There are few garden plants that can boast as long a growing history as peonies.In China, they have been cared for for over a thousand years. Fashion for them is weakening and today.
Peonies are divided into perennial and woody. The first group includes, among others medical peony Paeonia officinalis and Chinese Paeonia lactiflora (the most popular in cultivation), the second - including tree peony Paeonia suffruticosa and yellow Paeonia lutea. Perennials lose aboveground shoots in autumn, and woody ones become woody.Perennial peonies should only be planted a few centimeters below the ground so that the reddish buds (eyes) can feel the warmth of the sun.
Bush peonies are often grafted on the roots of perennial peonies (including Chinese peonies) and nourished by them until they develop their own roots.Whether it is successful depends to a large extent on good contact with the ground, therefore seedlings bought with bare root should be planted 10-15 cm deep, so that the first side shoots lie just above the ground.If we bought seedlings in a container, we plant them to the depth at which they grew in the pot. We can exaggerate in August / September.
Growing peonies
In cultivation, peonies are not demanding, the main thing is not to plant them in wet places. Drought is not so dangerous for them, especially for well-rooted specimens.Peonies are best fed in spring and autumn with organic fertilizers, possibly with fertilizers for tomatoes, but only in autumn.Nitrogen fertilizers should not be used, because after peonies may not bloom.
Ungrafted plants, obtained from seeds or division, are planted so that the branching of the shoots is just below the surface of the earth. Garden varieties are derived from wild species spread all over the world. In nature, they can be found in southern countries, incl. in southern Spain, Sicily and Sardinia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Turkey, China, Japan, Siberia and the Americas.
Planting peonies
Peonies are best planted in September.This term is favorable because the roots have a lot of time to grow and are therefore ready to feed fast-growing shoots in spring. It's a good idea to put a handful of compost or other well-decomposed organic fertilizer into the well.
The stumps should not be planted too deep, because then the peonies may not bloom (the optimal depth of planting perennial peonies is 3-5 cm).The roots must not be damaged in any way, dry or covered with mold.
Peonies are long-lived, they can grow on one position for 10-15 years.They bloom in May and June with white, pink, cherry, purple, maroon flowers (in all possible shades), mostly full.They bloom in white, among others 'Avalanche', 'Boule de Neige', 'Festiva Maxima', 'Ewelina'. Pink flowers have 'Różowa Nasza', 'Władysława', 'Ursynów', 'Professor Woycicki'. 'Jadwiga', 'Rubra' and 'Highlight' are dressed in royal purple.
