Peony (Paeonia)
[pay-OH-nee-ah]

Deciduous Perennial in the Paeoniaceae Family

About Peonies

If the Plant Kingdom had a Royal Family, Paoenia (Peony) might just be Queen.

 

Peonies rely on their somewhat fragile, very thin stems to support their frilly, absolutely breathtaking blooms. Form beats out function on these beauties, as they often need to be staked or hooped to remain upright under the sheer weight of their own gorgeousness. Oh, and did we mention that they smell divine?

 

Pro tip: notice an ant parade in your peony patch? No worries. Peony nectar is very sweet and these plants are usually quite revered by their hardworking subjects. After all, ants know a good queen when they see one! If you’d like to enjoy cut flowers without inviting an ant colony into your home, just cut right before a bud blooms - it should be about the size and firmness of a marshmallow and just starting to show color. Put it in water, wait a day or two, and enjoy ant-free beauty for up to a month straight.

Pros

  • Delightful floral smell
  • Beautiful, big, colorful blooms
  • Make great cut flowers

 

Cons

  • May need to be staked or hooped to remain upright during bloom time
  • Should be deadheaded after blooming

 
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 60 inches tall. 24 - 36 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Peonies are drought tolerant for short periods after establishment but best growth and healthier roots stem from consistent watering. On average, plants need 1 inch of water per week.
Zones 3a - 8b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Edging, Formal Garden, Fragrant Flowers, Full Sun, Good for Accents, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Hedges, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rock Garden, Low Maintenance, Medium, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Shrub, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period Spring
 

Rankings
 

Related Articles
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Iris, Columbines, Alliums, Roses, Bleeding Heart, Foxgloves, Hydrangeas.

Photos of This with...

Bath's Pink Cheddar Pink, Summer White Tall Bearded Iris, Wench Tall Bearded Iris, Schroeder Strain Alpine Currant
 


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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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