Peony
Peony: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Peonies, in the genus Paeonia, belong to the Paeoniaceae family. These perennial plants are valued for their large flowers and divided foliage. The name covers several species, hybrids and cultivars rather than a plant with one uniform shape or colour. Their lasting presence in borders and their seasonal flowering both contribute to their appeal in a garden, where the foliage remains part of the display beyond the flowers.Herbaceous peonies form clumps whose above-ground stems disappear during the colder season, followed by new growth from underground organs. Tree peonies retain a woody framework even when they lose their leaves. Intersectional hybrids, also called Itoh peonies, come from crosses between these groups. Much of their growth is renewed each year, while a small woody part may remain at the base. These differences explain distinct outlines and visible seasonal cycles.The flowers include single, semi-double and double forms. Single flowers reveal a centre of…
