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Talkback: Peonies

Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
in Talkback
Ah! give them a little more praise. They are beautiful and some are very fragrant, they don't need a lot of care and attention. Just plant them in a spot that's a little dull and you'll be glad of their colour and perfume when you're feeling a little low! Forget the fact they don't bloom for long when they do just make the most of looking at their beauty.
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  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I love my peonies but this year something has eaten them i am so disappointed then you wonder if its worth it. Still there is always next year
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    No you're not,Ive loved them from childhood and had one of my own back then.I have two at the moment planted in the boarder last year they got battered and half drown all the growing season I had canes and ties but still the weather got them when they flowered.My soils not good its heavy clay, I think let someone else have the problems and I will go along and admire them,there's easier things for that space in the border with longer displays of interest because even the foliage doesn't last.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I love my ponies and make the most of them for the short time they are here but I would like to know why this year the flower heads are covered in ants
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Peonies are gorgeous, but it takes some 5 years before they flower! But once they start flowering, they will do so every year, even in heavy clay as my garden has. Even my peony trees flower. The first one after 5 years, the second after 7, the third had its button frozen of and the fourth disappeared. They do seem to like bad weather. In all the years I only had the luck to see them flowering for more than a week (in 2003). For the moment, they are waiting to open their flowers.... when it will start raining again.
    PS. The foliage stays until september in my garden...
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I disagree! Although they are relatively shortlived, they give so much pleasure in the time they are in full bloom (approx 4-5 weeks). I LOVE my peonies and wouldn't get rid of them for the world.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Ants are necessary to get peonies' blossoms open. The ants eat through the outer-skin covering the blossoms. If you don't have ants at blossom time the flowers won't open properly. are a beautiful plant that only grow with time.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    My peonies must have known I've been talking about them, no flowers on one which did flower last year and the other one the flowers look like they're shrinking. Called at my daughters today the one I gave her in a pot did have 2 flowers coming on it a week ago only has one now and thats a bit small. But what I said in my first blog about admiring other peoples, well Thursday I called in on a friend and her peony is nothing short of magnificent, so at least I can say I've seen one this year. Has for mine one more year and then they're off. Do you think they will make the compost smell nice?
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Interesting comments everyone. I've often seen ants crawling on my paeonies, especially over the buds, but didn't realise (as Marie says) that ants were helping buds open in some way. I always though the ants were moving aphids (mainly blackfly) onto my plants, and then 'milking' them for their honeydew. I know they do this on other plants, too, and the ants protect the aphids from predators in the process.

    I also agree with Gail... in many ways I'd rather enjoy paeonies in other gardens rather than give them space myself. My 'Bowl of Beauty' is being rather crammed out by neighbouring day liies and geraniums anyway, so perhaps I'll just let these take its place... although the site of 'Bowl of Beauty' in perfect full bloom is to die for!

  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I love peonies. I have a tree peony which this year had over 20 blooms on it - big, pink and beautiful. They lasted almost two weeks and gave great pleasure, now the other peonies are coming into bloom, including the superb "bowl of beauty", which is always worth waiting for. It has been an excellent spring for my peonies here in the Midlands. Wouldn't have a garden without them, and when I have no garden, I will have at least one pot of peonies!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    It seems then that I may have to wait patiently for another 2 years before my 3 year old tree peony flowers? I really like the foliage anyway so I suppose thats not so bad!
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