Planting Peonies
Here at my Bedford, New York farm, I have so many peonies! I cannot wait for them all to bloom.
I adore peonies and have been growing them for quite some time. I have a long tree peony border planted under the semi-shade of giant sugar maples. I have a giant bed completely dedicated to pink and white herbaceous peonies across the carriage road from my home. I have tree peonies and Itoh peonies in the formal sunken garden behind my Summer House. Late last year, we planted 75 bare root peony divisions in what will be my new cutting garden adjacent to my chickens. And this week, I decided to add a selection of peonies to the flower garden just outside my main greenhouse - a couple of them have already started to show off their gorgeous blossoms.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- Earlier this month, I received a large assortment of plants from the wholesale nursery, Monrovia. Among them, a lovely selection of peonies in white, yellow, apricot, coral, and various shades of pink.
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- I decided they would all look best in my perennial flower cutting garden. Every year, I add more and more plants to this space that would look pretty both outdoors and as cut flowers inside my home.
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- Before starting my busy day, I placed every potted peony where it should be planted. Peonies should be spaced about three feet apart where they can get at least six hours of full sun daily.
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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. Peonies are one of the best-known and most dearly loved perennials – not surprising considering their beauty, trouble-free nature, and longevity.
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- Here is a flower bud just days from opening. This is a double peony called ‘Paul M. Wild.’ In this garden, we are adding both herbaceous and Itoh peonies. Itoh peonies are hybrids of herbaceous peonies and tree peonies. Dr. Toichi Itoh, a Japanese botanist, was the first person to successfully combine the pollen from a tree peony with the ovary of an herbaceous peony in the 1940s.
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- The leaves of many peonies are pointed with a shiny, deep green color – some with a tinge of dark purple.
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- Each hole is at least twice the size of the plant. Peonies are best planted in rich, well-drained soil.
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- Once the holes are dug, the potted plants are placed into them to ensure they are the right size. These holes are about a foot-and-a-half deep and wide.
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- Our NYBG gardening intern, Matthew Orrego, sprinkles a good amount of fertilizer in the hole and on the surrounding soil. I always say, “if you eat, so should your plants.”
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- For these plants, we’re using Miracle-Gro Shake ‘n Feed Rose & Bloom fertilizer which contains micronutrients and natural ingredients, to nourish above and below the soil. Itoh peonies are sensitive to high levels of nitrogen, so when fertilizing in spring and summer, be sure to use a fertilizer that contains a low level of nitrogen.
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- Matthew mixes the fertilizer with the existing soil in the hole.
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- Next, he gently releases the plant from its container – these peonies are in excellent condition.
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- And uses a Hori Hori knife to make intentional root cuts that will encourage growth. He does this to the sides all around the pot…
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- … and then to the bottom of the root ball.
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- Here he is placing the peony into the hole – the exposed bottoms of the stems should just be level with the ground.
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- Matthew then backfills the hole and tamps down to make sure it is packed in firmly.
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- Some of the varieties planted in this garden include this herbaceous ‘Shirley Temple’ double peony with white blooms and a hint of rose surrounded by lush glossy green foliage. (Photo by Doreen Wynja for Monrovia)
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- This is ‘Bartzella’ Itoh peony. It features extra-large, vibrant yellow blooms. The outer layers are a lighter lemon meringue color, becoming a more rich yellow toward the center. And tucked within the fluffy blossoms are flares of red. ‘Bartzella’ also has a slightly spicy aroma. (Photo by Doreen Wynja for Monrovia)
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- The ‘Julia Rose’ Itoh peony shows gorgeous, large, double flowers in soft apricot with blended reddish purple tips and yellow centers. (Photo by Doreen Wynja for Monrovia)
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- And ‘Paul M. Wild’ is a herbaceous peony with velvety, ruby-red, fully double blooms. (Photo by Doreen Wynja for Monrovia)
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- This peony is the first to to start blooming. The ‘Pink Ardour’ Itoh Peony has large, semi-double flowers in bold pink, with a dark yellow stamen in the center.
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- When properly planted and cared for, these fragrant specimens can live for 100 years or even more. Soon, my farm will be filled with more blooming peonies than ever before – I’ll be sure to share photos!
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