Do peonies grow in Central Texas? I have never grown them here but they seem really beautiful. Don't want to buy any if they are just going to die on me. Ya know, I really don't like killing plants if I can avoid it. Does anyone have experience growing peonies here?
Peony in Central Texas?
I know they surely won't grow for me here in Houston....but I always thought that it was just ME they wouldn't grow for!
I swear I have lived in Texas all my life and still all most every day hear of a new town. Where in the heck is Harker Heights????
Sorry...when off there for a bit...I dont know of any one growing peonies. Are they selling the at a local nursery?
Nope, haven't seen any at the local nursery.
Harker Heights is near Ft. Hood Army Post. If you don't know where that is we are an hour north of Austin and a little less than an hour south of Waco... about 15 miles west of I-35.
Actually, I've been a teacher for 20 years and about 13 years ago there was a lady in our building that grew huge beautiful peonies (brought them into school WELL before the year was out). Only problem was I was not addicted to gardening then and did not get any details. She may have grew them over the winter like we do poppies, snapdragons, larkspur, etc. and got fresh bulbs every year. So I think it is possible--I'm just tired of wasting money on plants that won't grow for ME (such as....phlox, any kind of ferns..verbena except in the winter...)
I have a p. sarah bernhardt that I got in trade, planted inground, shade, and it's growing well. I don't see any buds yet. it's about 1ft tall. I think Sarah B. is supposed to do well here with some babying.
dmj1218 - I know how you feel. And I just don't lift any bulbs. I think peony are pretty and I am curious about them. Some of the info I have seen says hardy to zone 9 but I find that hard to believe as I don't know anyone that grows them.
I have a peony in Central Texas, and it did bloom this year. It has had a very rough life since I received it in a plant trade over five years ago. I'm sure it would like to go back up north where it came from! I planted it where nothing could disturb it while the house was being built. The first thing that happened was the backhoe operator dropped a big pile of dirt on it. He sort of dug it out, and I put it in a pot over the winter thinking it was dead. It survived. It bloomed this year because it was cooler and wetter than usual. If I had it in a better spot, and it stayed cool and rained a lot every spring, I might have a whole bouquet!
vossner - I would be interested in hearing how it does for you. Unfortunately, I have little shade. If my trees keep growing the way they are, I think I will have decent shade in 4-5 years. BTW - I use to live in Richmond.
patrob - Thanks for the information. Maybe there is hope. But really sounds like I will need a shady spot.
I'm going to dig mine this fall and plant it in a semi-shady spot. Peonies don't like to be transplanted, but this one has been through so much, what's one more move! The bloom was gorgeous -- white with a red streak through the middle. Plenty of water and perhaps misting on really hot, dry days might help.
TX doodle. you wouldn't recognize it now . I don't live in the boonies any more, lol.
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I always though Richmond was just another SW Houston suburb Vossner! LOL. I'm on N hwy 6 west side of Houston...was just a little house on the vacant suburban prairie when I moved here in 94. Still a little house on the katy prairie but houses all around now!
patrob - I can't believe it bloomed for you after all it had been through. You give me hope. They do look very gorgeous in the photos.
Check out this thread on peonies in TX from earlier this year. I think there's hope!
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/495788/
Thanks maggiemoo & everyone. Sounds like it is a good plant for my garden.
I've got 3 of them growing in mine. Two of them bloomed this year. The reason they are all living and doing ok is because I don't really want them!! LOL! I got them free, planted them and one bloomed the next year. Then I dug one up and threw it in a pot and forgot about it. I barely watered it over the winter, and that was only because I felt kind of sorry for it sitting half uncovered in that pot. Then in the Spring I continued to feel sorry for it and replanted it. It bloomed this year too. Another one I moved several times and it's still alive. I just took a picture of one of them the other day. This is how it's surviving the Texas heat in my yard. It's buried in the middle of this bed of red salvias.
