Garden Chat: Extending the peony bloom in your garden

What’s so special about peonies? Not only are they incredibly beautiful, they are relatively easy to grow and quite dependable as a perennial garden plant. Some types of peonies will continue growing in one spot for a hundred years. It is not unusual to come across fragrant clumps of peonies still growing in abandoned farmyards across the prairies long after their original growers are no longer with us. Beloved peonies are often passed down as heirlooms in families.

The main problem with peonies, however, is that, even with multiple blooms on a plant, we cannot seem to get enough of their fragrant blossoms in five to 20 days. Additionally, the whole peony bloom lasts for only a seven- to eight-week period in late spring to early summer in Saskatchewan. Because peonies do not rebloom as many other perennials do, peony season is followed by a long wait until the next blooming period.

We all want to bask in the beauty of these fabulous plants for as long as we possibly can, but what should a peony grower do to prolong the bloom? There are several ways to accomplish this. The first is to plant peony varieties (better known as cultivars) that flower at different times within the roughly projected blooming frame. Like clockwork, different peony groups present their blossoms at roughly the same time every year, depending on how quickly spring temperatures rise and remain consistently above freezing. 

Because the bloom of cultivars is so predictable, peonies are often labelled on a continuum from early to late season.

Once gardeners know when specific cultivars usually flower, it becomes easier to extend the bloom season by selecting one or two cultivars from each grouping below for fall planting. Peonies should not be planted in the spring. Fall is a much better time to plant peonies because they grow new feeder roots in cool weather.

Choose from the following lists of easily-grown cultivars that are readily available in Canada. For more information and photos of each cultivar listed below, access the following link:

https://americanpeonysociety.org/cultivars/peony-registry/

Very Early Cultivars

When the first peonies begin to bloom, it is usually cause for celebration every spring. Peonies in this group, such as tree or woody peonies, fern-leaf peonies and herbaceous hybrids, make their debut in early spring. This group does well in cooler but not cold temperatures. 

1. Tenuifolia (fern-leaf) (small double red)
2. Fern-leaf hybrids (small red to pink, single)
3. Rock’s Variety (hardy tree/woody peony with large singles)
4. Nosegay (single blush pink with flares)

Early Season Cultivars

These peonies get the bloom season officially on its way with their bright colours and captivating blooms. Many are single blossoms with only one row of petals, while some have two or more rows of petals. 

1. Lemon Chiffon (yellow semi-double)
2. Roselette (bright pink single)
3. Red Charm (red Japanese type)
4. Pink Hawaiian Coral (pink-coral semi-double)

Mid-Season Cultivars

Early, mid and late mid-season peonies feature many of the big, fluffy double blooms that were so beloved by our grandmothers. 

1. Gay Paree (pink/white Japanese type)
2. Duchesse de Nemours (large white double)
3. Festiva Maxima (large white double/ red flecks)
4. Kansas (red double)
5. Coral Charm (coral semi-double)
6. Bartzella (yellow semi-double Itoh)
7. Hillary (rose semi-double Itoh) 

Late-Season Cultivars

The bloom season closes with many of the huge, romantic blossoms that are famous for their powerfully perfumed aroma. Because the blooms are so big and heavy, many of them need staking. 

1. Sarah Bernhardt (large soft pink double)
2. Alexander Fleming (large bubblegum pink double) 
3. Rozella (dark rose-pink double)
4. Elsa Sass (large white double)

(For more information on Canadian growers and suppliers, please go to the Canadian Peony Society website link at https://peony.ca/resources/#vendors.)

There is a second way to extend the peony bloom. Imagine having peonies gracing your dining room table much later in the year. Peony bud stems can be cut and stored in a fridge (preferably not frost-free) for several weeks and even up to months later, depending on the cultivar. The key to cold-storing peonies and having them bloom at a much later date is knowing when to cut them and how to properly store them.

To store a peony capable of achieving a vase life of five to ten days, buds need to be cut when they are showing some colour and feel as soft as a marshmallow when gently squeezed. Be aware that some cultivars do better in cold storage than others. 

Once the peonies are cut, the leaves should be stripped from the stems, and each stem rolled up tightly in Press N Seal®️wrap. Store the stem dry in an oversized Zip-Lock®️bag, which must be closed tightly. Place the bag flat on a fridge shelf at the coldest temperature possible without freezing the blooms. Several bags can be placed in layers on top of the first bag. When you want the peonies to produce blooms, take them out of the fridge, re-cut one inch of stem off under water and then place the stems in lukewarm water with Floral Life®️ or other plant food one to two days before the blooms are going to be used.

For more information about peonies, please visit the Prairie Peony Society’s Festival and Spring Show in Lumsden, Saskatchewan, on June 21, where you will see several hundred blooms on display. Then, tour our peony farm near Lumsden that grows over 800 peonies in eight separate gardens. For more information, contact Myra Froc, President of the Prairie Peony Society, at [email protected]. 

This column is provided courtesy of the Saskatchewan Perennial Society.
(SPS; [email protected]). Check our website (www.saskperennial.ca) or Facebook page (www.facebook.com/saskperennial) for a list of upcoming gardening events.