(Tree Peony | 📸 Daderot - Wikimedia)

Peonies are enjoying a strong revival right now as new gardeners discover their ease of care and elegance. They are second only to Lavender in terms of overall sales, and if interest continues to pique, they will probably become our top-selling perennial shortly. There are many reasons for you to consider growing peonies in your own garden, all of which are succinctly listed below for the curious among you.

Peonies Are Long Lived

(Peony 'Tom Cat' | 📸 Public Domain)

In an era when electrical devices are obsolete in a matter of years and fast-fashion clothing only lasts a few washings, isn’t it nice to know that there’s something you can rely on for decades. When properly planted, herbaceous peonies (P. lactiflora) can be left alone without division for up to 30 years and many specimens have survived fifty, so they can actually be passed down from generation to generation. Itoh peonies are equally durable lasting up to 50 years, while tree peonies (P. x suffruticosa) really outdo themselves, with many individuals becoming centenarians.

Peonies Are Considered Bullet-Proof Perennials

Once planted, peonies are easy care plants that are both deer and rabbit resistant, as well as quite drought tolerant once established.

Peonies Are Expensive Cut Flowers

(Bouquet of Cut Peonies | 📸 Alina Lankina - Wikimedia)

My wife loves cut peony bouquets, but I have to admit that I’m not so fond of the high cost. In fact, peonies are much more expensive than cut roses and as they continue to gain popularity, the price has increased with demand. So, I propose that you grow your own cut peonies and avoid those cringeworthy prices at the farmer’s market and florist. Almost all herbaceous (P. lactiflora) and Itoh peonies make superb cut flowers.

Peonies Come in Both Perennial and Shrub Form

(Peony 'Bowl of Beauty)

Perennial forms such as Fernleaf peony (P. tenuifolia), Itoh peonies, and regular herbaceous peonies (P. lactiflora) die down each year for the winter, making clean-up rather easy -- you get a fresh start every spring. For a taller display at the back of a sheltered mixed border you can use tree peonies (Paeonia x suffruticosa), which slowly develop a woody above-ground structure at a rate of 1-6” a year, maturing in about 10-15 years to varying heights of 3-7’ tall.

Peonies Are a Favoured Floral Muse

People have been painting peonies for as long as we have grown them. From ancient Chinese artists like Yun Shouping (1633-1690) depicting multi-colored Paeonia lactiflora to 19th century France with Frederic Bazille bringing us an arrangement in the making with ‘Young Woman with Peonies’ (1870). A few decades later, we have the American impressionist, Charles Courtney Curran, whose fresh-cut Peonies (1915) literally envelop the model. And of course, there are those potential peonies in your garden, just waiting to inspire the artist within.

There Is a Flower Colour for Every Taste

It doesn’t matter whether you like cool or hot colours, there’s a peony for every garden palette.

Soft-Coloured Peonies

On the softer end of the colour wheel are the whites (‘Renkaku’), antique rose (‘Cora Louise’ | 📸 GreenWorks), pink (‘Hanakisoi’), pale yellow (‘Duchesse de Nemours’), lavender-blue (‘Chojuraku’ | 📸 Marie-LanNguyen - Wikimedia), and soft apricot (‘Canary Brilliants | 📸 GreenWorks’).

Hotter-Hued Peonies

For those who prefer ardent hotter hues, we have orange (‘Kinkaku’ | 📸 Brewbooks - Wikimedia), red (‘Red Charm’), and bright canary yellow (‘Bartzella’).

Darker-Toned Peonies

Darker tones that stand up under the intense summer sun include dark purples (‘Purple Sensation’ | 📸 GreenWorks), burgundy reds (‘Scarlet Heaven’ | 📸 GreenWorks), and intense corals (‘Coral Charm’ | 📸 Poupou L'Quourounce - Wikimedia).

Get up to 8 Weeks of Flowers with Different Species

By diversifying into different peony species, you can really extend your flowering season. The colour begins in late April with the tree peonies (Paeonia x suffruticosa) followed closely by the Fernleaf peonies (P. tenuifolium) and their hybrids. The more common herbaceous peonies (P. lactiflora) generally begin to bloom in mid May, continuing through to mid June. While Itoh peonies provide colour from late May, also continuing well into June.

You can Choose Your Flower Form

Unlike most perennials, with Peonies you can actually choose your flower form. There are six basic types including single (‘Flame’ | 📸 FD Richards - Wikimedia), Japanese (‘Moon of Nippon’), Anemone (‘Sorbet’ | 📸 James Steakley - Wikimedia), Bomb (‘Command Performance’), Semi-Double (‘Kinshi’), and Full Double (‘Sarah Bernhardt’).

They can Be Grown in Containers

(Peony 'Rome' | 📸 GreenWorks)

If you choose the right compact varieties, such as ‘Rome’ or ‘Oslo’ which only grow about 24” tall and wide at maturity, then having peonies on a sunny patio in a large container is a very real possibility for you, and at USDA zone 3, you don’t have to worry about protecting them during those winter cold spells.

Ordering Them Is Easy

(Peony 'Top Brass')

Ordering peonies is easy, at least it is at Amsterdam Garden Center as all the peonies mentioned here (and many more) are soon to be available online for purchase now and pick-up in spring. We are offering a full selection of herbaceous, fern-leaf, Itoh, and tree peonies so you don’t have to run around to different nurseries looking for what you want, you can simply shop local from the comfort of your home.

All images Copyright 2024 MK Lascelle, except those already credited.