denisew
Community Expert
Posts: 8753
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 02-18-02
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05-02-10 11:48 AM - Post#110270
About three years ago I was walking into one of the big box stores and saw some bare root peonies in packages. I remember these growing in gardens up north as a child, but rarely did I see them blooming around here in Texas. So, I thought to my self, why not? If it dies, I'm only going to be out $5. So the peony came home with me and went into a sunny spot in my garden. I treated it like all of my other perennials. It received the same sun, same water, same fertilizer, same lack of care since I am not one to baby any plant.
The root sprouted leaves and I was thrilled hoping I would soon see flower buds in the first year. Alas, I waited and waited, but no flowers the first year. The sun grew hot in July and August and the leaves dried up looking brown and brittle. When there was no green left, I sadly cut it all back to the ground thinking it was dead.
Then came the second spring and behold, more leaves were sprouting. Maybe this was the year I would see flower buds. Again, disappointment. No flower buds appeared and the leaves turned brown.
You know the old saying, "Fool me once and it is your fault. Fool me twice and it is my fault." Well, I learned from the first two years that this plant probably would not produce any blooms so when I saw leaves sprouting, I did not get excited, but just knew I would enjoy the foliage of the plant. But wait . . . this year small flower buds appeared. The ants had found them and helped them open up. Within a couple weeks of the first buds, I had the most georgous peonies that I never thought would grow in my garden! They are a beautiful big blousy blooms in fuscia pink decorated with light pink ruffled edges.
I went out with my camera on an overcast day and took several pictures because I know some people might not believe me if I told them that I was able to grow peonies in Texas.
Did I mention that last spring I bought another peony from a nursery and this one is supposed to be red? I'll have to wait a couple more years for blooms from this one, but now I know it is worth it. Even when the leaves turn brown and brittle in the summer, I will have the satisfaction of knowing that I can grow peonies in Texas.
Allen Garden Club
www.allengardenclub.org
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." - Mother Teresa |
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Mvpo
enthusiast
Posts: 414
Loc: Allen, TX, USA
Reg: 06-21-02
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05-02-10 02:31 PM - Post#110278
In response to denisew
First year sleep, second year creep and third year leap. Sounds like your patience paid off.
There are peonies that will grow in North Texas but like everything else in Texas it seems it is luck of the draw.
How long did the blooms last in this horrible wind. I just hate these winds. It has caused a BUNCH of our plums to fall off. I can imagine what it would do to these flower heads.
M
| "Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. SHE JUST DID IT BACKWARDS AND IN HIGH HEELS." Former Texas Governor Ann Richards. |
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Pollyanna
enthusiast
Posts: 1039
Reg: 08-16-04
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05-02-10 07:02 PM - Post#110291
In response to Mvpo
I planted 2 so I'll be patient.
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denisew
Community Expert
Posts: 8753
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 02-18-02
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05-03-10 08:21 AM - Post#110308
In response to Mvpo
The petals held in the wind. I looked at them yesterday and they looked fine.
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Tycho's Mom
enthusiast
Posts: 216
Loc: East Allen
Reg: 04-03-06
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05-25-10 02:06 PM - Post#111653
In response to denisew
I loved the pictures and the story is almost better! Thanks for sharing!
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jksmith
newbie
Posts: 15
Reg: 06-06-06
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05-27-10 06:36 AM - Post#111741
In response to Tycho's Mom
I love peonies! When we lived in Chicago, we had rows of them almost like a hedge in the back of our house and they would bloom every year on my birthday in early June. Ahhh that fragrance and beauty.
I have had a peony plant for the past 2 years that has looked very healthy but with no blooms. So maybe there is hope yet.
My arborist suggested that I set a frozen jug of water on the plant during winter to help "set the blooms" since our winter doesn't get extremely cold. Anyone ever heard of that?!
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denisew
Community Expert
Posts: 8753
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 02-18-02
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05-27-10 09:44 AM - Post#111751
In response to jksmith
I have also heard that. Maybe that is why mine bloomed this year - because of all the snow we had this past winter. But, the blooms didn't last too long - not even a full two weeks. I just cut them when they were all wilted and the foilage looks nice now.
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myuew
newbie
Posts: 2
Reg: 02-27-12
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02-27-12 04:11 AM - Post#145913
In response to denisew
Hi everyone. I'm new here and looking for some advice about growing peonies. Can they be planted in a container? If so? How big should the container be? Anythting different about the soil requirement compared to putting planting into the ground? Thank you very much!
