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Are you thinking about growing Peonies? As you might know they belong to the Buttercup Family (Ranunculacea) and are closely related to the Clematis, the Trollius and the Columbine. They are even hardy in the coldest climates but don't like their winter rest broken, so that they won't
do well in a warm climate such as Florida and also Southern California. Their name of Peony is derived from the Greek word "Paeon" (Healer), a name given to both Apollo, god of healing, and also Esculapius, god of medicine.
There are two types of Peony, the herbaceous and the Tree Peony, but by far the best known variety of species if the Chinese Peony, Paeonia albiflora, one of the herbaceous types. It is not only a gorgeous flower and is hardy even in the extreme north of Canada, but because its blooming time in the milder sections if close to May 30, Decoration Day.
The other herbacious species, significant because they are hybrids, are: P. officinalis, early blooming, P. emodi native to the Himalayan mountains, P. mlokosewitschi, the only yellow and also the P. macrophylla, because of its ennormous leaf size, with an unremarkable flower and we don't want to leave out the P. wittmanniana, whose flowing season is short and last but not least the P. tenuifolia, with its ferm like foliage.
It would just be impossible to even attempt to name all of the Peonies that have been offered over the last years, all I could do is to name a few and suggest a few such as the following:
White: "La Tendresse."
Pink: "Eugenie Verdier."
Red: "Felix Crousse."
Several thousand have been introduced in just the past few years, many of these are of remarkable beauty.
These mentioned above of the Herbaceous Peonies are the most important and best known.
These are very easy to grown, should be planted in the fall, from September l5th until the ground freezes, the earlier the better. You will get three to five yee root divisions from a nursery.
They need full sun and a well drained soil, the soil should be dug to about one and one half feet, old manure placed in the bottom of the hole and then a layer of earth containing the plant is placed with the buds about two inches above the surface. Be careful and don't let the plants roots touch the manure. Garden soil containing lots of plant food, and neutral or one containg lime having a slightly acid medium is not out of hte question. In the summer keep down the weeds, apply plant food or fertilizer about 4-8-8, stake the heavy double flowers and pick off the faded ones.
With this information you should be able to decide to plant these beautiful flowers, naturally consult your local nursery for varieties and make the color decisions best for you.
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