The second emperor of the Southern Tang (南唐) Li Jing (李璟), of the period of the Five Dynasties And Ten Kingdoms (五代十国), once invited Chan Master Fayan Wenyi (法眼文益禅师) tojoin him in appreciating some flowering peonies, whereupon the Master wrote an untitled poem: 拥毳对芳丛...
If you live in the deep south, choose an early-blooming variety that will come into bloom before the heat of summer. Don’t know your planting zone? Check out this USDA Planting Zone Map. Like all perennials, peonies often take a few years to produce flowers. It could take two to ...
And like most perennials, peonies die down to the ground in the winter, only to start over again in the spring. Other Interesting Facts Most garden peonies will live more than 50 years. Plant one now and you’ll enjoy its beautiful flowers for many seasons to come. They are also deer a...
Many peonies, especially peonies in the bomb variety become very top-heavy and can cause the stems to bend — this can also happen after a period of rain. To prevent bending and breakage, place a plant support next to your peony bush and tie the stem to the support. Be sure to set u...
The single peony is revered for its prolific blooming; these peonies look like big daisies. They do well with a bit of shade in the afternoon to protect the flowers from the heat of the midday sun. Lotus Peony The lotus peony is another heavily blooming plant. Its flowers feature two or...
When to plant peonies: Bare root peonies are best planted in the fall (prior to the first frost) and they'll have the best chance of blooming the following spring. Those planted in spring may not bloom for two years or more. Where to plant peonies: Peony plants need a location with 6...
This plant has shallow roots, so it's easy to remove unwanted shoots with the help of a shovel, a hoe, or even your hands. Simply wait for it to sprout, and then get to work removing it. Pruning To encourage more branching, a more compact growth, and more blooms, prune stems ba...
But if you do need to prune them, make sure to do it in the spring when you can tell where the buds are…and don’t cut them off if you want to keep the flowers :). Some gardeners say that removing the flowers when they have finished blooming, is a good idea (unless you want ...
Prune peonies after it blooms with clean pruners. Cut dead stems or diseased stems to just below the infected area. Trim branches to maintain the plant's shape, but overall, peonies do not need a lot of pruning. Deadheading flowers also promote new growth, so once the flowers begin to fa...
it doesn't spread the fungal spores to nearby healthy hollyhocks. Avoid composting infected plant material, as this may spread the disease. Continue to prune out old flower stalks and those showing fungal disease symptoms as needed. Cut back the entire hollyhock plant after it finishes flowering...