Certainly one of the finest (if not THE finest) flowering perennial. Size-wise, I know what you mean. They get to a certain size and no larger. Mine are growing in exactly the same conditions as yours. East side of the house partially shaded in mornings by a huge maple. They do ok.

I've always heard that they resent being divided and moved. Not that they die, just that it takes a long time to re-establish both divisions. Clumps live for decades without problems. I never divide them. Why put them thru it and why give up the flowering while they recover? They are cheap, I get new ones. Last winter I sat down with a catalog and made a list of varieties that had scent, double blooms, and staggered bloom times. I thought that the staggered blooming would extend my peony season for a long, long spring. (Early, early mid, mid, late mid, late, etc.) Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to follow thru. In theory it's a good idea tho if you have some space.

I'm just starting to get into peonies. My first was Sarah Bernhardt (I'm a sucker for pink flowers). In the three years I've had her, I had (and still have) a really hard time with what I'm assuming is powdery mildew on this one. I just figured it was part of the peony-growing package, but I have two other new ones that don't show so much as a speck of mildew.

I have an unknown raspberry-colored one from a swap, and a salmon colored one, which for the life of me I suddenly can't remember the name.... Solange, perhaps? No blooms so far on either of the newer ones, but I'm patiently waiting till next year.

Thanks for the siting info. I had been planning on putting them in full sun, but maybe I'll rethink that (they are, of course, still in pots, like most of my garden, lol!)

Anyone have any pics to drool over? I could stand with a little peony enabling...

:)
Dee

I donÂt have many peony pics, but hereÂs two.

Peony Mischief  IÂm really liking the singles.

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A NoID Tree Peony
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Kevin

I am debating whether or not to put peonies in my new garden at this new house. I like them for their foliage (and flowers, of course!) but it seems that the bloom season is so incredibly short and, to make matters worse, seems to be at its peak just as the worst of the early summer rain storm hits and then they're all on the ground or bent over their cages.

I am looking for "single" peonies (love that photo, Kevin!) but, because everyone seems to like the heavy, water-logging doubles, they don't seem to be available to buy in these parts.

Yes, the bloom season is on the short side, but that can be remedied by planting early, mid, and later varieties, thus extending the bloom season. Peonies look great in three seasons - in spring the deep red shoots/stems are a lovely attraction, of course the blooms, and after blooming the foliage is outstanding the rest of the season. What the heck else do you want? :p

Kevin - yes, you NEED a Festiva Maxima. One of the best IMO, I wouldn't dream of being without it.

I've never divided, they don't need it, the clumps do keep expanding with age, but I don't think they expand indefinitely - ? (I've never grown one for 30-40 years, um, I'm not old enough LOL!).

Oops, sorry forgot to comment re: sun. My regular peonies are in full sun with the exception of one that is in part shade, which has only been in the ground about three years so is still not mature. It does seem to flower just fine, though, and the plant itself is not leggy at all.

I have a mature tree peony (talk about STUNNING!) that is in an eastern exposure, gets only about 5 hours of morning sun, 6 tops (but no afternoon or evening sun at all) and it is just breathtaking when it blooms. Reference above picture and imagine it in white, and there you have it. The plant itself is quite healthy and lush, not leggy at all, even in morning-only sun. This is one plant I'm taking with me when I move...

I have one unknown variety peony and that has been in this yard for 35 years. It came from my Grandmother's garden so it's considerably older than 35 - I'd wager 60 years or more. It's in full sun, has never been divided and has remained a manageable size so they must be determinate. I love this plant; upright,clean foliage; big blowsey blooms with a creamy white center and red edged outer petals.

My one plant peony collection should be expanded. After seeing the picture of your single, that's a form I quite like, and just might have to invest in a few additions.

I have over 2 dozen peonies in this yard, compliments of the previous owner. However, she planted them in the most illogical places - I am still finding small struggling peony plants in the middle of a horde of Vinca invading the woodland or underneath a White pine. Some are in total shade! (???)

So I have moved about 20 into garden beds that are full sun or part sun and about 3/4 have bloomed so far. They are all doubles. I don't know the names of most, but the three I've identified are Duchess de Nemours, Festiva Maxima, and Rosea Plena. There are still at least another 10 struggling in the Vinca.

