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 Peonies are wonderful perennials for Northern New Mexico. Most garden peonies are hybrids derived from species native to China.They are alkaline-tolerant, clay-tolerant, drought-tolerant once established, deer resistant, and clumps have been known to live for 50 years under ideal conditions. All prefer a sunny, well-drained location with high fertility and at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day to ensure maximum flower production. Peonies in Northern New Mexico can also take some light shade.
Here's how to grow these easy beauties — PLUS a sneak preview of the 10 luscious peony cultivars Payne's will be offering for sale in the spring of 2010!
 Since peonies, like roses and tomatoes, are heavy feeders, be sure to work lots of Payne's Organic Soil Conditioner™ deeply into your peony bed, plus a cup or so of an organic fertilizer such as Yum Yum™ Mix at planting time. Fertilize every spring, more often if your soil is very poor. Mulch well around your bushes, particularly if your soil is sandy.
Divide and replant established peony clumps in early fall. Since peony foliage can harbor fungal diseases, clean up any fallen peony leaves in autumn, and trash them (don't compost them). Cut the stems of your plants down to within an inch or two of the soil level.
Peonies need at least 5 years to mature, so peony experts recommend cutting as few flowers as possible from plants fewer than 3 years old. When cutting the flowers, take no more than 1/2 the blossoms from a plant 5 years or older, and leave as many leaves on the plant as possible.
Got ants in your plants? Don't worry; the critters won't hurt the flowers. They're attracted by the nectar peony blossoms produce. When you cut a peony blossom for the vase, just immerse and agitate it gently in a tub of lukewarm water to dislodge the ants hiding in its petals.
A Peek at Payne's Peonies 2010
The bare-root starts for Payne’s 2010 peony collection have arrived, and the clumps are so robust we’ve had to pot them up into 2 gallon pots instead of the usual 1 gallon! We’re very excited about these 10 varieties, which will be ready for sale when they come out of dormancy in early spring next year.
To whet your appetite, here are the varieties we plan to be offering in 2010 (all are hardy from Zones 3-8):
‘Duchesse de Nemours’: Heirloom, 1856. Deliciously fragrant, medium-sized, long-stemmed, fully double flowers are creamy white, flushed lemon, shading to green at the petal-bases, changing to snow white. Early-midseason P. lactiflora cultivar, 34-36” tall.
‘Felix Crousse’: Heirloom, 1881. Drought-resistant, highly floriferous, bearing large, lustrous, fully double, raspberry-red flowers in the classic “bomb” shape: hemispheres of tightly packed petals at center surrounded by a wide collar of guard petals. The flowers are so large, and so numerous, that the plant usually requires staking (perennial “hoop” stakes, sold at Payne’s in springtime, are ideal for the purpose) Late-midseason P. lactiflora cultivar, 30-32” tall. Slight fragrance.
‘Festiva Maxima’: Heirloom, 1851. Vigorous, strong-stemmed, dark green plants bear delightfully perfumed, large, long-stemmed, globular, loose-petaled, pure white “roses” flecked lightly in crimson at top. Staking recommended. Early-midseason P. lactiflora cultivar, 34-36” tall.
‘Hermione’: 1932. Huge frilly rich apple blossom pink flowers of heavenly fragrance are borne over over dark green foliage and red-splashed stems. Wonderful cut flower. Late-midseason P. lactiflora cultivar, 32-36” tall. May need staking. Often misspelled “Hermoine” in the trade.
‘Longfellow’: 1920’s. Double red, to 30”, called "the best red peony" when it was first introduced.
‘Modesta’: Not much information about this one. Dark red.
‘Nippon Beauty’: 1927. Striking, cup-shaped, single blossoms of classic Japanese peony form have large garnet-plum guard petals surrounding thickly clustered central “petaloids” of plum and pink flushed and edged in gold. Outstanding cut flower. Late-season P. lactiflora cultivar, 32” tall. Unscented.
‘Red Charm’: 1944. Winner of the American Peony Society Gold Medal in 1956, this cultivar remains the standard against which all other red hybrid peonies are judged. Tall, strong-stemmed plants with lush foliage bear immense balls of deep rich waxy-petaled red surrounded by a ring of red guard petals. Early-season herbaceous hybrid, 32” tall. Faint fragrance.
‘Sarah Bernhardt’: Heirloom, 1906. The most famous actress of her day — think Angelina Jolie, Julia Roberts, and Meryl Streep rolled into one — Sarah Bernhardt leant her name to this exquisitely feminine peony. Tall deep green bush bears loads of huge double sugary rose blooms, tipped silver and sometimes flecked carmine. Late-season P. lactiflora cultivar, 36” tall. Pleasant perfume. Wonderful for cutting.
‘Tourangelle’: Heirloom, 1910. If there were ever a peony from Heaven, this is it! Fully double angel-pink blossoms of intoxicating perfume on tall plants that take a few years to develop their best form. Needs staking. Late-midseason P. lactiflora cultivar, 36” tall. Zones 3-9.
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A Passion For Peonies
