Peonies

Peonies are one of the most beautiful, resilient, low-maintenance and fragrant perennials in the world. From Asia to Europe and all the way to the Americas; gardeners, photographers and even kings have treasured these ornamental flowers. In China, the peony is known as the "flower of riches and honor" denoting the beauty and value of its blossoms. The Qing Dynasty even fancied the peony so much, that they declared it China's national flower in 1903.

The shade of a Peonies petals can be pink, rose, maroon, red, yellow or white and the blossoms can be several inches in diameter. In addition to their beautiful appearance, many peonies are also quite fragrant making them a wonderful addition to home-made bouquets. Even the thick, green foliage that grows around its flowers is a beautiful.

Most peonies grow to be 0.5 - 1.5 meters tall, and some can grow as high as 3 meters tall. Because of their height peonies make beautiful borders and attractive privacy screens. They also make wonderful backdrops for smaller flowers.

Peonies are easy to grow. They have a hearty constitution that helps them do well even in cold weather climates. Whether you have a green thumb or a touch that withers flowers, peonies are the plant for you.

While Peonies don't require a lot of attention after they get going, to really thrive in your garden there are a few tips every gardener should know about to get some amazing blossoms.

When you are planting peonies, be careful not to put the eyes of the root too deep in the soil. Two inches down should be sufficient. Any deeper and your peony may not be able to bloom, so don't go to deep. Peonies can grow to a very mature size. Always remember to give them room to expand. It is wise to plant them two or three feet apart from one another.

Sunlight is also important. Find a plot that receives at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight a day. Peonies need this much sunlight in order to develop the strong stems that support their giant blossoms.

Peonies don't handle transplantation very well so the spot you chose should be a permanent home for these flowers. They may fail to blossom for a few years if you try to move them around the garden. Until the first flowers appear, take care to water your peonies well. From then on, the plant will be able to take care of itself. Then sit back and enjoy years of beautiful blossoms with very little additional effort on your part.