A Passion for Paeonies

With often flamboyant blooms in shades of pink as well as ruby, lemon or white, paeonies can be real showstoppers, bringing much-anticipated drama to the garden in early summer. Their large, impressive flowers can be a simple bowl shape or flouncy, frilly, doubles with densely packed petals, similar to double rose forms. The central stamens are often golden yellow. Some are lightly scented and, blooming from late spring to early summer, they make excellent cut flowers. Their distinctive, curving, many-fingered leaves are gorgeous too. Usually burgundy as they unfurl from the soil in spring, they transform in colour to a glossy green, forming an all-important theatrical backdrop to the main event which continues after the flowers have faded.

Paeonies are, on the whole, sun lovers but some will tolerate and do well in dappled or part shade.  They’re hardy to at least -5 to  -10 degrees C with many tolerating temperatures down to -20.  New shoots may occasionally be damaged by hard, late frosts, however, mature plants shouldn’t suffer overall and will simply produce new growth to replace them.

Paeon, after whom the flowers are said to be named, featured in Greek mythology as healer of the gods. The plant itself has for millennia been thought by some to have medicinal properties, being used, among other things, for pain relief, relaxation and lowering blood pressure. Grown by medieval monks in medicinal herb gardens, it was also believed to ward off evil. Cultivated for millennia in China, it’s used in traditional medicine and is often depicted in paintings.  Fittingly, the plants themselves, although they can take time to establish and bloom, can also be very long lived, lasting for several decades.

Did you know?

A gruesome medieval superstition warned gardeners not to be seen by a woodpecker while harvesting seeds as it would peck out the eyes of the gatherer. So beware!

There are three types of paeony, herbaceous, tree and intersectional.

Herbaceous paeonies grow to 60-90cm tall, dying back completely over winter to reappear again in spring.  Generally, the single-flowered forms are more forgiving of shade.

Paeonia ‘Coral Charm’ is semi-double, with golden stamens and large coral coloured flowers aging to pale peach. Sun to light shade.

P. lactiflora ‘Duchesse de Nemours’ has large white double flowers. Sun or part shade.

P. ‘Claire de Lune’ has open, single, palest lemon flowers with mounds of yellow stamens which offer easy access to pollinators. Prefers a sunny spot but tolerates dappled shade.

Tree paeonies are shrubs which reach heights of between about 1m and a statuesque 2.5m, often with huge blooms. While they lose their leaves in winter, the woody stems stay in place. Preferring a sunny spot away from cold winds, they’re also happy in light shade.

Deep crimson Paeonia x suffruticosa ‘Mo Run Jue Lun’ reaches a modest 1.5m in height.

P. x suffruticosa ‘Rou Fu Rong’ has large, open, rose pink flowers about 17cm in diameter. Grows to approximately 2.5m tall.

P. x lemoinei ‘High Noon’ is a semi-double with bright yellow flowers, a raspberry flush at the centre and an appropriately lemony scent. 1-1.5m tall.

Intersectional paeonies are a cross between the two. Lower-growing than tree paeonies, they have a woody base which remains over winter and usually flower for longer than herbaceous paeonies.

Paeonia ‘Bartzella’ is pale yellow with a pink flush at the centre of the flower and a light, citrus fragrance.

P.  ‘Callie’s Memory’ produces pale peach flowers 20cm across with burgundy tinted edges and deep wine-red centres. A 75cm tall sun-lover.

P. ‘Visions of Sugar Plums’ has creamy petals painted with mauve-pink and deep raspberry centres. This semi double reaches about 70cm in height and needs a sunny position.

Paeonies for pollinators

Paeonies are a rich source of nectar and pollen and, although not chart-toppers in the world of pollinators, are visited by insects such as bees and hoverflies.  Plants with open, single or semi-double blooms and clearly visible stamens are best. Bees need to be able to reach the centre of the flower. This is difficult if they have to struggle through the closely-packed petals of double paeonies which also overlap the stamens. Bear in mind, too, that some intersectional paeonies are sterile and produce no pollen, so check before you buy if bee-friendliness is a priority.

Planting

Plant in spring or autumn in rich but free-draining soil. If planting in spring, water regularly to ensure they don’t dry out. Add good amounts of compost to thin, sandy soils to increase fertility. On heavy clay add organic matter along with a large handful of grit to improve drainage. Paeonies hate having wet feet, especially in winter.

They perform at their absolute best with plenty of space around them, without competition from other plants. If you’re lucky enough to have room to do this, small, low-growing annuals can be sown in the gaps to provide ground cover. This helps keep weeds at bay too.

Herbaceous and intersectional paeonies need to be planted quite shallowly; too deep and they’ll refuse to flower. The crowns should be between 2-5cm below the soil surface. Tree paeonies should be planted more deeply, with the graft union (which looks like a slight bulge) about 15cm beneath the ground.

Maintenance

Cut herbaceous forms down to ground level in autumn. Tree paeonies can be left to their own devices. Gardening opinion differs about the pruning of intersectional paeonies. They can either be left or chopped back almost to ground level. If the stems are already budding though, chop back to just above the uppermost bud.

Herbaceous paeonies, especially those with large, heavy flowerheads, may need plant supports. These are best put in place early, while plants are in first stages of growth.

Mulch with a 5cm layer of compost in spring or autumn.

You’ll find more tips here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p075v5wp  watch vid of paeony grower and enthusiast Susannah Applegate here.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/articles/growers/primrose-hall-peonies?ext=

Grow with other sun lovers. Try forget-me-nots, dephiniums, verbascums, day lilies, alliums, roses, hardy geraniums, lavender and early-flowering bulbs – as the latter go over, paeonies will be popping their heads up.

Paeonies, with their bold flowers and lush foliage, manage to combine impact with a feeling of softness and romance. While they may take some time to bloom well, they’re easy to grow if planted according to their wishes, have few maintenance needs and are also long-lived, providing many years of enjoyment.