Success with Peonies in the Northeast

Understand their particular needs for bountiful early summer blooms full of fragrance

total peony ( Paeoniaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3 - 8) to a garden institute enormous time value . They are very long - lived and often are passed down from generation to coevals . Once established , a peony industrial plant will allow for cut flowers and fragrance for as long as you live in your base . My peony garden ( above ) was planted by my grandparent in the 1920s and continues to produce armloads of flowers every June .

The three types of peony

Herbaceous peonies : The most common peony are herbaceous peonies . These plants are what most of us visualize as the classical , old - fashioned , cutting - blossom peony that can be find at florist shops or cut - heyday farms . Often very fragrant , these flora croak back to the ground every autumn .

Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree peonies : Most tree peony ( P. suffruticosa , Zones 4–8 ) salmagundi are a bit more affectionate for those of us garden in the Northeast . Most are count truly hardy to Zone 6 , but I dare to plant a brace in a protect spot ; once they are establish , they can often survive through Zone 5 . Not unfeignedly trees , these are Asiatic works that shape permanent woody stems that gradually grow longer with each year . flower are produced after mild winter at the end of each branch .

Itoh hybrids : The third grouping is rather raw on the scene — the intersectional , or Itoh , hybrids , first bred and develop by Dr. Itoh in the tardy sixties . Itohs offer the salutary of both herbaceous and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree peonies . They generally have excellent daring ( the plants die back completely to the ground like herbaceous peonies ) and produce tumid flowers with the warmer colour pallette of tree paeony . Itoh paeony are pricey , but I consider them an excellent investment . The foliage is attractive enough by itself , remaining upright and often as showy as that of any hydrangea ( Hydrangeaspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) or other cosmetic shrub until fall frost arrives .

Choosing the perfect spot

One of those plants that dislike being moved , paeony are relatively carefree . The best advice is often to plant them and bequeath them alone . That aver , most of the work that comes with peony culture happens up - front : gear up a seam with plenteous grunge and positioning the peony where large trees wo n’t shade the bed too much .

works peonies in a gay spot ( a few hr of shade is OK ) . paeony love having lots of room and develop best with bare blank around them . Any competition near the roots will affect future blooms . As such , they are n’t the best choice for repeated edge unless you’re able to keep other plant farther out . Many peony lovers set out peonies in a consecrate bed with works in row or grids . Mulch annually with a thin software of chopped wood bark , or ideally , a mixture of compost manure and barque mulch . If you set paeony near other perennials , provide them with sight of way , with no plants closer than 24 in by .

Maintenance is easy

on-going care is simple . In addition to mulch and compost in spring , peony benefit from fertilizer . While balanced feeder ( like a 10 - 10 - 10 or a natural , organic app of leaf mold ) are appropriate , many peony agriculturist use a bulb plant food ; anything dispirited in nitrogen but higher in atomic number 19 and atomic number 15 , such as a 5 - 10 - 10 , applied once in belated wintertime to help build up roots will work . Typically , any granular , tedious - release bulb fertilizer consisting of osseous tissue meal or parentage meal will do . aside from that , a light cleanup in belated autumn or the following spring to polish off dead stem is often all that is need .

However , staking may be the biggest job , as the magnanimous flowers can and will fall over with their weight . you’re able to use alloy peony rings prepare around plants while they are emerging . you may also use simple bamboo cane and twine wrapped loosely around the integral clustering . As for pismire on the flower bud , they are harmless , and while myths abound about them helping to open up prime buds , they are only savour the sweet sap emitted before flowers open .

Finding the perfect variety

You will find peony plants show in mint at greenhouse in springiness , but traditionally , bareroot peonies are planted in autumn , which is when specialist nurseries ship peony crowns . Either works , though often more interesting or new varieties can be found via mail service order . Looking for your new favourite peony ? Check out these resources :

— Matt Mattus is the author of two book : master the Art of Flower GardeningandMastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening . He gardens in Worcester , Massachusetts .

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peony border with pink and red flowers

If you are planting a peony border like this one, make sure to provide ample space between each plant for proper performance.Photo: Matt Mattus

pink herbaceous peony

‘Sarah Bernhardt’ (P.‘Sarah Bernhardt’, Zones 3–8) is a classic among herbaceous peonies for its ruffled double flowers and distinctive blush color.Photo: Matt Mattus

hardy pink tree peony