Peonies are Legacy Plants
Long lived peonies are the perfect plant to share with your children and grandchildren
The garden shouldn't be skipped when looking for treasures to share with your children. Peonies are perfect plants to share with future generations.
I so appreciated my brother remembering me when he dug up Grandma's peonies. It was a welcome surprise the day he came by with a grocery sack filled with the plants. The plants were so large that we had no problem dividing them to make sure there were enough peonies for everyone. I'm really not sure how old the plants are. My grandparents, Walter and Myrtle, lived into their 90's. They were married over 70 years and lived in their house 68 years. After they died, right before the house went on the market, treasures were rescued from the gardens. I always remember the peonies being in the garden. My mother believes they came from Aunt Ocie's garden (the source of the Surprise Lilies and Bearded Iris) in the 1920's. Peonies are truly a legacy plant. A plant to share with others. A plant to pass down to future generations.
There are a many, many varieties of peonies. And, you will find some of the most popular ones have been around for a hundred years or more:
Sarah Bernhardt has fragrant midseason pink flowers. The long stems make this a good choice for cutting gardens. 1906.
Karl Rosenfeld is a popular choice for its bright red flowers. It has a nice fragrance and a very full flower. 1908.
Festiva Maxima has the others beat for age; 1851. The fragrant full flowers are white with specks of red in the centers. This would be a great choice for a white garden.
You will find peonies to be an easy to grow, low maintenance plant. The only real secret you need to know is to avoid planting them too deep; if you do, you won't have any flowers. Pay attention to the plant's eyes (the leaf buds) when planting and don't bury them with soil. Peonies are hardy from zone 2-8 and prefer a sunny location in the garden. It is important for plant health to clean up the foliage in late fall, early winter. You will find that many of them bloom around Memorial Day. Container plants are available for planting in the spring. Bare root divisions are generally available in the fall.
I hope you too will plant a peony to enjoy now and pass on this legacy to future generations.
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© Susan Mertz, May 2006. All rights reserved.
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