Intermediate Peony Growing: Varieties, Propagation & Extended Bloom

Beyond Basics: Exploring Peony Diversity

With over 6,500 registered cultivars across three main types, peonies offer incredible depth for gardeners who want to expand beyond common varieties. This guide explores the diversity of peonies and techniques for creating an extended season of bloom.

Understanding the Three Peony Types

Herbaceous Peonies (Paeonia lactiflora hybrids)

The most common garden peonies, herbaceous types die completely to the ground each winter and regenerate from roots in spring.

Advantages:

• Widest variety selection
• Most winter hardy (Zones 3-8)
• Generally most affordable
• Easiest to grow

Flower Forms:

Tree Peonies (Paeonia suffruticosa)

Woody shrubs that don't die back, tree peonies offer enormous flowers and different bloom times.

Key Characteristics:

• Woody stems remain year-round
• Larger individual flowers (6-12 inches)
• Bloom earlier than herbaceous types
• Generally more shade-tolerant
• Take longer to establish
• More expensive initially

Categories:

Intersectional (Itoh) Peonies

The best of both worlds, Itoh peonies combine herbaceous growth with tree peony flower characteristics.

Why Grow Itohs:

• Enormous flowers (up to 8 inches)
• Extended bloom period (3-4 weeks)
• Strong stems rarely need staking
• More disease resistant
• Heat tolerant to Zone 9
• Unique colors including yellow

Popular Itoh Varieties:

Creating an Extended Bloom Season

With careful planning, you can enjoy peonies for 6-8 weeks:

Bloom Sequence

Bloom Sequence Planting

Plan your garden with representatives from each bloom time:

Early Season:

• Tree peonies
• 'Coral Charm' (herbaceous)
• 'Paula Fay' (herbaceous)

Midseason:

• Most herbaceous varieties
• 'Sarah Bernhardt'
• 'Festiva Maxima'

Late Season:

• 'Nick Shaylor'
• 'Elsa Sass'
• Itoh varieties

Propagation Techniques

Division (Most Common)

Best for herbaceous and Itoh peonies.

Timing: Fall (September-October)

Process:

1. Dig entire clump after frost
2. Wash soil from roots
3. Cut crown into sections
4. Each division needs 3-5 eyes
5. Let cuts dry 24 hours
6. Replant at proper depth

Tips:

• Use clean, sharp knife
• Dust cuts with fungicide
• Don't divide plants younger than 5 years
• Divided plants may not bloom for 2-3 years

Root Cuttings

Less common but effective for herbaceous types.

Process:

1. In fall, cut root sections 4-6 inches long
2. Position horizontally in moist medium
3. Cover with 2 inches of soil
4. Keep cool and moist
5. Transplant when shoots appear

Growing from Seed

For the patient and adventurous.

Timeline:

• Collect seeds when pods open
• Plant immediately or stratify
• Germination may take 1-2 years
• First bloom: 5-7 years from seed

Notes:

• Seeds don't come true from hybrids
• Best for species peonies
• Exciting for creating new varieties

Tree Peony Grafting

Most tree peonies are grafted onto herbaceous roots.

Why Grafting:

• Faster production
• More vigorous initial growth
• Common commercial practice

Considerations:

• Plant graft union 4-6" deep
• Scion can develop own roots
• Watch for sucker growth from rootstock

Advanced Variety Selection

By Color

Reds:

Pinks:

Whites:

Corals:

Yellows:

By Fragrance

Strongly Fragrant:

• 'Duchesse de Nemours' - Lemony fresh
• 'Festiva Maxima' - Sweet rose
• 'Myrtle Gentry' - Intense rose
• 'Sweet Harmony' - Classic peony

Moderately Fragrant:

• 'Sarah Bernhardt' - Rose notes
• 'Bartzella' - Light citrus
• Most Japanese forms

Minimal Fragrance:

• Most tree peonies
• Many modern hybrids
• Single varieties

Cut Flower Production

Harvest Timing

Understanding bud stages is crucial for cut flowers:

Cold Storage

Commercial technique for extended marketing:

1. Cut at marshmallow stage
2. Strip lower foliage
3. Wrap stems in newspaper
4. Store at 32-36°F (0-2°C)
5. Flowers keep 4-6 weeks
6. Re-cut and hydrate to bloom

Maximizing Vase Life

• Re-cut stems under water
• Use floral preservative
• Keep water clean
• Display in cool location
• Expect 7-10 days in vase

Companion Planting

Spring Partners

• Iris (bloom overlap)
• Alliums (vertical accent)
• Late tulips
• Bleeding hearts

Summer Partners

• Roses (similar form, different texture)
• Lavender (fragrance complement)
• Salvia (color contrast)
• Ornamental grasses (textural contrast)

Foliage Partners

• Hostas (shade areas)
• Lady's mantle (edge softening)
• Heuchera (color contrast)

Mastering different peony types and extending your bloom season transforms a week of beauty into a month or more. Experiment with varieties across all three types to discover which perform best in your specific conditions.