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Different Types Of Peonies and How To Choose
Before we discuss the six types of peony blooms, we'll first lay out this intriguing flower's history.
The History Of The Peony
Peonies have centuries of history, having been both a staple of Greek Mythology and a hallowed place as China's national flower.
In Greek mythology, the physician to the gods, Paeon, upset his mentor Asclepius after he extracted a milky liquid from the root of a peony that cured Pluto. Asclepius, jealous that his trainee had stolen his healing thunder, threatened to kill him. Ultimately, Zeus spared Paeon by turning him into a flower- the peony.
Peonies have been a staple in Chinese gardens since 1000 BC traveling to Japan by the 8th century. Both countries used peony roots as natural medicine, which was thought to help with asthma and relieve pain after childbirth. The peony finally arrived in North America in the 19th century as an ornamental plant by way of Europe.
How To Use Peonies In Your Garden Landscape
These bold blooms will work as a spectacular centerpiece in many areas of your garden landscape. The peony makes a beautiful addition to borders, planters, and flower beds.
Keeping height, color, and bloom times into account can help you forecast the look of your garden well in advance. Peonies come in a palette of colors that have been encouraged with hybridization for centuries. Popular colors of peonies include: blush pink, stark white, and bright red.
Woodland peonies are the first to bloom in the Spring and have a low growing profile. Even when not in bloom, they provide lush green foliage off-season.
Tree peonies are woody perennial shrubs that bloom in early Spring after the Woodland peony. Their giant blooms create dinner plate-sized flowers that will need a lot of space to shine.
Herbaceous peonies are the most well-known variety and will make the best bouquets. They require the most full sun out of all peony varieties and will bloom in the transition time between Spring and Summer. Like the Woodland type, they will give vibrant green foliage off-season.
Growing Tips For Peonies
Peonies are usually sold as three to four year old bare root tuber cuttings. Planting them is easy work in either a garden bed or pot; with a little and with some planning and care, you'll have magnificent blooms in no time.
Best Practices To Grow Your Peonies:
- Plant peonies three to four feet apart to give room for expansion of foliage and blooms.
- Most peonies need full sun to partial shade conditions. Shadier areas will prohibit the plant from forming their best blooms.
- Peonies need at least six hours of full sunlight per day.
- All types of peonies prefer fertile, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic profile and a neutral pH. Planting peonies in soggy areas will all but ensure their failure.
- Amend clay-heavy soil with a composite or a soil mix that is meant for azaleas or rhododendrons.
- Peonies are not drought resistant and should receive 1 to 2 inches of water weekly.
- Mulch peonies up to ensure water retention and reduce the likelihood of weed invasion.
- These flowering plants are hardiest in USDA Zones 3-8 and prefer cooler, mildly wet climates over hot and dry. They produce the best blooms when they experience colder Winters.
- Fertilize your peonies lightly with an annual dose of compost mixed with a small amount of feed. The best time to do this is just after the plant has bloomed.
Peony Bloom Types
1. Single Bloom Peony
Features
Single bloom peonies have just a single row of petals making them the daintiest of the peony types. They also produce distinctive carpels and pollen-bearing stamens that protrude from the center, often in a contrasting blast of yellow.
When used in floral design, they mimic a delicate poppy-like form. Many single bloom peonies are hybrids which means they are likely sterile and lack both seed production and pollen abilities.
Single bloom peonies might seem delicate, but they are known for their remarkable ability to withstand rain.
Varieties:
- Martha W.
- Pico
- Mischief
- Loretta Frank
- Mahogany
- Krinkled White
- Fairy Princess
- Green Lotus
- Friendship
2. Japanese Bloom Peony
Features
The Japanese Bloon Peony, also known as the "Imperial Form "Peony, gets its name from where it originated; the emperor's garden. Another common name in Japan is the "tree peony." They were brought to Japan from Chinese cultivars in the 8th century by Buddhist Monks, where they became a symbol of nobility and fertility.
The Japanese Bloom Peonies are highly sought after by gardeners for their unique form, which features large blooms that can sometimes be 8-12 inches in diameter. These showy peonies are mid-season bloomers with peak action around the beginning of June. Most Japanese Peonies grow on hardy woody stems and produce a fragrant aroma, making them an excellent cut flower for bouquets.
Like all peonies, they don't tolerate soaking, need well-draining soil, and prefer bright sheltered areas.
Varieties
- Bowl of Beauty
- Doreen
- Leslie Peck
- Mandarin's Coat
- Mikado
- Battle Flag
- Do Tell
- Carrara
- Fuji No Mine
3. Anemone Bloom Peony
Features
The Anemone Bloom Peony is sometimes mistaken for the Japanese Bloom Peony due to some form similarities. The type of peony is sometimes even referred to as an advanced Japanese form. However, you can easily identify an Anemone in that it has no anthers, and the stamens mimic small thin petals.
This ring of petals around the center's easily identifiable "peony ruffle" makes it a great addition to your garden or for bouquet creation.
A subcategory of this peony type is the "Anemone Bomb Peony," where the outer guard petals are elongated and more prominent.
Compared to other types of peony blooms, the Anemone Bloom is typically shorter, and staking is needed. Therefore, these types of peonies are also considered early bloomers.
Varieties
- Laura Dessert
- Bouquet Perfect
- Belleville
- Majesty's Imperial
- Petticoat Flounce
- Red Charm
4. Semi-Double Bloom Peony
Features
The Semi-Double Bloom Peony claims some of the most artistic blooms of all peonies. Semi-Double Peonies are peonies that have more than an abundance of petals emerging from the crown of the flower with the crown of the flower still exposed. In addition, the brightly colored pollen-bearing anthers can be seen while the flower is in bloom.
There are several subforms of this type, including Chrysanthemum, Lotus, and Rose, with varying appearances in the pistil, stamen, and petal presentation.
Most Semi Double Peonies are very heat tolerant, unlike other varieties that do better in cooler climates.
Varieties
- Bartzella (Semi-Double Rose type)
- White Lotus (Semi-Double Lotus type)
- Garden Treasure (Semi-Double Chrysanthemum type)
- Burma
- Coral Charm Minnie Shaylor
- Pink Hawaiian Coral
- Mackinac
- Coral Sunset
5. Full Double Peony
Features
Full Double Bloom Peonies are by far the most sought-after form of peony for gardeners. They are distinguishable by their abundant, full appearance. This is due to their pistils and stamens being converted into wide decorative petals. Stamens will still produce pollen, but you will have to search deep down into the bottom of the bloom to locate them.
Unfortunately, the density of petals also makes them susceptible to collecting extra water and falling over with the extra weight. To prevent this, gardeners can implement a "peony cage" or choose a compact or strong stemmed variety to combat this risk.
As with the Semi-Double Bloom Peony, the Full Double Peony has other subforms, including Crown, Semi-Rose, Full Rose, Hundred Proliferate, Golden Circle, and Triple Decker.
Aside from having large abundant blooms, they are also known for their bushy foliage which creates large bushes and produces strong stems.
Varieties
- Adonis
- Avalanche
- Banner Bright
- Candy Stripe
- Coral Queen
- Evening Star
- Festive Maxima
- Kansas
- Etched Salmon
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