun and will flower at their best in that position, but they will tolerate light shade.
3. Patience is key
Peonies may take three years to hit their stride and be flowering freely, but then they will live for up to 50 years. If you move house, simply take your precious peonies with you and they'll adapt to new surroundings.
4. Move them at the right time
The best time to move them is when the plant is dormant, sometime between October and March. Dig around the roots, disturbing as little of the rootball as possible and transplant them to their new home. Peonies can even be divided to make new plants when you lift them. Be sure to cut them cleanly with at least three clear eyes (stem buds) on each section.
5. Make sure you cut them properly before arranging them in a vase
Peonies make wonderful cut flowers and last longer in a vase than garden roses – up to 10 days. The blooms are large, soft, silky and romantic.
If you want to grow peonies for cutting, patience is needed. Generally it will take up to 3 years for the most cut varieties to produce enough blooms for cutting. But as the flowers are large, the average vase really only needs one or two flowers to look both beautiful and opulent. Amongst the very best varieties are 'Monsieur Jules Elie', pure white 'Festiva Maxima' and the famous 'Sarah Bernhardt'.
6. Know what to do with ants
People often ask how to get rid of ants on peony flower buds. The answer is: don't. In my experience, ants do no harm. Appearing as the bud swells, they feed on the sugary substance it exudes, and may even help the bud to open properly. As soon as the buds start to open, the ants disappear.
7. Take a walk on the Intersectional Side!
A quiet revolution has been taking place in the peony world. Breeders have crossed tree peonies with herbaceous peonies to produce what are known as Intersectional peonies.
These new introductions are rare and are more expensive than herbaceous peonies, but they have twice the flowering period, wonderful green, leathery foliage and appear completely disease-free.
My favourite intersectionals include the 'Bartzella', which has large, gentle lemon-scented, frilly, yellow flowers with a flare of magenta around the delicate stamens. I also love the 'Julia Rose' which has rose-pink flowers with an inner glow of gold emanating from the depth of the petals.
8. Consider their scent
Many peonies are fragrant. In some varieties the scent is light, in others it is released only after the flowers have been picked and placed in a vase. The scent depends on the time of day, the temperature and, of course, on your nose!
Some of the best for scent include the soft pinks 'Alexander Fleming', 'Edulis Superba' and 'Raspberry Sundae'; the white 'Festiva Maxima' and 'Krinkled White'; creamy 'Laura Dessert'; the soft yellow 'Honey Gold'; and the fuchsia pink 'Tom Eckhardt'.
Finally… did you know that peonies are rabbit-proof
If you have rabbits that like nothing better than to nibble from your borders, get planting peonies! Rabbits do not like the taste of plants with large, blousy flowers such as peonies, irises, lupins, oriental poppies and kniphofia, and won't be tempted to snack on their roots, stems or blooms.
