Height:

34.0 Inches

Spread:

24.0 Inches

Hardiness Zones:

3,4,5,6,7,8

Flower Color:

Red shades

Foliage Color:

Green shades

Sunlight:

Full Sun (> 6 hrs. Direct Sun) Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun)

Water Requirements:

Low Water Needs Average Water Needs

Soil Quality:

Fertile Soil Quality

Soil Chemistry:

Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)

Bloomtime:

Early Summer Midsummer

Critter Resistant:

Deer Resistant Rabbit Resistant

Seasonal Interest:

Dried Seed Heads

Growth Rate:

Medium

Garden Style:

Cottage Eclectic Formal

Other Features:

Border Plant Cut Flower Cut Foliage Dried Flower Drought Tolerant Easy To Grow Fragrant Flowers Mass Planting Salt Tolerant

Origin:

Not Native to North America

A permanent, sunny or partly shady site is ideal for Garden Peonies. Protection from afternoon sun and from harsh winds will help to prolong the lives of the the exotic flowers. Peonies will perform best in well-drained, evenly moist, rich soil with a pH near neutral and they are drought-tolerant once established.

When planting a Garden Peony, the depth is particularly important. To ensure flowering, the eyes must be planted 1.5 to 2 inches below ground level. An annual topping of compost is recommended each Fall. Though peonies may be slow to establish, you can be assured that they are developing a deep, substantial root system which will help to produce flowers that are well worth the wait. Once established, Peonies can live 50 years or more.

Growing Temperature:

55-60 degrees F

Soil PH:

6.5-7.0

EC (What is EC?):

1.5-2.5 pour through method

Fertility:

Over-fertilization will inhibit flowering. Fertilize with 100-150 ppm of 20-10-20 at every other watering. Make sure nitrogen levels are low.

Pests & Diseases:

Nematodes, Japanese beetles, rose chafer and rose leaf beetles, ants, scales, flower thrips, southern root-knot nematodes.
Impatiens necrotic spot virus, peony ringspot virus, leaf spots, red spot(Cladosporium), stem rots(Sclerotinia), Verticillium wilt, Botrytis blight, Phytophera blight, rot(Sclerotium), peony blotch(Septoria), root rot(Armillaria, tree peonies), stem wilt(Leptospaeria, tree peonies), anthracnose(Gleosporium), bacterial crown gall(Agrobacterium), powdery mildew, bud blast(improper culture, climate), oedema.
In the landscape, ants are attracted to the nectar on the buds. It does not create any problem, however.

Potting & Timing:

Can trim lower roots to fit container.
Planting peonies in the fall will result in improved flowering the following spring. If planting in the spring, it is important to grow peonies cool in order to yield stronger plants. Once new roots are established, you can increase the temperature for forcing. Excessively high temperatures can lead to leaf curl in spring planted peonies. Leaf curl is usually the result of environmental factors. If temperatures are too high, there are not enough roots to support the plant.

Moisture:

For potting soil use commercial planting media.
Paeonia need good drainage for disease control. Do not water plants that are stressed when they are actively growing or flowering.

Planting Level:

Eyes should be planted no more than 2 inches below soil level.

Other Comments:

Why Peonies might fail to flower
If no buds appear:

• They are planted either too deep or too shallow.
• It is getting too much Nitrogen

• The buds were killed by a late frost.
• The buds were killed by a disease. (If this is the case, the buds usually turn black and die)
• The buds were attacked by thrips. (If this is the case, the buds usually open partially, turn brown, then fall off)
• The buds became waterlogged due to excessive rain and died.
• The plant is undernourished.
• The plants have been exposed to excessive heat. Southern growers should consider growing early blooming cultivars

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