Peonies

Reliable, long-lived hardy herbaceous perenninal native from Tibet to Siberia. The red to forest-green shoots appear in midspring and form a bushy clump of lustrous dark green deeply lobed foliage that makes a lovely hedge or backdrop to the flower garden.

Big spherical buds on sturdy stems gradually open from late spring to early summer, transforming into huge stunning blooms. Peonies require support to keep the heavy blossoms from flopping. For long-lasting cutflowers, harvest when buds are soft like marshmallows but not quite open.

Ants on peony buds are normal, so leave them alone. While the ants collect sticky nectar, they also protect the peonies against insect pests. Before you bring cuts indoors, dunk them in a bucket of water to rinse off the ants.

Plant 2–3' apart with eyes no more than 1–1½" below the surface in deep, fertile, moist but well-drained soil, full sun to partial shade. Plants may take 3–5 years to establish before blooming, and are sensitive to disturbance during that time.