Seriously considering a peony bed

Hello,


As it is getting close to autumn now is the time I want to be arranging a peony bed.

I know they are a huge investment given their cost-in time and money, but I am going to do it as they are in my own opinion the very best flower there is.

I could use any pointers you all have-best suppliers especially. Any help with some sort of unobtrusive support structure would also be very welcome.

As it takes up to 7 yrs to flower from seed its an investment, so any value ways to populate between times eg division tips and such?

I currently have three peonies-the sarah bernhardt and will be initially be using those.

 

Mmm, the most unobtrusive support I've seen is the use of twiggy hazel for the plants to grow through - but not for the big ones like tree peonies. Mind I got a lutea that has never needed support - but then it hasn't flowered yet either :(

I like peonies - but what do you plan to give the bed interest outside of their spring flowering.

 

"best suppliers especially"

http://www.kelways.co.uk/

Hope your piggy-bank is full!

 

They are beautiful beyond words, but they are frightfully fast to come and go, I would rather plant them among other plants that can take over after they are done. Just an opinion though.

I have involuntarily divided a peony this winter, now it´s popping up all over the bloody place, so it can be done, but probably in only works if it happens by accident. Life is so perversely absurd, if you try to do it on purpose it will all go rotten.

 

Hi all,

Thanks for your advice,

I will only be using herbaceous poenies, pale pinks and purples. Not that I don`t like tree peonies or the new hybrids between the two-just that one thing at a time I think.

The inter planting will have to be conducive to their growth and I think I will be choosing those plants with sturdy or woody stems that can act as a support during the flowering-mine are so big they always flop over, I currently have a few pieris` (or pierii?) around them-they are small variegated types, and am thinking perhaps some well chosen hebes aswell which I can prune to allow light and air in around the bases of them-but again not so sure about those- I have one now which is just coming in to flower so that is a possibility. Add to that I will plant some black and some white tulips for spring, but they will need to be quite a tall growing variety. to not be overwhelmed by the pieris`s or hebes.

I have seen a bed that has thin black plastic cross-hatch fencing around them-it actually worked coz I had to have a closer nosy to see how the owners had kept theirs up-so to speak, but not so sure about it in winter-I will pop round for another gawp when the time comes. And then again maybe in time this technique would overcrowd them and once in I think it might be best to leave them in rather than constantly messing around with them.



hhhhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm................................thinking cap back on.

 

Wowee Kristen-Just been googling myself a wish list on those peonies-gorgeous flowers gorgeous price tag aswell. Well looks like I have 7 yrs to wait on one those seeds turning up trumps then!!