I live in Mason which is in the heart of the Hill Country. I ordered five peonies (bare roots) and planted them in various parts of the garden last fall to see where they would be happiest and not a single one has had leaf, bud or any expression of life at all. There are several folks in town who have them but none of them know why theirs is alive............one is probably 30 years old and I am promised a cutting.......when should we attempt this? And what is the best method? Help! I am desperate for just one pretty peony!
Peonies in Central Texas
Don't try so hard. ;) See my thread "ignoring and threatening your plants with death". Really, I have one that I dug up and put in a pot with barely enough dirt on it. I left it on the porch all winter and ignored it then decided to go ahead and throw it back in the ground. I put little effort into digging this hole, threw it in and left it, and now is getting big and has 2 buds on it! Good luck!
Wow! Maybe one of them will show some life yet! Thanks for the encouragement, konkreteblond. Cross your fingers for me!
I was looking through the peony forum, and wondering if it was possible to grow them in Tx. Thank you for your question. Is there a specific veriety of peony that will grow better here?
JDee,
Singles (and Japanese peonies) are said to do better than doubles in the south, and early bloomers do better than lates. I planted a lot of doubles my first year here, not knowing this, and I got buds in May that dried up. I planted a lot of singles this past fall, and guess what - one plant bloomed in late March of this year, another is ready to bloom, and I have several with buds on them!. I also have two tree peonies with large buds on them (one in its first year and one in its third). They say if you really like doubles, that Festiva Maxima is the best choice for the south. So, short answer is yes, they will grow and bloom here. Keep in mind that most experts say tree peonies typically bloom after three seasons, and herbaceous penies take a couple of years usually to start showing flowers, so if they don't bloom the first year, it's normal, and if they do, it's a nice bonus.
BTW, JDee, I posted some pics in the "Peony Buds" thread.
This message was edited Apr 3, 2005 11:42 AM
Thanks Steve. Been wondering about peonies, too. They grew great for me in Alaska. Plenty cold there.
Thanks for all the information. I really think they are beautiful....and besides....I like to say "peony" lol It sounds like something a real gardener would grow.
I have a friend who grew them in Lubbock, she says you have to protect them from the wind. They didn't mind the TX heat there, it was the darned wind.
Its that hot ol' Texas wind that'll suck the breath right outta ya'!
Do these require any special fertilizing? I haven't done anything to them. I think I had some buds last year that didn't open. What's the reason for that?
konkrete,
If they're young and not fully established or mature, the buds will dry up. It is common for them to not flower for two or more years from planting. Also, if they're late blooming varieties, I imagine the heat is awfully hard on them.
Your peony buds adn flowers are beautiful, SteveFtWorth. I looked at the whole thread last night.
Koncrete, your advice is SO dead-on! =) I also bought my first peony (had seen Mother's up in Michigan & had to have one!) and was fraught w/worry about what to do. A lovely man in CA gave me the same advice you did above: Forget about it! I was told to just make sure it didn't get waterlogged w/over-mulching, leave the buds uncovered in winter so they'll get a good freeze, and leave it alone!
Now? I have a little bush growing. I know to wait on the blooms 'til next year, and I'll happily forget about it 'til then!
=) MKJ in Trophy Club
leave the buds (eyes?) uncovered?! Well, that happened in the pot I threw mine in. How would you do that on a plant that was large and planted? are the eyes always to the outside of the plant or do they thicken in the center? (I hope that isn't a dumb question...LOL)
Uhhh.........I dunno. lol I have noticed that the base of mine has new eyes/buds popping up all the while the upper part is growing (only to a mere 5" tall!).
I have NO experience with mature peonies at all. I am a such an amateur in this arena! My "Duchess De NeMour" (too late to check my spelling..bear with) is my "panic plant."
"Egads! Is she alive? Is she thriving?? Ahhh.......whew.......lookin' good.....Wow! See new growth.......alright!" That's the extent of it, I'm afraid.
=) MKJ
"High Noon" tree peony opened up today
Another variety on the way
Steve, they're beautiful! Keep posting pics.
Thanks maggie :-)
Look at this one! I can't remember what it is or when I planted it.
Hi Masonmaven -
I planted several double whites last year and already have a ton of blooms. I also neglected them and was certain I had killed them off, but all of them are quickly growing and blooming now. I didn't put very much soil over the roots when I planted them...maybe an inch...and didn't mulch over them this Winter. I even noticed this Winter that several of the roots had become exposed through the soil and I was even more certain I had killed them, but they seem to be very happy and love it here.
After this experience, I have to agree with forgetting about them as they seem to be a very tough plant.
Missi
Mine finally bloomed, but it barely lasted 24 hrs. I guess the wind has been too much for it. ?
Hi Everyone -
I see several posts in this thread that talk about wind. Do you know if peony cages (not sure what they are called) will help with the wind problems? What does the wind do to the plant...or does it just hurt the flower?
Thanks, Missi
That's very pretty konkrete!
My friend who grew them in Midland seemed to think it was the drying of the wind that they hated so much. She planted hers where they were protected (like on the opposite side of the house from the prevailing wind.)
Bowl of Beauty - today - first year!!
These are getting ready to pop - can't remember what they are though!
Single white peony I planted this past fall. I ordered three of this type and all three bloomed this year
How's this for being covered with ants?!
Yep! Steve, you have made it clear to me that peonies will work in Texas. Thanks!!
Steve, those are beautiful!
Do those ants harm the plants? (Hey, I was a poet and didn't know it.) :-)
Thanks maggiemoo,
Missi
No problem, imway - I like a challenge! Actually northern TX is a GREAT gardening area. We get enough cold that most flowering plants reset bud for the following year, but winters are mild enough that even my calla lilies and dahlias return regularly. It's not too dry but not so soggy here that plants rot, assuming your bed is well drained. I am tellin' ya it's the soil. Put in quality stuff in a raised bed and almost everything will do well. Even the lilacs I planted are taking off! I have had all my lilies, daffs, glads and hyacinths return every year, and even a few tulips have come back for a year or two more.
Thanks maggie :-) No, the ants are just attracted to the fluid that comes out of the buds, but they don't hurt it in any way.
I had great success with peonies in Alaska and, dahlias too but, I find that the dahlias wither away very soon in the heat here. You are successful with dahlias?
John,
Dahlias do pretty well for me. I have some that grow way over my head (I think about 6 ft). During a string of really, really hot days, the foliage will burn but I try to plant there where the foliage is protected with other plants.
I don't usually give up so easily. I will try again next spring!! I was pretty impressed with the heat after Alaska.
I agree with Trunnels - if they're in a protected location, they do fine, but you're right in that they don't like a lot of intense hot sun. I have a bunch of them coming up now from last year, and one with buds on it already. They look nice in spring and even better during the fall, but can get raggedy looking in midsummer - they seem to rebound by September. I have some on the side of the house that were between 5 and 6 ft tall last year. Dahlias are native to high mountain regions of Mexico. Problem in Alaska is that most things must be annuals due to the cold with the exception of maybe peonies, tulips, and some other spring bulbs.
Not most things actually. Quite a few though, outside a greenhouse. The long days of summer make the short growing season glorious!
Steve and friends, What tulip species has returned for you? Were they vigorous the following years? Thanks, Waco