Peony blooms a-popping

These tough plants with their multi-layered blooms can stay in one location for 50 years or more. They are hardy, drought-tolerant, low maintenance, deer-resistant, and available in a wide range of colours including yellow, coral, peach, lavender, pink and red. And if that isn’t enough to make you want one, many have a wonderful rose, lemon, honey or musk fragrance as well.

In the past, the root of a certain variety of peony (lactiflora) was used as a treatment for convulsions.

Peonies don’t like to be moved once they become established and some gardeners report having problems getting them to rebloom after relocating them. Important things to remember about this long-lived perennial include planting the ‘eyes’ no deeper than two inches below the surface; divide overgrown clumps into pieces that have three to five eyes per division; use compost to enrich and improve the soil (do not place it directly on the crown of the plant however; and plant where they receive at least 6-8 hours of sun.

Folds upon folds of silky petals earned this flower the meaning of shame or bashfulness in the Language of Flowers because mischievous nymphs were said to hide in the blooms.

Peonies have twice the vase-life of roses. Cut them when the bud shows full colour and begins to look like a large marshmallow. Recut stems underwater. The petals are edible so you can add them to salads, stir-frys or use them to decorate cakes. It’s possible to even make peony vinegar by steeping the petals in high quality white vinegar.

Peonies are generally disease free but botrytis can sometimes be a problem in wet conditions. This fungal disease causes a fuzzy grey coating on the flower. Plants should be situated in sunnier areas where air circulation is good. You can also treat them with a fungicide in early spring.

To enjoy your peony blooms in a dried state you can hang them upside down in a warm, dark, well-ventilated area when flowers are half open. The darkness helps to retain the colour. Or you can place each bloom in a container of silica gel. Sift the dessicant carefully between the petals, seal container tightly and allow two weeks drying time. You can reuse the silica gel many times.