Published: April 26, 2008 11:09 pm            

It's Alive

Peonies are a staple in many Oklahoma gardens. Originating in China, their journey to the gardens of our south central plains seems unlikely.

Introduced to Japan in medieval times and to Europe in the late 1700s, peonies (aka Paeonia) found a place in gardeners’ hearts everywhere they went.

The Japanese found the single flowered, anemone forms most intriguing and declared them as their own.

French breeders recognized their sturdiness and began breeding for color and form.

Today numerous named varieties make peony a popular choice among collectors.

Peonies fall into two general categories: tree peonies and herbaceous peonies.

The herbaceous types, Paeonia lactiflora, are what we are most familiar with. The foliage dies back to the ground each winter, reemerging with vigor and blooms the following spring.

With a few simple ground rules, a peony plant may out live its care provider.

Specialty peonies are always higher priced, but considering the lifespan of each plant and years of bloom, they become an excellent and attractive value.

Begin by digging a 2-by-2-foot hole about 1 foot deep, away from competing tree or shrub roots.

Amend the soil with generous supplies of composted manure or other organic matter, adding one cup of bone meal or superphosphate fertilizer.

Choose peony roots with three or more eyes for faster bloom. Position the eyes 1 inch below the top of the soil and water thoroughly, but do not mulch.\

Rarely will a dormant root bloom the first year, but with twice a year feeding (using a 10-10-10 fertilizer in spring and fall) blooms should be abundant the following year and each year thereafter.

Planting in shadier places encourages grey mold (botrytis) and powdery mildew. For disease-free success, grow peonies is full sun locations with at least six hot hours a day.

Peonies are wonderful in vases. Gather stems just as flowers begin to open. Cut the stem leaving a minimum of three leaf bracts below the cut and harvest no more than half the blooms per season.

These two practices will insure the plant has enough foliage to renew the energy spent on blooming.

Seventh century Chinese writings referred to the herbaceous peony as the “dynastic ancestor of flowers.”

I looked up dynastic to find this definition: “a prominent and powerful family or group of people whose members retain their power and influence through several generations.”

What a great and fitting description for the peony. Its legacy lives on.

LeeAnn Barton can be e-mailed at .

        

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