• much loved, old favourite
• exceedingly tough
• tolerates most conditions except excessive wet
• long-lived
• must have in perennial border
• blooms in June
• 2′ X 2′ or larger
• deeply lobed, leathery leaves turn attractive red in fall
• require 6 – 8 hours of sunlight to bloom profusely
• scented
• many colours

Even though peonies only bloom for a few weeks around June, they remain one of the most popular garden perennials. Paeonia lactifolia differs from the Tree Peony as it is herbaceous and dies completely down for winter unlike the Tree Peony, which retains its woody stems. Peonies live for a very long time and it is not unusual to find old peonies on eighty year old abandoned homesteads.

When first purchased as a bare root or from a friend’s split tuber, peonies need deep watering to become established but once established they prefer dry conditions. Newly planted peonies may take two or three years to bloom. However once they start you will have big beautiful scented blooms every year. The best chance of obtaining earlier bloom is to plant in the fall, which allows a good root system to grow from the tuber before spring. Peonies don’t like being disturbed so if you do dig one up to divide the tuber, expect a one or two year recovery time.

Peonies are pretty much bug free. There is no need to fuss about ants. Ants naturally like the sweet nectar oozing from the flower buds but buds will open and be beautiful with or without ants. Some say the ants protect the buds from other insects but I have yet to see a damaging insect on any of my peonies!

Originating from China, where they were used for many different purposes including medicinal, Peonies are now popular in many parts of the world. There are about 33 species with thousands of cultivars sporting different colours and fragrances.

I have no idea what any of the cultivars in my garden are. They have been obtained over the years from friends and informal plant sales.