I just P. Allen Smith's recommendations for peonies which bloom into zone 8. Obtained from his article in Cottage Living magazine at http://www.cottageliving.com/cottage/gardens/article/0,21135,1094470,00.html
I would LOVE to grow them down South in zone 8B. Has anyone in this hot, humid climate had any luck with any of the following? (from the article above):
'Festiva Maxima'
'Sarah Bernhardt'
'Charlie's White'
'Coral Charm'
'Doreen'
'Fairy's Petticoat'
'Krinkled White'
'Mons. Jules Elie'
'Mrs. F. D. Roosevelt'
'Richard Carvel'
'Toro-No-Maki'
'Soft Salmon Joy'
'Gold Standard'
Miss America
Do Tell
Abonlone Pearl
Silver Dawn Mix
Has anyone had luck growing Peonies in South Texas??????????
I got a sarah bernhardt in trade last year and it grew moderately for me though it didn't flower. It disappeared, just waiting to see if it comes back. Will mark this thread to report on it later. If it does come back then it should grow for you as you are a tad cooler in Magnolia.
I've noticed S. Bernhart and F. Maxima as rated as good as far as Z9 in a few catalogs.
I have some of those, and Doreen has done the very best for me.
-T
Have they flowered for you? So far I'm hearing peole say they planted them but no reports of good flowering bushes yet. I'll look up Doreen. I would LOVE to plant some out back to hide my septic tank covers.
I've had only a couple bloom(none of mine are over three years old, so all still very young), but the Doreen bloomed very well, and put out quite a few flowers.
The Felix Crousse was a close second...
-T
I want to plant them up against a N. facing wall. I think that would be good, don't you? Help shelter it from the real heat of our zone 8 sun!
From what I have read and from my own experience they do not do well at all here. I just sort of thought they were for climates that were colder- my great grandmother grew them beautifully in Indiana. I hope they do well for you! Good luck.
You're right...........so far. They are working on heat hardier hybrids which is what the article at the top of this thread is about. I'm just trying to find out if anyone around here has had any luck with any of them yet.
I don't think North would be enough sun for them. There is a guy here locally that did a lecture on them, and he said they still need full sun.
Mine are in about half a day of sun and it is the later, hotter half. The ones in the shadier spots didn't bloom at all.
The sunnier ones bloomed best. Doreen and Felix were in the most sun(all day southern exposure). Not sure if it were the sun, or the varieties, but definitely think north is too shady...just my opinion...
-T
Thanks for the input! Makes sense!
Your welcome!
I wish you many, many peony blooms!
Also, the guy that did the lecture said it had a lot to do with the age and number of eyes...
He said in TX, if you start with a 3 eye peony, you may as well expect to wait many years for a bloom. He suggested starting out with peonies that had 6-12 eyes!
Those are a bit too pricey for me, so gonna have to be patient, lol...
-T
I had several peonies flower last year, but they were mostly ones that had been in the ground a couple of years at least. Seedpicker, like you I planted several of "Doreen" but they came up SO early (December) we had several hard freezes that ruined them. I am eager to see how they do this year, and am glad you gave such a positive report on yours. I has Mons Jules Elie bloom with several flowers last year and Sandra Bernhardt, too - even though the experts say the singles are the best for the south.
I planted this fern peony just this past fall, that I got in a trade here on DG from Maxine up in Wisconsin. It has a bunch of buds on it!
This one is a single early I ordered from Klehm - I lost the tag so not sure what variety. I planted this one this fall
Here's another one coming up that I planted this year
See, Ladyborg?...there's hope!!
...you CAN have peonies in TX, lol...
-T
We can not grow Herbaceous Peonies in the south but CAN grow Tree Peonies..remember with our hotter sun to grow them with morning sun..Hot afternoon shade...Jeanne
http://www.treepeony.com/southwest.htm
My grandpa grew peonies in Odessa, Texas years and years ago. They had beautiful red blooms. I only wish that I new what variety they were.