My Herbaceous Peonies in Bloom
My herbaceous peony garden is blooming with brilliant pinks and whites!
Every year, I’m always amazed by the dazzling display of these beautiful flowers - it’s one of the most anticipated sights on my Bedford, New York farm. Friends and family love the peonies as much as I do and rush to see them in all their splendor every June. When I first planted this garden, I knew I wanted many, many peonies in one large area. I chose a location across from my Winter House, where there's lots of room and full sun - a spot where I could also see the beautiful floral show from my window. All the peonies in this garden came from Roy Klehm, the owner of Klehm’s Song Sparrow Nursery in Avalon, Wisconsin - and I love every single one.
Enjoy these photos.
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- In late May, my herbaceous peony bed is filled with knee-high stems and dense green foliage. Everyone is always so excited to see this great peony garden explode with color.
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- Before the flowers appear, my outdoor grounds crew puts up stakes, so the peonies are well-supported as they grow. We use natural twine and metal uprights I designed myself.
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- By the first of June, the first peonies are up.
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- One of the reasons these peonies thrive here at the farm is because of the soil. It has a pH of 6.5 to 7.0, which is ideal. It is also amended with superphosphate and Azomite, a natural product mined from an ancient mineral deposit in Utah. These natural additives improve root systems and overall plant vigor, resulting in this fantastic profusion of blooms.
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- Here, the beds are covered with beautiful blooming peonies. Herbaceous peonies grow two to four feet tall with sturdy stems and blooms that can reach up to 10-inches wide. We spaced the plants about three to four feet apart to avoid any competing roots.
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- The peony is any plant in the genus Paeonia, the only genus in the family Paeoniaceae. They are native to Asia, Europe, and Western North America.
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- Peony blooms range from simple blossoms to complex clusters with a variety of petal forms.
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- The single form includes flowers with one or two rows of petals that surround the stamens and anthers in the center. ‘Mischief’ features bold lightly scented pink flowers with golden stamens. It has a rounded form with a medium texture. It grows to about 24-inches tall at maturity, extending to three feet tall with the flowers.
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- Semi-double peonies are those which have single or double rows of broad petals encircling more broad petals and an exposed center crown.
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- This flower form is a bomb with a large number of petals rising in the center to form a distinct mound.
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- The peony is a perennial flower. The majority of peonies are hybrids and classified as herbaceous, or as deciduous tree peonies. The peony is showy, frilly, and incredibly fragrant, with thick, large green leaves and tuberous root systems.
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- Peonies are considered northern flowers – they tolerate and even prefer cold winter temperatures. They are hardy in zones 3 through 8 and need more than 400-hours of temperatures below 40-degrees Fahrenheit annually to break dormancy and bloom properly.
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- Among the varieties in my collection – ‘Elsa Sass’, ‘Victorian Blush’, ‘Fringed Ivory’, ‘Martha’, ‘Madylone’, ‘Lullaby Coos’, ‘Vivid Glow’, ‘Angel Cheeks’, ‘Miss America’ and ‘Flying Pink Saucers’.
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- ‘Abalone Pearl’ is a semi-double with fragrant, coral-pink petals and a golden center. The foliage is dark green and attractive, and it blooms early.
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- This is ‘Star Power’. It has pure white, large blossoms with bold round guard petals and red tipped stigmas.
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- ‘Beautiful Señorita’, a Japanese variety, has a double row of deep, pink guard petals and a creamy center.
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- The peony’s fragrance can vary, but most have sweet, clean scents. And, do you know… pink peonies tend to have stronger fragrances than red peonies? Double form white peonies are also very aromatic.
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- Peonies usually bloom quite easily. Be sure to always plant the eyes, the points at which new growth emerges, no more than two inches deep. Also, be sure the plants get at least six hours of full sun per day.
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- If needed, give a balanced perennial fertilizer. Peonies love potassium. It is essential for stem strength but also helps promote strong flower production.
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- Flower colors come in white, pink, yellow, red and coral and the various shades and tints of each.
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- For the most part, peonies are disease resistant and they don’t require any pesticides. They do, however, take some time to get established, so be patient. And if you happen to see ants crawling on your peonies, don’t worry. The insects are attracted to the sugary syrup produced by the buds. Once the flower opens fully, and the sucrose has been finished, the ants disappear.
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- Keep in mind, plants do not usually flower the first year. The initial year is concentrated on developing a good root system and foliage. The second year should prove more successful.
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- Plant peonies away from trees or shrubs, and provide them with shelter from strong winds.
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- Here’s a view of the peony garden from above taken with my drone.
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- The peony garden is surrounded on all sides by this beautiful boxwood hedge, which I designed to grow in two layers – they’ve matured so nicely. In winter I wrap the boxwood in burlap, which helps protect them from the harsh winds and heavy snow.
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- Peonies make wonderful sentinels in the garden or lined on walkways. After the bloom fades, its bushy clump of glossy, green leaves lasts the rest of summer.
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- Peonies usually bloom quite easily, but if your peonies aren’t blooming, the plants may need more light.
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- When using peonies for cut flowers, gather them early in the morning, and cut those whose buds are beginning to show color and feel similar to firm marshmallows. Always cut the stems at an angle and change the water daily.
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- Peonies are plants that can be enjoyed for many years – they can live up to 100-years and still produce magnificent flowers.
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- The only disadvantage of peonies is that each field yields one crop of cut flowers for a couple of weeks only once a year, and then that’s it – until the next season when they bloom with splendor once again.
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