My Corner Online
Paeonia | Peony
First bloom dates:
2017 April 23 and May 2
2019 May 5
2022 May 9
2023 May 3
2024 April 17
Paeonia | Peony
Paeoniaceae (Peony Family) Pronounced Pee-own-ee-aye-see-eye
My Peonies:
1. Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
This has pink petals and a yellow middle. It is classified as a single peony. My first photo of this is in 2015, so it must have been planted a few years prior, maybe 2013.
(I found that Little Medicineman Peony aka Dancing Butterflies Peony also looks very similar during an internet search.)
Lactiflora is known as the Chinese Peony.
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown) and some species similar: 'Raspberry Parfait, 'Pink Pompadour,' ‘Monsieur Jules Elie,' and Philomele.
My first photo of this plant is in 2007, so I must have planted in in 2005 or so. I wish I knew exactly the species. I believe this is a double classification or similar. It is in the side bed in the back yard.
3. & 4. Paeonia lactiflora (hybrid) 'Hawaiian Coral' and 'Flame'
This was purchased in 2022 and is blooming in 2024. The tag appears to indicate two varieties in one package.
Hawaiian Coral is a coral rose pink and has semi-double petal flowers. This is planted in the back yard, first garden bed.
Flame has single petal flowers. I believe this is planted in the front garden bed although it does not look like a single peony and does not have a yellow center, but it does have these little darker pink "flames" as in the below photo.
The most common peonies grown in home gardens are:
Paeonia japonica | Woodland Peony
Paeonia suffruticosa | Woody Tree Peony
Paeonia spp. hybrids | Garden Peony, herbaceous
Paeonia itoh | Intersectional Peony (hybrid of garden and tree peonies)
Peonies are known as the luxurious flower!
The peony is a deciduous shrub. Well that makes sense! I always thought of them as a perennial that kept its foliage throughout the garden season. I cut it back in the Autumn to the ground when the leaves begin to die back and then the leaves begin to grow the next year. Instead it is a shrub that loses its leaves in the Autumn.
Flowers close at night or when the sky darkens when a storm is eminent.
A peony often takes two to five years to bloom once it is moved, but thereafter it blooms faithfully every year for decades.
Some say that ants are required for a peony to bloom. Other said they are required to pollinate. Neither are required, but Peonies do attract ants because the nectar forms outside of the flower buds. The ants do not harm the plant and, in fact, may deter other insects. I think this folklore comes about because when a new plant takes many years to first bloom, folks try to help other folks and give the reason that they need ants.
All peonies have five or more large outer petals called guard petals.
There are seven American classifications of peonies:
Single: about 5 petals with stamens in middle and carpels (ovary & stigma) visible.
Semi-double: a single or double row of petals around further broad petals intermingles with stamens
Double: many petals only which are likely altered stamens and carpels
Triple: three rows of petals that overlap each other
Anemone (a semi-double): a single or double row of petals around thin petal-like structures; carpels visible
Japanese: Similar to anemones but have staminodes, which are stamens that do not produce pollen, in the centers
Bomb: a single row of petals encircles a shorter dense pompon of narrower petals
There is also a Chinese classification of peonies: single, Lotus (semi-double), Chrysanthemum (semi-double), Rose (semi-double), Anemone (double), Hundred Proliferate (double), Golden Circle (double), Thousand Petal Crown (double), and Hydrangea Globular (double). This seems easier to identify to me as some of them are names after similarly shaped flowers.
2024
This is what a peony looks like when it first pokes out of the ground. It is rather odd looking!
This is what a peony looks like as it begins to grow each Spring.
The leaves still look odd and unique before the blooms come out.
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
This photo makes it easier to identify the guard petals. Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
The photo from the side shows the guard petals well. Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
3. Paeonia lactiflora (hybrid) 'Hawaiian Coral.' I only had one bloom and this is the first year for it to bloom in 2024. It took a long time to open up fully as I watched it every day.
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
This shows a flower just starting to open up next to one fully opened up. Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
3. Paeonia lactiflora (hybrid) 'Hawaiian Coral.'
4. Paeonia lactiflora (hybrid) 'Flame.' I can see the darker pink "flame" in this photo.
See the darker pink flame? It does not look like the package but I think that is what it is.
4. Paeonia lactiflora (hybrid) 'Flame.' It rained and I had to tie up the peony and it all clumped together was gorgeous.
2023
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
2022
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2021
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty' with Evening Primrose
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2020
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
2019
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown) - before or after it is blooming
2018
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty' after the rain
2017
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty'
2016
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2015
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2014
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2012
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2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
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2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2011
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2007
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
2. Paeonia lactiflora (unknown)
So I had some song lyrics going through my head that went like this: “My, My, My Peony!” Oh, I could not find that song! That’s because it goes like this: “Ooh, my little pretty one, pretty one . . . M-m-m-my Sharona” by The Knack.
Hey, I can sing it anyway I want! I’m laughing at myself. It will be stuck in your head now, I promise.
But while searching for the above song, I found this song by Danny Kaye. I have never heard this song before and now I love it! It would have to be a “Patio Party” favorite to play while my Peonies are blooming. Listen along with the lyrics:
'Twas the peony bush there in my garden
That made you turn around and smile at me.
Not the zinnias or gardenias with their fragrant perfume,
Forget-me-nots in fancy pots or orchids in-a bloom;
But the peony bush there in my garden
It did the trick as quick as one-two-three.
Please decorate my garden gate forever
And never will there be any bush.
But the peony bush for me.
Every rose, every tree, every bird and bee
Seem to rate a rondolet or two.
So a slight poetic push for my favorite bush
Would seem to be long overdue.
'Twas the peony bush there in my garden
That made you turn around and smile at me.
Not the zinnias or gardenias with their fragrant perfume,
Forget-me-nots in fancy pots or orchids in-a bloom;
But the peony bush there in my garden
It did the trick as quick as one-two-three.
Please decorate my garden gate forever
And never will there be any bush,
But the peony bush for me.
Have a happy day all and never stop learning and finding things that bring you joy.