Peony Flowers
Growing Beautiful Peony Flowers
The most commonly grown peony flowers in the United States are the species Paeonia lactiflora, otherwise known as “Chinese peony plants”. The peony plants we are most used to seeing are perennial plants that are herbaceous. There is another species that is also grown in the U.S., and it is called the “tree peony”. It is a perennial, and is considered a woody plant.
The plants we know the best have a green and glossy foliage that can reach two to three feet in height. They are about the same measurement side to side. The main reason they are so popular is the peony flowers they bear. The most strikingly colored flowers are white, red and pink. There are other colors of the fragrant flower, and some breeders have even created plants with double flowers. There is also a hybrid plant that throws yellow flowers. The various types of peony plants are native to the western states of the U.S., as well as to Europe and China.
Peonies really prefer an area where full sunlight is available. In very hot climates like southern Florida, they may grow more comfortably in partial shade. Peonies do well in fertile soil that has good drainage. The pH level they prefer is 6.0 – 7.0.
The peony is susceptible to Botrytris blight and some other diseases. Another common problem occurs when people plant their peonies too closely together. Give your plants plenty of room to grow and bloom when you plant them – three to four feet is a good guideline. If you have existing plants closer together than that, and you don't wish to transplant any, just prune them back so they don't grow quite as big.
Peony flowers can grow in almost any but the coldest of U.S. climate zones. It's best to plant non-flowering peonies sometime in the fall. To do this, dig a hole, fairly shallow, and spread the roots as you put the plant into the soil. Make sure the buds are no more than two inches under the soil surface, otherwise they may not bloom as they should. If you're planting potted peonies, you can do them in the spring.
You can plants peonies individually, or in the back rows of garden with other plants. Sometimes people plant rows of peonies to create a row like a fence row. Make sure you allow plenty of room between plants, if you wish to do this. You should add support for young peonies, with hoops or stakes, just as you do when planting tomatoes. The largest blooms are very heavy, particularly after a storm. You can trim back some of the foliage if they get too close together. If you notice that one of your plants is a lot smaller than the rest, remove it and dispose of it, as it is probably diseased. Once your peony flowers are established, you can relax and enjoy your fragrant garden.