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Showing posts with label late spring flowers. Show all posts

Friday, March 15, 2024

Peonies are Lovely Spring & Summer Flowers that are Easy to Grow

I planted my peony 25 years ago. It continues to give me the gift of gorgeous blooms year after year.

Peonies are perennials, which is why they continue to produce lovely flowers each year. They do well in a variety of soils. I happen to have a clay soil and as you can see, my peony is perfectly content with her environment.

It may surprise you to know that the large peony bush is actually a tuber that is planted in the fall. I've never had to move my peony for extreme cold or ice. She retreats underground before winter, but pops right back up in spring. It is mid-march here now and I am already seeing her shoots as she prepares to fully awaken. I don't expect to see actual blooms until late April, but my peony takes center stage when she is ready.

If you are interested in planting a peony like mine (shown on the right), she is a Sarah Barnhardt peony. I ordered her from Breck's Nursery, which is still in business. I prefer them because they ship at the right time for planting in your zone. That is something I always appreciate about that nursery! I can make an order in spring or summer (when I see a flower blooming) and then the nursery sends me the bulb or tuber at the correct planting time. That makes gardening so much easier! They keep up with the calendar for me. Because bulbs & tubers require very little time to plant, it has never been inconvenient for me to plant them within a day or two of arrival.

First Peony Shoots in Spring - 3/12/24

First Full Bloom in 2024 - (4/16/24)

Peony Bush on 4/16/24

Planting Peonies

Because the peony is a tuber, it is extremely easy to plant. The hardest part for me is determining which side is up. Don't laugh! I have actually spent more time inspecting a tuber, looking for the eyes, then it takes to actually plant it.

We get a moderate to high amount of wind in our area, so I elected to plant our peony in front of our south-facing fence and on the east side of the house. The fence and house provide protection from winds which blow from west to east during a storm.

Late spring, early summer blooming
Fall planting
Plant in an area that stays well drained
Full sun to partial shade
Dig a wider hole than necessary to loosen the dirt around it to allow the roots to grow
Mix *bulb food into the soil (purchased along with the peony)
1 1/2 - 2 inches deep (the pink bud eyes should be at that depth)
When winter arrives and the plant dies back, cut to just above ground level
It usually takes 2 or 3 years before a peony blooms, but they are worth the wait

*Bulb food: I use Breck's Food for Bulbs & Perennials OR Osmocote when planting

Peony Blooms

The peony blooms are impressively large. That is my husbands hand holding the flower up for me to photograph. You can see how big the flower is compared to a mans hand.

I often cut them and bring them inside so I can enjoy seeing the lovely bloom throughout my day.

When our children were in grade school, they loved taking a few peony blooms to their teachers. A single peony flower is as lovely as a dozen roses, in my opinion, and I do love roses.