Organic peonies
The peony, also known as peony rose, is a beloved perennial plant known for its lush flowers and enchanting scent. Although the word rose is in the name, it is not a rose and the plant has no thorns.
The leaves of a peony grow to about a meter tall and are usually compound, meaning that they consist of multiple leaflets arranged along a common stem. The leaves of the plant die back each year and grow back, becoming larger. Peonies are loved for their longevity, often decades, and their ability to bloom again each year.
Types of peonies
There are several types of peonies, which can be divided based on flower shape, flower color, growth habits, and blooming times. The lactiflora , such as the 'Sarah Bernhardt' is one of the most popular types of peonies. The giant-like flowers have a soft and creamy texture and usually bloom in late spring to early summer.
- Bomb-type peonies: These have a distinctive dome-shaped flower with a central section that resembles a sphere.
- Tree Peonies (Paeonia suffruticosa): These peonies grow as shrubs or small trees and have woody stems. They produce large and colorful flowers.
- Double Peonies: These have an abundance of petals and have a lush and rich appearance.
- Single-flowered peonies: These have only one row of petals and a simple, elegant appearance.
- Semi-double peonies: These have more petals than single-flowered varieties, but fewer than full double flowers.
- Itoh peonies (Paeonia Itoh hybrids): These are hybrids between tree peonies and herbaceous peonies. They have the flower shape of tree peonies and the growth habits of herbaceous peonies.
- Herbaceous hybrid peonies: These are crosses between different types of peonies. They have herbaceous stems and can vary in flower shape, color and size.
- Perennial peonies (Paeonia lactiflora): They have herbaceous stems that die back each year and grow again in the spring. They have a wide variety of flower colours.
How, where and when do I plant peonies?
When planting, the new shoots, these are small pink buds on top of the root, remain just above the ground. Do not plant them too deep, otherwise they will not flower well. They do not like to be transplanted. Find a good spot right away for many years of pleasure. They will flower more and more richly.
Plant it preferably in partial shade or, if you prefer to cut flowers, in full sun. In the sun it will get more flowers, but will bloom for a much shorter time. Plant it in a nutritious, preferably slightly acidic soil. If your soil is naturally heavy or clayey, you can add organic material such as compost to improve the soil structure.
Caring for peonies
We recommend supporting the plant or cutting off some flower stems for the vase during flowering. This will also make the plant a little less heavy and it will stay upright better. Always leave at least 2 flower stems for flowering the following year.
Cut the faded plant back to the ground in October and feed it annually.
Splitting peonies
Peony rhizomes are easy to split with a clean sharp knife or saw. You can then cut or saw between the new growth buds. However, it is advisable to leave the peony in the ground for at least 5 years before dividing the plant. The plant is offended if it is dug up, which makes it difficult to bloom the following flowering year.
Origin of the peony
The peony originally comes from China, where it was mainly used for the antipyretic and hemostatic effect of the roots.
Where can I buy organic peonies?
From January to June, organically grown peonies can be ordered at Bloemoloog.nl and from March to June they are available at one of our markets .
Why can I only order peonies now?
Our organic grower allows the plant to die completely before the mother plants are removed from the ground. This ensures that the chance of viruses is limited. The plant often flowers weakly to not at all the first year. This makes planting in the spring a better choice.
