Evening star., 1951-06-03
Peonies for the Garden -
The Traditional Peony Season Finds
Many Fine Blooms in Washington Gardens
By w. n. Younsman
Gorden Edifer

III We ~
Cord
Traditionally this is the peon
season and last week the Takom
horticultural Club conducted it
annual peony show. Many fin
blooms were entered and tn
sight of them always intrigue
gardeners to try a few in thei
perennial border.
While the Washington area 1
roughly considered to be near tn
southern edge of the region 0
adaptability, this should not b
taken too literally. Actually
peonies are successfully grown a
far south as Wilmington. N. C.
and Northern Texas. However
in the areas where summer tenn
perature come early it Is well tt
conflne the choice of varieties II
those that fall within the earl.
and mid-season blooming periods
Also, to avoid those with tight
large, hard buds which indicate
full petalage varieties which d.
not always open satisfactorily
Nevertheless. we have severa
gardeners in this area who grow
successfully the full range of sea.
son of bloom as well as types o.
flowers. But, the novice shoulc
follow the recommendations anc
grow those that are most likely tt
produce a good display.
Before discussing cultural prac.
tices. it might be we'll to describe
the peony (Paeonia). There ar,
two main types. the commonly
grown herbaceous and the woody
stemmed tree peony. The latel
is a subject for the expert, a.
least in this area because only 6
few productive plants are knowr
to the writer.
HerbaceOus PeonieS,
The herbaceous peony-it die
to the ground in the fall ant
grows complete new top eacl
season, may be further Subdividet
into eight types of bloom: Single
Japanese, Anemone, Semi double
Grown, Bomb, Semi-rose and rose
Generally speaking most gardener
simplify this to Single, japanese
Semi-double and Double.
While most interest centers OF
the double type of bloom, tn,
Others are well-worth growing be-
cause their flowers are not 81
massive, hence are suitable foI
more general indoor uses. Nor,
mally the large doubles are dis
budded to produce larger and fine,
flowers which lends them for mas
effect. The singles and japanese
however are seldom disbudded ant
thus the flowers are smaller and
perhaps daintier.
Peonies are a long lasting per,
Iennial when planted in a rea'
Isonably well-drained soil. The,
will not thrive in a water -loggeC
soil. Nor can they withstand com.
petition from tree roots. They
may continue to grow and flower
in light shade where tree root.
do not take a lions share of plan
food and moisture. A third cause
of failure to bloom. and one thai
is all too frequently encountered
is planting too deeply. The buds
of the dormant root should not
be more than two inches below
the surface of the ground after
settling has taken place. It is
comparatively easy to place the
root at the proper depth wher
planting but it is so easy to forget
to allow for the ground settling
which usually carries the root tt
a depth greater than is conducive
to bloom.
Healthy Plants Important.
Another cause Of failure II
bloom may be disease of top o.
roots. However. diseases may b.
avoided by buying healthy plant
from reliable dealers. Rot of roo
may be encountered even though
healthy stock was obtained in thu
beginning by placing the root il
contact with manure, or by plant
ing in a wet soil. Diseases of tn,
top are not common but shoult
they appear a bit of sanitation
and spraying will bring then
under control. Remove and burr
the old diseased foliage in tn,
early fall; in the spring spray will
bordeaux or other fungicide.
Peonies are best handled il
early September At that season
they may be lifted without especia
care, divided or shipped long dis
tances. In the spring they mia.
be bought as dormant cold-storag'
plants but most gardeners prefel
to buy them in the late summer
The question of dividing is fire.
quently asked-lt is unnecessar.
unless more plants are desired
Many instances have been re
corded of plants 25, so or NOR,