Spotlight Plant Of The Month For May: Peonies

Sometimes it is easy to be envious of those who live in really warm Pink Peonies climates. People down south can grow remarkable plants such as crepe myrtles, palms, and jasmine. One thing that those of us who live in the northern regions of the country have an edge over our southern breathren is the ability to grow some wonderful peonies.

Peonies require a prolonged winter chill. That is one of the reasons why people who live in zones 8
and higher have such a struggle to grow these plants. Ask most northern folks, and I am sure the peony ranks as one of northern gardener's favorite plants to grow. So, the queen of the May garden would have to be the homey and lovely peony.

To me, peonies mean my Mom, and I can remember her wonderful plants. I have no idea what cultivars she grew, I just remember that there were deep red ones, white ones, and pink ones. Their buds reminded me of huge lollipops, and the ants must have thought so too, since they all seemed to gather around the tops of the unopened buds to gather their sweet nectar. We used to think that ants were necessary for the buds to open, but alas, that whimsical tale is not true; they were there because of the sweet nectar that these flowers exude.

These lovely flowers come just about the time that the French lilacs are done with their show. They are the bridge between the flowers of spring and the summer floral displays. Flouncy like young girls going to the Prom, they are sweet and informal, but elegant at the same time, too.

If these lovely plants have one fault, it is their top-heaviness. Late spring thunderstorms are commonplace to our region, and a good, windy rainstorm will cause these flowers to flop over if they are not supported. It is a sad, sad sight to see these proud flowers bent over on the ground after a rainstorm! So, if you grow them, please give them the support they need!

Speaking of support, peonies are among the first plants to emerge in the spring. They often start to emerge from the ground in late March. One would think that there is a world of time before having to add plant supports to these plants, but don't delay! Peonies can grow remarkably fast, and often are tall enough by mid-April to make adding plant supports a difficult task. Add the supports when the shoots first emerge, and the stalks will grow right through them.

Peonies like to stay put. Plant them where you intend them to stay, because they will last for a long time if left undisturbed. One can still go to abandoned farmsteads and see stands of peonies around old garden beds. I am sure many of these plants have seen much history and many generations pass!

They are big eaters, too. If you work in some compost or composted manure in the early spring, they will reward you in abundance. Be sure to remember that when you go around doing your yard chores in late winter to early spring.

Fall is the ideal time to plant peonies. They like it shallow, so plant them with their "eyes" no deeper than two to three inches. This is particularly true of packaged peonies or peonies purchased in the fall from mail order sources.

If for some reason you are forced to move these plants in the spring or the summer, take a large rootball of soil with them. They should not be disturbed, as I mentioned, and may suffer some setback. But, if you take them with a very large portion of the soil in which they are growing, they should survive.

After the bloom season, the plants make handsome shrubs in the border. Long after blooming has ended, a few branches of peony stems with their lovely muted green leaves make wonderful filler material for summertime bouquets.

I may live in a modern home, but I will tell you this: There are few plants around that can make a home feel more established than peonies. My late spring flower arrangements always include these wonderfully fragrant plants. May just wouldn't be the same without them!