May and June gardens would lack something without this outstandingly beautiful garden flower. The peony shoots off its display of bloom in a relatively short number of weeks but retains the perfection of its green and arching foliage through the season. The herbaceous type of peony that dies down in the autumn is the variety most commonly grown. It offers a wide range of colors, from dazzling white to deep maroon, and various types of bloom.
Peonies make an excellent companion flower with tall bearded irises.
The flowers and foliage make the peony a valuable plant for planting in the middle range of perennial borders or in beds by themselves. Roots may be planted from the first of September until hard frost. Mulching the first winter is usually desirable. Start cultivation early. Feed Fertilizer soon after growth starts, using 1 rounded tablespoonful around each plant and cultivating it into the soil.