Peonies—Garden Queens

By Ms Sherry

Published: April 28, 2009

Another Tree Peony

Herbaceous Peony (probably ‘Festive Maxima’)

This week two more peonies (which I—and THE SOUTHERN LIVING GARDEN BOOK) refer to as garden royalty are blooming in the garden – an herbaceous and yet, another tree peony, one with yellow flowers.

Herbaceous peonies die back to the ground each fall, unlike tree peonies which have a woody trunk that remains all year. We have a joke at my house that we can’t move because of my peony (the herbaceous one) which is just about the very first thing I planted over 30 years ago. Their blooms are drop-dead gorgeous!  Peonies like cold temperatures, so in my area of Alabama they don’t always bloom as well as they can depending on our winter. They perform best in part to full sun – getting some shade in the afternoon. They need good drainage, well amended soil, and a nice layer of mulch. Peonies don’t like to be moved. Since they can reach three feet tall and get about as wide, plant then in a spot where they can stay. It is a good idea to deadhead spent flowers and to cut back and remove the foliage in the fall.

From my perspective there is just nothing more spectacular than a peony in bloom. After seeing my photographs, I think you will agree with me.