Hardy Northern Grown Perennials For The Discerning Gardener
How to Grow Peony Plants and How to Care for Peonies:Peonies are easy to grow, attractive garden plants that produce beautiful, large showy blooms mid-spring to late-spring. Prized by florists for their superior cut flower attributes, peonies also make exceptional garden plants and they are also very deer resistant! Because winter chilling is required for dormancy, peonies often do not perform well in the lower South. Early blooming and single or Japanese cultivars generally perform better in more temperate climates
You can purchase peony tubers at Stargazer Perennials online or at our farm in Eastern Oregon in the spring. Late in the summer we offer our hardy peony plants in 1 gallon nursery trade containers both online and at our farm and nursery.
Browse peony plants and peony descriptions here...
Most herbaceous peonies grow between 2 to 3 feet tall with a 3-to 4-foot spread when mature. Some cultivars and species will grow a foot taller or lower. Peonies are long-lived, but slow-growing at first. Garden peonies will usually begin blooming within three years after planting.
Peonies are grown for their large, showy and fragrant flowers. Most peonies have very attractive foliage that makes them a useful addition to the landscape all season. Peonies are used as specimens in borders and herbaceous hedges and are excellent cut flowers.
Herbaceous peonies need at least six hours of full sun a day for good bloom. Afternoon shade will protect flowers from fading too quickly in hot areas. Tree peonies should always have dappled or afternoon shade since the large, silky petals are damaged by excess sun.
Well-drained, loamy soil is best for good growth of peonies. Good drainage is vital to avoid root rot and fungal diseases. If your soil is heavy clay, amend it with compost or finely ground pine bark to improve drainage and organic matter content. Avoid using manure-based composts, as they seem to inhibit blooming in our experience.
Peonies prefer a pH of 6.5 to 7.0. You may need to add lime to your soil to raise the pH for best growth of peonies. Peonies are long-lived in the garden and are worth extra trouble at the time of planting, since they may stay in the same spot for many years.
Although traditionally fall dividing and planting has been recommended, we have noted better establishment and less winter loss after spring plantings, so we now recommend either spring or fall planting. Dig a hole 12 to 18 inches deep and 12 inches wide and amend with compost. We recommend watering the prepared bed and letting it settle before planting. This will minimize settling of the plant. Replace part of the soil in the form of a cone and spread the roots over it. Set the roots so that the tip of the eyes (swollen pink or reddish buds) will be no deeper than 1 inch below the surface of the soil. Most failures to bloom are caused by deep planting.
Water peonies thoroughly and deeply once every 10 to 14 days. Deep watering will encourage deep rooting. Once established, peonies are very drought-resistant. Apply a low nitrogen complete fertilizer such as our Down To Earth Organic Rose and Flower 4-8-4 Fertilizer at the rate of two to three pounds per 100 square feet (or 1-2 cups per plant) in the spring when the stems are about 2 or 3 inches high. Scratch fertilizer gently into the soil around the plant; never apply directly onto plants. When you work around the plants in the early spring, be careful of the tender emerging shoots. They will usually be dark red.
Remove seed heads after flowering is finished to allow the plant to store more energy for next year’s bloom. In the fall, after frost, cut back the dead stems of herbaceous peonies down to the soil surface. This is very important if you have had any disease problems. Discard the stems. They should not be used in the compost pile.
Peonies may be left undisturbed for many years. If you want to divide or move your peonies, do so in late September
or October, or very early in spring as soon as the soil is workable. Carefully lift the clump and wash away the soil to expose the eyes. Using a clean, sharp tool, divide the clump into sections, each with three to five eyes and good roots. Replant immediately.Most peonies need support to prevent the stems from flopping under the weight of their flowers. Commercial hoops are available for this purpose. You can also use a ring of three or four stakes with loops of tape or plant ties to attach the plants to the stakes for support.
When you cut peonies for the house, pick the flowers in the soft bud stage. They should feel like soft marshmallows. Leave at least 3 leaves per stem on the plant. Recut the stems under warm water and strip off any leaves that would contact water in the vase. The flowers should open within a day of being placed in a vase.
Peonies have few pests or diseases. The most frequently occurring problems are the fungal diseases Botrytis blight and leaf blotch. To help control diseases, cut off all peony plants level with the ground in the fall. Do not add the old tops to your compost pile. Avoid overhead irrigation. The only insect pests of any consequence on peonies are scales and Japanese beetles. Ants are attracted to peonies because of the sweet sap the flower buds secrete. It is a myth that ants are necessary to permit peonies to bloom.
A common problem of peonies is the failure to bloom. It may be the result of planting too deeply, immature plants, excess nitrogen, inadequate sunlight, overcrowding, nutrient deficiency, insect or disease problems, competition from roots of nearby plants or late freezes. Some cultivars will fail to bloom in zones 8 and 9 because they lack sufficient winter chilling.
Photos from August 21st and 22nd -
Enjoying delicious Dutch Oven peach desserts at our farm / nursery! April Simpson teaching How to Can Fresh Peaches in our farm classroom
A view inside our garden store. Nick consulting on plant choices in the nursery.
Enjoying delicious Dutch Oven peach desserts at our farm / nursery! April Simpson teaching How to Can Fresh Peaches in our farm classroom
A view inside our garden store. Nick consulting on plant choices in the nursery.
Site Map
Copyright . Stargazer Perennials. All rights reserved.
The Stargazer Family of Websites
The Fly Fishing Place Farm Fresh Living High Mountain Domains Hardy Gardening
Recession Proof Your Income by Starting Your own Online Business
Visit the Stargazer Perennials Farm and Nursery
Stargazer Perennials is a sustainable, green company committed to environmentally responsible organic farming techniques.
Copyright . Stargazer Perennials. All rights reserved.
The Stargazer Family of Websites
The Fly Fishing Place Farm Fresh Living High Mountain Domains Hardy Gardening
Recession Proof Your Income by Starting Your own Online Business
Visit the Stargazer Perennials Farm and Nursery
Stargazer Perennials is a sustainable, green company committed to environmentally responsible organic farming techniques.