Originally written for West Sound Magazine in 2014.
One day, the Greek goddess Aphrodite caught Apollo flirting with a shy, beautiful nymph named Paeonia. When Paeonia realized the goddess was watching them, her face flushed a deep rose-red. In a fit of jealous anger, Aphrodite turned the blushing girl into a rose-colored peony. According to Greek mythology, modern gardeners owe thanks to their ancient gods for the peonies that continue to blush in our gardens today.
Paeonia’s real journey began more than 100,000 years ago. Geological evidence suggests it represents one of the oldest flowering plant groups. Paeonias have charmed people for thousands and thousands of years. Throughout written history, the plant appears in myths, superstitions, poetry, paintings and stories from around the world. It is easy to see why these large, glamorous blossoms would capture people’s hearts.
Paeonia’s botanical name comes from the root paean, which is a hymn of praise to a helping god, or derived from the name of a physician to the gods. The name meant healer.
Paeonia’s botanical name comes from the root paean, which is a hymn of praise to a helping god, or derived from the name of a physician to the gods. The name meant healer. The Japanese called peonies the flower of June, bringing happiness and marriage, while the Chinese believed it brought prosperity. European colonists loved the plant enough to bring it to the New World, and Victorians thought it represented shame and shyness. Today, the plant shows no sign of going away. Although threatened in the wild around the world, peonies are here to stay in gardens.
There are three classifications of peonies: herbaceous (nonfood), tree (shrub), and Itohs (intersectionals). Tree peonies have fewer cultivars to choose from, yet are highly sought after as a specimen shrub for the garden. A more recent group, bred in 1949, is a cross between tree and herbaceous peonies. The intergeneric cross gave new colors of brilliant yellow and orange to the herbaceous plants. Both the herbaceous and Itohs die back to the ground every year, sprout again the following year, and grow quickly to blooming size by mid to late spring. The Itohs have stronger stems and are less likely to flop to the ground under the weight of the large flowers.
The old-fashioned flowers some remember from their grandmother’s garden remain popular in modern-day landscapes. Many are still sought after for their large flowers, fragrance, and easy care. The plants can live for 40 years in the garden. Some well-documented specimens have lived over 70 years.
Peonies are a favorite for cut flowers because of their bright colors and big blooms. When the fuzzy bud starts to open and you can see the flower’s color, it’s the right time to cut the stems. Some gardeners pull the whole stem to the side so it breaks off at the base. Dipping the stem tips in hot water helps reduce sap flow. Peony flowers can last up to seven days in a vase.
Peony Care
As charming as peonies are, they don’t take a lot of effort to grow. Except for staking herbaceous peonies correctly and planting at the proper depth, the plants need very little care. Appropriate planting depth and good air circulation around the plants are essential considerations.
The main reason peonies don’t bloom is that the roots are planted too deep or covered with too much mulch. Bare roots should be no deeper than 2 inches. For potted herbaceous peonies, plant them half an inch deeper than the soil in the pot. Plant grafted tree peonies 4 inches below the graft so they grow on their own roots. Make sure your peonies have enough space for good airflow to prevent gray mold (botrytis).
For herbaceous peonies that flop under the weight of their blossoms, you can use green bamboo stakes around the perimeter of your plants and tie with green twine before the plant opens its heavy blossoms. Alternatively, use metal stakes with bendable arms to help support the plant and keep it upright when the weight of the flowers tries to bend the stems to the ground. To avoid spearing the roots, be careful when setting stakes, and keep them away from the underground parts.
You might see ants on your peony buds before they bloom. Some people think ants help the buds open, but that’s not true. The ants are just attracted to the sweet nectar on the buds. They don’t harm the flowers and will leave once the blooms open, so you don’t need to use any insect control.
Peonies are a long-term addition to your garden and need careful planting. They can live for 40 years or more. Prepare your garden in advance and choose a spot that gets at least six hours of sunlight each day. Dig a hole at least 15 inches deep and 30 inches wide, away from tree or shrub roots.
Peonies can handle the usual acidic soil found in West Sound, but they grow best in soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. When planting, add three large handfuls of lime to the hole and mix it into the soil.
Drought-tolerant once established, your peony will grace your garden for decades to come.
Top photo: Paeonia ‘Friendship’ won the 2012 Award of Landscape Merit from the American Peony Society. (Herbaceous Hybrid)
Initially written for the West Sound Magazine, the article appeared in the magazine’s 2014 summer issue.