Frankly, 30 peonies is too many, and I only want to keep a few and give away the rest, but half of them haven't even bloomed yet. IMO peonies are too high-maintenance to have so many. The double blooms require staking, and then as soon as it rains, the blooms flop and look soggy. But they ARE gorgeous and fragrant and are good for cutting.

I was hoping some of these would be single blooms, but not so far. And the tree peony in the picture above is gorgeous!!

Here is what some peonies looked like this Spring in my oldest garden border than runs along the driveway (this is its 4th season):

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Here is one that bloomed this year for the first time and I love it. I'm going to move it to the garden in the above photo. Anybody know what is is?

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terrene, your beautiful photo reminds me I want to put some salvia in front of my peonies since they seem to bloom at the same time.

If anybody needs a little more enabling, here are some more photos. Best time to plant is September.

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Terrene, does your unkown peony have red stamens? If so, it's the same cultivar as mine. I'm pretty sure its name is "Florence Nicholls".

Here's a picture of my garden with it in bloom:

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peony close-up:

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Those pictures are wonderful. Thanks for posting.

chris - I think it would be worth your while to try and locate the singles. They really do stand up to rain much better than the doubles. I have a number of white ones also all of which were planted at the feet of a bunch of clematis. When they all bloomed together this year it was stunning. I usually solve the flopping problem of the doubles by picking almost every one if it's going to rain. Love having a house full of these.

mxk - My tree peony seems to be planted in a similar location to yours. I've read these do much better in partial shade. I agree totally. The flowers certainly can't take much heat though.

If anyone has a Festiva they would like to trade a piece of, contact me and I'll send you a list of what I have, but you must be certain it is a Festiva. A few years ago, I did a trade for one of these and ended up with some double pink. Pretty, but not what I wanted.

Kevin

I love peonies. They're great! impeccable foliage all season long (at least in my yaHd), nothing bothers them, and they bloom for up to 2 weeks. They smell wonderful, and I particularly love watching the ants "workin' 'em over".

I believe this a Festiva Maxima, but I can't be sure...

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I have two very nice plants, both came from a local, historic garden site and, funnily enough, were "supposed" to be pink doubles. Mine top out at just over 42", and they perfume the terrace and the screen rooms in mid-late June every year. I do NOTHING for them, save an occasional shovelful of compost and maybe some woodash. Perfection!

I'll add this: I don't "get" the whole tree peony thing. They're unquestionably beautiful, but they pale in comparison with their herbaceous cousins, at least in my Maine yahd. I have one that's received too much valuable real estate for too many years now... it's outta here come late August (to a more remote and shaded locale)and I plan to replace it with another herbaceous variety.

Chelone - for me, the tree peonies serve a different purpose. They are shrubs, and for a flowering shrub with handsome foliage all season, tree peonies are great (when properly located, of course)!

I agree. Tree peonies are a totally different animal. I think one plant is enough for me, but maybe I could squeeze in one more. They do take up a lot of room.

K

There are other shrubs I feel perform every bit as well, put on more growth, and are every bit as pleasing. I won't argue their lovliness (who could?) but as far as being real "workhorse" in a border... I think they fall short on many counts. JMO.

I love my peonies, but I love my tree peony too.
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Terrene,
Your unknown peony reminds me of my bowl of beauty. I only have this one pic of an odd late bloom.
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Remy

Beancounter - now that you mention it, you can see in that photo that the Salvia May Night was in full bloom, along with Irises and Peonies. Also the Salvia Snow Hill was in full bloom (which is hard to see but it's a bit behind the Serviceberry that is in the middle of the peonies).

A2zmom - I don't remember what kind of stamens it had. It doesn't quite look like your pictures of Florence Nichols though. Mine is pinker I think. But the colors aren't always accurate in photos.

Remy - gorgeous tree peony! And mine looks a bit like your Bowl of Beauty but I don't remember stamens like that??

Anyway, even after the blooms are gone on the Peonies the foliage still looks nice if it doesn't get too much powdery mildew. Here is a picture of those peonies a couple weeks ago from another POV. I've got Cleome, Phlox, Columbine, Snaps, and Petunias and others growing amongst the Peonies. The annuals are just starting to bloom here.

