Precious Petals

ARE THERE ANY FLOWERS MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN PEONIES? THE CATCH IS, TO GIVE YOU THE RESULTS YOU WANT, THEY’RE PRETTY DEMANDING ... BUT WORTH IT

- Jennifer Stackhouse

Peonies are among the world’s favourite flowers, but these beautiful blooms only grow really well in cool and mountain climates — even in cold areas they can be a challenge. In warm climates, admire peonies as cut flowers but don’t succumb to planting them in the garden.

While there are many peony species and varieties, two types are grown in gardens: the herbaceous peony, which produces the much-loved peony bloom; and the tree peony, which is a tallish plant with a woody stem. Both have large blowsy rose-like flowers.

Peonies are often called “peony roses” but they are not roses. The common name comes from the many petalled shape of the flower and the rose-like colours of red, bright pink, pale pink, coral and white.

Many herbaceous peonies also have a spicy fragrance. Popular varieties include ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ (pale pink with fringed petals), ‘Felix Supreme’ (magenta), ‘Maria Lemoine’ (white) and ‘Scout’ (a red early flower that’s a good variety to extend the flowering season or for areas that have cold winters and hot summers).

TREE PEONIES

Although the herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora) is the most familiar to plant lovers and widely grown as a cut flower, the tree peonies (P. suff ruticosa, P. lutea and hybrids) are good options for gardeners in temperate climates with coolish winters who want to dabble in peonies.