Peony Seeds

Peony seeds would seem to be a logical place to start when growing peonies, but many peonies do not produce seeds, being infertile. On the other hand, many do produce seeds in great abundance if the flower heads are not picked off. Unfortunately, when seeds germinate, they often do not grow true to form. That is, growing from seed is not the way to get more of your favorite peony flower.

On the other hand, growing plants from peony seeds is one of the known ways to find out what new plant you might have. That in itself can be very exciting, unless you get something too strange and unacceptable. That is why serious growers and researchers have always kept detailed notebooks. In-depth, specialized peony culture can be a lifetime avocation that keeps many participants enthralled.

Only wild seeds have the tendency to produce plants similar to the parent peony they came from. That is because there likely are no other types of peonies in the area to cross-pollinate. In some instances, there is no way to obtain seedlings of certain types of peony except through germination of their seeds.

Peony Seeds into Space

Peony seeds that have orbited the earth aboard the Shenzhou spacecraft have been sprouted in China and are being carefully observed in their development. Scientists are not sure what to expect for the long term now that the seeds have spent time in a zero gravity environment. It is expected that three years will pass before the experimental plants will actually blossom, possibly with even larger blooms and taller stems.