Paeonia Power

Paeonia suffruticosa rockii with a wisteria  

Peonies offer some of the largest most beautiful flowers available to our gardens. There are several different types including tree peonies and all have the additional benefit of interesting foliage shapes. The only drawbacks being that they are deciduous and the flowers only last a couple of weeks. 

Despite claims that peonies are difficult to move many gardeners, myself included, have successfully moved them. The secrets to success are to lift as much root as possible intact and to always plant close to the surface as planting too deep prevents them from flowering. 

Peonies prefer sun or semi shade aspects and like fertile soil, so give them a good feed. It can also be worth putting supports around the flowers as the heavy blooms can lean over.

Available in deep reds, pinks, whites and yellow they're much loved by gardeners. 

The typical garden types are officinalis and lactiflora varieties and the larger cousins the suffruticosa or tree Paeonia. Paeonia suffruticosa rockii is featured above.