The Peonies. They are herbaceous perennials. There are 30 species, but some are woody shrubs spanning 10 species. Peonies were named after Paeon , the physician of the Gods. Peonies produce flowers often fragrant and large. They bloom in the spring and are red to white or yellow in color. Peonies are native to Asia , southern Europe , and western North America .
Summary
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- 1 Meaning
- 2 Facts about Peonies
- 3 Varieties of Peonies
- 1 There are two types of Peonies grown in gardens
- 2 Part of the few varieties of Peonies
- 4 Plantation
- 5 Care of Peonies
- 6 Sources
Meaning
Since ancient times, Peonies have been considered as the symbol of wealth, luck and happiness. Peonies always represent elegance and position.
Facts about Peonies
- The Roman legions first brought the Peonies to England .
- Peonies were described in botanical books as early as 1636 .
- Peonies (along with Plum Blossoms ) are the traditional floral symbols of China , where it is called Mudan . In 1903 , the Qing Dynasty declared Peony as the national flower of China.
- The Japanese name for Peony, Ebisugusuri means Chinese medicine. In traditional folk medicine, Peony root was used as a treatment for menstrual cramps , asthma, and seizures .
Varieties of Peonies
There are two types of peonies grown in gardens
- Herbaceous hybrids of Paeonia, have full bushy stems that grow between two to four feet (0.6 to 1.2 meters) in height, and Garden peonies grow from tubers .
- The tree peonyor Paeonia suffruticosa types , which often grow with woody stems and few branches. Tree peonies are shrublike plants grown or from seed or grafts.
Part of the few varieties of Peonies
- Chinesecut flower peonies with large double flowers of red, pink, and white colors.
- Double Half Peoniescharacterized by several rows of petals and a center of petals mixed with stamens.
- Anemonepeonies similar to the double Chinese variety of peonies, but with a narrow petal center.
- Japanese peoniesnoted for the contrasting color of the central petals and their precisely divided foliage.
- Fernleaf peonieswith delicate fern foliage , are dwarf in stature, and flower very early.
- Peonies Alonewith only a few rows of petals, standing in its total simplicity.
Plantation
Like other bulbous, it usually takes place from October . Normally, what they sell us in the nurseries is a bulb (you can also buy, in season, the entire plant, although it is less recommended and is more expensive). It is important to plant the bulb in a hole of considerable dimensions full of fertilized soil and with a little manurein the background. Peonies hate poor soil and if the hole is not wide enough and deep enough their development will almost certainly stay halfway. The only precaution is not to plant the ‘eyes’ (small pink shoots more than 5 cm deep). Normally, in the first year they just throw some leaves. In the second, they are used to giving a solitary flower. It is from the third year that they begin to bloom in abundance and show themselves in all their splendor.
Peonies are very hardy and long-lived plants. It is not uncommon for some specimens to live more than 50 years. Like all bulbous plants, they reproduce by division, a delicate operation that I only recommend to the most expert if we do not want to take over the plant. They are extremely robust plants that hardly need care. It is enough to pay them at the beginning of spring (manure or guano is recommended and I avoid chemical formulations). They rarely catch disease.
Potting, unfortunately, is very difficult as these plants give off a very extensive root system and need a lot of living space. It all depends on the size of the pot , of course, but a terrace in an urban core is not the right place to grow peonies.
Peonies Care
- Peonies should be fed in early spring and again for the growing season.
- During the dry summer months , Peonies need to be watered regularly.
- Half a cup of low nitrogen fertilizer in the soil when the stems are about 2 or 3 inches (5 to 8 centimeters) tall.
- Take care not to damage the roots, and try to keep the compost in direct contact with them; without over-fertilizing.
- Feeding is important since the peony plant grows very fast early and needs this complete food to produce foliage and flowers.
- For larger flowers, prune the plant, allowing only the terminal bud to develop.
- Prevent flowers from breaking or bending during strong wind or rain, provide a firm stake for the plant, and tie the stem loosely to it with garden twine or fabric strips.
- Remove the flowers as soon as they fade to prevent seed development , which will deplete the food reserves necessary to bloom next year.
- In the fall , after the foliage dies, cut the stems back by three inches (8 centimeters).
