The power of peonies

Peonies seem to be in their prime a bit early this year.

Lisa Slattery, Linn County Master Gardener, provided the following about this fragrant flower:

 This morning I could smell my kitchen before I entered.  It wasn't last night's dinner, stinky kitchen garbage or the coffee brewing – it was the sweet scent of Peonies – about two dozen in a huge bouquet I cut last night.  They smell awesome!

 Peonies are a garden favorite and easy to grow.  They produce huge, fragrant flowers in May and early June, some reaching 6 inches in diameter.  They're a very long-lived perennial that provides both profuse spring flowers and beautiful foliage throughout the growing season.  If you provide garden peonies with proper sun and care, you'll have the plants for decades.  According to ISU Extension there are plants as old at 100 years on record.

 There are different varieties of peony flowers including: single, semi-double, double, Japanese, and anemone.  I have different ones in my yard.  The most popular ones are double flowered.  They bloom in shades of white, cream, yellow (rare), pink, rose, lavender, and red.  When peonies are small in the spring insert wire stakes to help prevent the flowers from flopping over when they bloom.

 In Iowa the best time to plant and divide peonies is late August into early September. Place peonies in a sunny, well-drained spot and don't place them under trees or near large shrubs since they will compete for water and sunlight.  Plant peonies 3 to 4 feet apart. When planting, position the plant so the eyes or buds are only 1 to 2 inches below the soil surface.  Peonies planted too deeply won't bloom.  Transplant existing plants by cutting the stems near ground level.  Then dig up the plants and gently remove the soil. Divide he clumps into sections making sure that each section has at least 3 to 5 eyes (buds) and a portion of the root system. Divisions with fewer buds than this may take up to 5 years to produce flowers.  Mulch newly planted peonies.

 Peony leaf blotch (sometimes called peony rust) is common in the fall and is responsible for the large, brown spots on the leaves.  Make sure you cut back and remove all the peony foliage in late fall since the fungus can winter over in the soil.

 Peonies are truly one of those perennials that can last you a lifetime….so pick a variety or two and enjoy the fabulous spring blooms and scents!