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Kevin, love your Mischief. Do you happen to know where you got it?

Got it at the Mpls Farmers Market. There's a peony grower down there with very nice stuff.

I agree that my peonies bloom just at the same moment as the late spring torrents arrive. All the more reason to cut them! Mine bloom at the same time as Salvia n. Caradonna, Butter and Cream siberian iris, alchemilla and a clematis whose name I forget. Makes a wonderful bouquet....
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Terrene,
It was an odd bloom, late and with the bare middle. Normally, it looks like yours.

Mayalena,
I think it is impossible to make a bouquet with them that doesn't look wonderful : )
Remy

This is a really old peony that came from the family - don't know what it is but it is consistently early - at least 2 to 4 weeks ahead of all the other peonies.

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This might be Bowl of Beauty
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The next few I don't have identified - the former owner left them here - could this be Festiva Maxima?
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This my very favorite peony - don't have a clue what it is but I wait every spring for this gorgeous bloom. This year the blooms were small maybe the dry spring.
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Alyrics - on my monitor, the one you are wondering if is a Festiva Maxima is showing as a soft shade of pink, and I see a pink bud on the plant also. If it is indeed shaded pink in real life, then it is not Festiva Maxima. FM is pure white with red flecks; as well, the buds are white.

Terrene,
yours could be a Bowl of Beauty, but it also does look like my Gay Paree, only your pink is much paler than mine
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Kevin,
Hollingsworth Peony have plenty of singles to satisfy everyone's taste.
However, they don't have this Little Medicine Man :-))
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...but they are the place where you could buy "Garden Treasure' from the originator
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Just a few more.
'Charlie's White' have an enormous size bomb-type flowers
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and this unknown TP is certainly look different
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while old classic TP 'Taiyo' is always pleasure to the eyes in the mid-May
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Here is a link that might be useful: Hollingsworth Peony

I agree about the Festiva. That one is too pink. Pretty though.
So does anyone grow a yellow?

I do not grow peonys as i hate the declining late summer and fall foliage that i cant cut back.

Don't your plants get much water during the summer? On the contrary, my peony foliage looks healthy and green way into fall. In fact, they are usually some of the last plants to go yellow in the fall. I usually end up cutting them back while still green. This year they are looking just a tad bit tired, but that's because of the drought.

K

Fledgling - I'm surprised at your comment about the foliage. Peony foliage is generally very attractive all season, even in dry spells. Wonder if you have (or had) the peonies in a poor location - much too dry, or too shady (or both).

That variegated TP could be Shima Nishiki - supposedly each bloom can be different and they change as the plant matures - have had my eye on that one for a while.

fledgling - I used to have the same problem with ratty foliage till I started using a good compost around the peonies in spring, followed by one or 2 annual doses of Bulbtone and enough water to keep them from wilting. I cut down foliage in fall and throw it away as they are prone to botrytis and I already have an issue with foliar disease in my garden - altho all my peonies are completely healthy knock wood.
The former owner planted many of these in unamended soil in an area that tends to get dry, so rather than dig them up I'm propping them up with top dressing. It's made a world of difference - I kept reading that peonies were heavy feeders and it's apparently true. This year esp the foliage is nothing short of spectacular if you like peony foliage - in fact I wish it were a little shorter so the garden phlox behind had a chance of being seen.

So try giving them a little TLC for a year or 2 and see if you like them better. I'm with Kevin - I look forward to peony season and really enjoy them.

Kevin, I can't stop looking at the pic of your Mischief! It's gorgeous. Love the glow, like a really pretty sunset. I wonder how easy that will be to find. I have to get one!

I agree about the perfection of peonies. They're a favourite even with the non-gardeners and sleepy teenagers in my house!

When I went to the Farmers Market yesterday, I checked to see if that grower was there. He wasn't, but I think it's a bit early yet. I know he was there this spring and I'm sure will be back in the fall. When I find out his name, I'll post it here. Maybe he does mail order.

Another thing I really like about Mischief is that it seems to be a shorter grower with really strong stems. I've never had to stake the blooms.

K

One that always stands up for me is this one named "Charles Burgess". I get requests for starts every year. It is a beauty. Bob {{gwi:249925}}