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How do I keep

« peony flowers from

ending up on the ground?

Install plant support rings,

above,

over the plants in early spring. New

steins will grow up through the

supports and stay upright. You can

also choose shorter peony varieties,

or those that have single flowers,

rather than heavy double flowers.

What is the difference

ft between herbaceous

ies and tree peonies?

Herbaceous peonies sprout new

steins and leaves each spring and die

back to the ground after a hard frost

in fall. They grow best in Zones 2-8.

Tree peonies,

below

, perform best in

Zones 4-9 and have woody stems

that lose their leaves in winter. They

grow slowly, and can take five years

to bloom.

I want to plant peonies, but there are so

i many to choose from. Can you recommend

some varieties that are especially reliable and easy to

find—and most importantly—have a nice fragrance

for bouquets?

Generally speaking, herbaceous peonies are more fragrant than tree

peonies, and double herbaceous peonies are often more fragrant

than singles. Some classic fragrant varieties are ‘Coral Charm’ (soft

coral), ‘Bowl of Cream’ (creamy white), ‘Festiva Maxima’ (white

with a crimson center), ‘Felix Supreme’ (deep pink to red), ‘Sarah

Bernhardt’ (soft pink), and ‘Raspberry Charm’ (red).

Cut peonies for bouquets in the morning, just as the bud is

opening and a few individual petals are visible. To ensure vigorous

blooms in the following year, do not remove more than half the

flowers from each plant, and avoid taking any leafy stems.

I 3 6 SEPTEMBER 2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS

PHOTOS: (BOUQUET) LAURIE BLACK; (PEONY SUPPORT RING) KRITSADA; (TREE PEONY ‘KAMATA NISHIKI') BOB STEFKO