The prairie of southern Minnesota region among the adept places in the macrocosm to grow peonies , according toLaverne Dunsmore , owner ofCountryside Gardensin Delano and one of the State Department ’s first peony experts . Dunsmore , a grower and hybridizer , spoke at theNorthern Green Expo , the one-year educational formula of theMinnesota Nursery and Landscape Association .
In his presentation , Dunsmore talked about what makes a great peony and highlight some older , but wonderful varieties . Minnesota has a foresightful history of peony growing , particularly in the area around Faribault , MN . , home to theBrand Peony Farmand the annualPeony Festivalheld in the 1920s .
Here are some of the things Dunsmore recommends gardener look for in a paeony :
Peony blooms are lovely even before they open.
1 ) Hardiness . With the exclusion of Nipponese peonies ( Paeonia japonica ) , well-nigh all peony are hardy to USDA Zone 4 ( south of St. Cloud , MN ) . For those farther North , “ this is the winter to find out what is not quite as hardy ” as expected , Dunsmore say .
2 ) Strong halt . It never go that a big rain hits the daytime after your peony bloom . Choose varieties with substantial stems that can make up those big , beautiful efflorescence . If you may find it , Dunsmore likes‘Moonstone ’ , a pink - lily-white peony with a gracious aroma . superfluous fillip : Deer do n’t like it .
3 ) Fragrance . Whether an odor is pleasant or awful is in the olfactory organ of the observer , but Dunsmore retrieve fragrance is an important cistron in peony selection . Once he likes for smell are‘Festiva Maxima’,‘Angel Cheeks’and‘Myrtle Gentry ’ . If you like your peony odorless , try‘Candy Stripe ’ .
Peonies flop after rain
4 ) retentive bloom season . While some peonies bloom longer than others , many will flower only a few days . To revel peonies for a longer time , flora several with early , mid and later blossom catamenia . peony , which used to be synonymous with mid - June , are now showing blossom around Memorial Day in some years , Dunsmore say .
5 ) Disease resistance . In the right position — with plenty of Dominicus , enough space to get the breeze through and a well - drain soil — paeony are an well-fixed - care plant life . Plants with greater disease resistance tend to be those with thicker farewell , Dunsmore says .
If you are look for older , beautiful varieties you wo n’t find in big box stores , Dunsmore recommend ‘ Moonstone’,‘Duluth’and‘Do Tell ’ . Which are your favourite peony ?
