Peonies

Peonies are great looking perennials for your garden. Learn more about these terrific flowers:

Into the history books….

Peonies are also known as paeony in some parts. They were originally named after Paeon, a Greek mythology figure. He was turned into a flower by Zeus to save him from his angry Greek god teacher. I'm not sure how that saved poor Paeon but that's Greek mythology for you!

These flowers are found in parts of Southern Europe, Asia, and certain parts of western North America.

Its a national emblem in China and is very revered in Japan as well. It was named the state flower of Indiana in 1957.

Beauty

Many peonies are pink but they can also be other colors as well, such as peach, yellow, and red. They have huge blooms with a very nice fragrance.

Most of the species are herbaceous, meaning they are low to the ground and shrublike, getting no more than five feet tall. There are some species that are tree-like and can get up to ten feet tall.

You will also frequently see these flowers on tattoo designs. They are often seen with other Asian influenced subjects such as koi.

Gardening

Plant these in the fall before the first freeze. This will help make the root structure more ingrained. They do best in a very sunny spot, but partial shade can also be feasible.

These can be tricky plants in terms of tranplanting and moving. They require specific earth nutrients that do not replenish naturally with normal mulch, food, or fertilizer. Planting another in the same spot will probably starve that new plant of these trace minerals.

Although they are not technically pests, the nectar in the flowers does attract insects. These are mainly ants, but other nectar-loving insects and birds can be attracted as well.

They are moderately susceptible to diseases. A light fungicide can help with this.