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Credit: K Van Bourgondien -
Credit: Salicyna
Growing Tips: Peonies
OVERVIEW
Peonies are a classic ingredient of the perennial border and have been in cultivation for over 2000 years. Beloved for their abundant blooms, the beauty of their exquisite flowers, their delightful fragrance, and their bold foliage changing shades over the seasons, peony flowers add a dazzling splash of color in the late spring and early summer garden.
SITE SELECTION
- Full sun and well-drained soil.
PLANTING
- The best time to plant peonies is in early fall, so they will have time to become established in the soil before winter. They do not flower during the first year of planting and may take up to two years to produce their showy, fragrant blooms.
- Rootstock buds (eyes) should be planted about 1–2" below the soil surface. Dig a hole 12–18" deep and 12" wide and replace part of the soil in the form of a cone, then spread the roots over it.
SPRING/SUMMER CARE
- Most peonies flower for 7 - 10 days in late spring/early summer.
- Little maintenance is required. Peonies are long-lived and can be left undisturbed for years.
FALL/WINTER CARE
- Cut foliage to the ground, and remove it from the garden in fall after frost.
- Peonies need cold winters. The chilling prompts bud formation.
- Cover root areas with mulch in winter, especially in climates where snow cover is minimal. In zones 9-10 they are harder to grow for this reason.
OTHER CARE TIPS
- Each plant will flower for approximately 7–10 days. Remove spent flowers after bloom, cut foliage to the ground, and remove it from the garden in fall after frost.
- Peonies are long-lived and can be left undisturbed for years. Peonies do not like to be moved once they are established, so plan their location carefully.
- To extend bloom time, plant cultivars with staggered bloom times (there are early, mid, and late blooming varieties)
SOURCES
https://www.finegardening.com/article/intoxicating-itoh-peonies-for-northern-california
https://shop.arborday.org/coral-charm-peony?srsltid=AfmBOoq_NFYMVRM7hRmLf--CQysPS1ANVdE2GJgF9Zx0V0boHWMOZnua