Peony Growing Basics for the Mid-Atlantic

These ancient plants will give you decades of fragrant flowers when provided the right conditions

As one of the most unmistakable and recognizable flowers in the world , the peony has been fear for its enduring sweetheart andfragrancefor century . It is believe that these highly valued efflorescence have been cultivated in China since 1000 BC . Since then , hybridizers have been creating a myriad of salient cultivar in a blanket scope of colouring material and flower forms .

Generally comfortable to care for in the right surround , these intoxicating flower have found their path into million of garden all over the world . It is not uncommon for a single specimen to live up to 100 yr , which speaks to its general toughness and adaptability . However , there are a few key cultural constituent you may provide that will maximize industrial plant health and floral display for decennary to come .

Peony Planting and Care: Similarities Across All Three Types

There are three main types of peonies : herbaceous , intersectional , and tree diagram or woody peonies . Regarding oecumenical peony care overall , the three types have sealed similarities : All value well - draining soil with a gamy organic matter content . One sure way to produce an unhappy peony is to have heavy corpse grime that is waterlogged . They contemn wet roots . And with some person producing an abundance of flowers up to 10 in across , adequate fertility is a must . Soil pH should be neutral to slenderly acidic . Upon planting , incorporate a well broken - down compost as well as biochar can aid in creating the right soil environment .

Planting and mulching

Paeoniaroot systems are a flake territorial and are not fans of have neighbour or rival . It is best to keep all other plant away from the thick fleshy roots . melody circulation and right spatial arrangement is also important for plant life vigor . If paeony are plant too closely together , or if insufficient strain apparent movement creates a humid environment , foliar fungal pathogens such aspowdery mildewandbotrytiscan be coarse . as luck would have it these diseases are not deadly , but they will affect overall wellness . If either of these pathogens does appear , I commend move out the stirred foliage , which will reduce the spread of the disease in the current develop season as well as the next .

While soggy soil is detrimental , consistent moisture is idealistic . Mulching is beneficial for all three types . I use a 50 - 50 mixture of well - maturate leaf compost and woodchips . This aids in keeping the beginning shaded and nerveless and helps retain uniform territory wet . Then as the mulch decomposes , organic matter works its manner down among the ascendant organisation .

Fertilizing

The specimen under my attention get three applications of slow - vent organicfertilizeryearly . One software occurs in early spring as buds being to emerge from underground or as bud scales begin to crack . This provides a boost in nutrition as the new maturation spring forth . The second program comply concisely after petal drop to interchange any nutrients used during shoot , foliage , and flower maturation . The third app is in August and focuses on ancestor development as the plants commence preparing for dormancy . All that being said , it is always advisable to perform a grease test every few age to be sure you are supply the best environment possible . I always say , “ sizable soil equals sizable plants . ”

Deadheading and dividing

Unless you are assay your hand at hybridizing your own cultivar , it is good to deadhead peonies short after flowering . Since they are self - fertile , a undecomposed deal of energy can go into acquire ejaculate , which can run through energy reserve and reduce blooms the following year . By dispatch exhausted bloom , you may avoid the potential Energy Department depletion .

Planting and dividing should be reserved for fall . A big deal of resources put in in the root over winter go toward Modern growth and bloom development in spring . This entail the tooth root system is already a bit compromise in natural spring , so transplant or dividing during this time could cause trauma that may take a few years for your paeony to recover from . Conversely , if you waitress until September to divide or transplantation , the build - up resources that have been produced over the growing time of year are being enthrall to the root system of rules , and root maturation is occurring .

Now Let’s Chat About the Differences

Tree or woody peonies

Tree or woody paeony are repeated woody bush . Often develop to 4 foot or more in tiptop , single staunch are winter intrepid and can endure for many years . in the main , these peony are the earliest of the three types to bloom and bring about up to dinner plate – size of it flowers that are often fragrant . The petals of these frail flowers often pass off quickly if they are let out to harsh afternoon sun , so a locating in partial sunlight is best . A spot with full morning Sunday with mottled eminent shade in the good afternoon is idealistic .

annual pruning is not necessary , other than removing dead stems and spent bloom stalks . I generally look to prune the woody specimens until mid - March when it is very easy to see the sound bud expanding . Any portion of the plant that is not showing signs of life should be removed . Over prison term as the big mature stems elongate , they can become top gruelling due to the weight of the flowers . If this occur , murder the stem as close to the base of the bush as potential . This will eliminate the chance of the stem breaking , and it will also excite new shoot growing from the base . Depending on the energy of your individual cultivar , you may not ever have to take out stems .

Intersectional peonies

Intersectional peony are mark between herbaceous and woody peonies . These crossing often exhibit the best characteristics of each parent industrial plant . The vigor of the herbaceous peony is exhibited , and the exuberant flower characteristic of the woody peonies are usually present as well . It ’s the best of both humanity .

The peonies in this chemical group prefer full Lord’s Day , which is a minimum of six hours of unmediated sun per day . They disagree from woody paeony in that they do require yearly pruning . Individual stems produce semi - woody characteristics and often have viable bud several inches or up to a foot above the territory level . These bud can be winter hardy and can produce flowers , but almost all the tips of each stem will die back . I send word waiting until mid - March to remove all the nonviable stem baksheesh . You will also observe that as the intersectionals are breaking quiescence , they acquire many new bud and stanch from the substructure every year . I find that pruning all the root word to the base yearly produces a much more compact sizable wont .

Herbaceous peonies

Herbaceous peony are straight perennials . They produce novel shoots from the ascendent system yearly . No part of these plant will ever become woody in nature .

A annual cutback is necessary to remove all aboveground part of herbaceous peony . The timing of this cutback depends on the cultivar you are originate . Many herbaceous cultivars are susceptible to fungal pathogens . These pathogen often show up during the most humid portions of the growing time of year . The presence of disease often results in off - colored or misshapen foliage , and in severe display case the leaf and stems may start other dormancy and become brownish . If either of these situations occurs , the mortal is not properly photosynthesizing , and its longsighted - terminal figure health is compromise . I take away all stems to the infrastructure and thus remove the pathogen from developing future infestation . If you are favorable enough to avoid fungal pathogen , removal of the aboveground parting can take billet any clip after dormancy sets in .

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Iphigenia tree peony

‘Iphigenia’ tree peony (Paeonia’Iphigenia', Zones 4-8) is showing off fabulous blooms. Peonies will reward you heartily when given the right conditions and care.

woody peony with peach colored flowers

A beautiful woody peony specimen and a close-up of one of its massive flowers.

deadheading a tree peony after blooming

This tree peony just finished blooming, so it’s time to break out the pruners.

tree peony after deadheading

Immediately after deadheading, the tree peony looks better and is saving crucial energy for more blooms next year.

before and after pruning woody peony

These photos show before (left) and after (right) woody peony pruning to remove weak and broken stems no longer able to support the weight of the flowers. This will also encourage new growth from the base of the specimen and improve shape.

close up of intersectional peony base