Herbaceous Peonies

Herbaceous peonies in their beauty are often referred to as the Queen of the Garden, even while other noble and fragrant flowers compete for the title. Almost every one of us has a mental image of a peony pushing itself up through the ground after a cold winter, probably not even knowing what those intensely red tips were the first time we saw them. Maybe we learned about them at Grandma's house, if we ourselves lived in a concrete block in the city where there was no room even for a garden peony's pretty container cousins.

Spring is definitely on the way when the peony pushes up! When planted correctly, herbaceous peonies, along with tree peonies, demand little in exchange for their gorgeous colors and showiness. A number of plants are on record as being 50 or 75 years old, and some are probably even older than that.

The garden peony is the result of crosses between Paeonia lactiflora and Paeonia officinalis. Lactiflora was found growing in Japan, Manchuria, and even Siberia, while officinalis had its roots (literally) in the more southern parts of Europe. It seems that avid gardeners have carried vials of pollen from one country to another for many years. Numerous hybrids have been developed, each with meticulous note keeping of results along the way, both successes and failures.

Herbaceous Peonies Reward Attention

As mentioned, these striking plants have been cultivated throughout the world, for centuries in some countries. The peony flowers themselves are sometimes short-lived but almost incredibly beautiful, both because of their vast array of rich colors and because different varieties bloom at different times. A hardy perennial if its roots don't stand in water, the peony will even thrive under neglect.

Once established, they require minimal attention to do well, but, like every other living thing, herbaceous peonies positively outdo themselves when given extra attention, rewarding the gardener for it with spectacular displays. Even the foliage attracts attention in and of itself, something both gardener and visitor can appreciate. There is no hole in a mixed border when a peony has completed blooming for the season. As expected, the plant will die back in the fall as dormancy approaches.

Temperature zones have to be considered when selecting herbaceous peonies for the garden. Most prefer cold winters because of their need for a dormant stage. Yet some will do remarkably well in less harsh climates. Unless you are a serious gardener, it is best not to grow them from seed as it can take two or three years to see results. Most mail order suppliers ship bare-root herbaceous peonies for planting in the fall. A local nursery will probably have them in potted containers.

Non-Garden Uses for Herbaceous Peonies

From earliest times, peonies had medicinal uses, which some persons find somewhat curious since they are known to be poisonous if used improperly. As with many herbs, it is likely a case of the right dosage indeed helping specific illnesses while the wrong amount is to be avoided at all costs.

Herbaceous peonies can be used in bridal bouquets if the timing is right. In fact, a knowledgeable florist can preserve them for several months by cutting the stems before the buds open (when the first color appears in the buds). The ends of the stems are then dipped in hot wax. Next comes careful wrapping in moist paper towels and sealing the stems in a plastic bag before placing them in a refrigerator. Important note: The refrigerator should not be so cold that it will freeze the blooms.