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denisew
Community Expert
Posts: 8753
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 02-18-02
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02-27-12 09:00 AM - Post#145914
In response to myuew
You can probably plant them in a container, but their bloom time is very short here. The blooms on my peonies last maybe two weeks. I think they would do better in the ground. Save your containers for plants that have a longer blooming time.
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myuew
newbie
Posts: 2
Reg: 02-27-12
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02-27-12 03:54 PM - Post#145938
In response to denisew
Hello! Thank you very much for your reply! The bloom time is not a concern, my concern is our crazy texas heat wave. :D I don't have a fancy garden, and it's pretty hard to find a "morning sun after shade" spot (especially with the heat we had last year) for this beauty. To me, having it in the container would give me better control of it's location, at least I can move it around if I need to. Just not sure how fast this thing grows and how big of a pot I need to start it in. Hmm...
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denisew
Community Expert
Posts: 8753
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 02-18-02
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02-27-12 06:42 PM - Post#145941
In response to myuew
It depends on how big of a plant you buy. Also if you use too small of a container, it will need frequent watering. The leaves do get brown and crispy as we get to the end of July and into August, so in a container, that will probably happen a lot sooner. I have only seen peonies in the ground here in Texas. There are some that grow at the Allen Cemetary and usually bloom each spring (when I think to quickly look as I drive by). If you don't have an east-facing spot, then plant in a south or west facing spot and make do with what you have. I really think they would do best in the ground where their roots can be kept cool with plenty of mulch.
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javaprincess
member
Posts: 63
Reg: 06-01-10
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02-28-12 11:31 AM - Post#145970
In response to denisew
Here's my experience with my peony bulb, not the tree type though. I bought a La Tendresse white peony bulb online back in fall 2009. I planted it at my only available space at that time, which was the plant bed on the northwest side of my house. So yes the plant gets full sun all summer.
Spring 2010 I got one flower, and last spring I got two, but one of them got snapped off by the wind before blooming  , so it's growing slowly, but seemed to be fine! Yes the flowers only showed up for a week or two in the spring and that's it. I just cut off the wilted flower after bloom, and left the leaves alone until the end of the summer when the leaves turned brown (you need the leaves to soak up the sun to grow the bulb), then cut off the whole stalk.
Also, when I bought mine online the description said "partial shade/full sun" and zones 3-8, so check the variety you're buying.
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denisew
Community Expert
Posts: 8753
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 02-18-02
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02-28-12 06:54 PM - Post#146002
In response to javaprincess
Good advice on checking the varieties. Yes, they are slow growing. I bought one at Lowe's and the other I bought at Crump's Nursery a couple years ago. The one I got from Lowe's bloomed after three years and the one I got at Crump's will hopefully bloom this spring. Just enjoy the blooms while you have them!
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javaprincess
member
Posts: 63
Reg: 06-01-10
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04-16-12 11:02 AM - Post#148149
In response to denisew
Just want to share that I have the same bad luck this year. I had three new shoots coming out of my peony bulb last month, but only two came out with flower buds. I tried to put the support around the flowers as soon as possible, but last Saturday's wind was so strong one of them slipped off the support and snapped again! Sigh. I am still down to one flower this year, if that one lives.
Good news is that this variety still produced flowers even though we had an extremely mild winter. I am thinking of buying more, since a hydrangea plant next to my peony died last summer in the extreme heat. Now I have more room.
I hope you all had some good luck with yours.
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r75002
enthusiast
Posts: 418
Reg: 06-03-06
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04-16-12 01:12 PM - Post#148153
In response to javaprincess
Are anyone elses peonies starting to develope a leaf spot?
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denisew
Community Expert
Posts: 8753
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 02-18-02
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04-16-12 02:19 PM - Post#148155
In response to javaprincess
I have yet to put up any kind of support for my peonies and the stems have never broken. They need to move with the breeze. If they are restricted, they will break. They are budding out and getting ready to flower.
As for the leaf spot, I have not noticed anything significant on my peonies.
Allen Garden Club
www.allengardenclub.org
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." - Mother Teresa |
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javaprincess
member
Posts: 63
Reg: 06-01-10
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04-16-12 05:37 PM - Post#148159
In response to denisew
I didn't tie the flower to a stick. I used those green wire sticks with a little loop on top to rest the flower. It's supposed to let the flower rest gently above the loop with room to move, but the wind must have been so strong the flower escaped the loop. The flower bud was getting really heavy and there's no way the little green stalk it grows on would support it. Oh well, I will pray that next year there will be more than one flower blooming.
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