Peonies: a few glorious weeks a year

A peony goes from a hard green ball to a bloom the size of a side plate in a couple of days. The season is short, which is half the appeal. In Ireland they mark early summer, and brides plan June weddings around them.

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From Chinese palaces to Irish gardens

Peonies have been grown in China for well over a thousand years, where the tree peony became known as the king of flowers and a symbol of wealth and honour. Europe had its own species, the old cottage-garden Paeonia officinalis, long before Chinese varieties arrived from the late eighteenth century. The name is said to come from Paeon, the healer of the gods in Greek myth, because the roots were once used as medicine.

What a peony says

Prosperity and good fortune: the Chinese meaning, still strong today.
A happy marriage: one reason peonies are a wedding favourite and a good twelfth-anniversary flower.
Shyness: in Victorian flower language, possibly because of old tales of nymphs hiding in the petals.

Varieties worth knowing

‘Sarah Bernhardt’: the classic pale pink double, late in the season and widely grown for cutting.
‘Coral Charm’: opens a vivid coral and fades to apricot and cream.
‘Duchesse de Nemours’: creamy white and lightly scented.
‘Karl Rosenfield’: rich crimson, good for autumn-toned bouquets.
Itoh or intersectional peonies: crosses between garden and tree peonies, often yellow, with a long flowering period.

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Growing peonies here

Herbaceous peonies are long-lived and tough enough for Irish winters, as long as two rules are kept. First, plant them shallow: the buds on the crown should be only a few centimetres below the soil, or the plant will grow leaves for years and never flower. Second, give them sun and free-draining ground, since a crown that sits wet over winter rots. Once settled, leave them alone; they dislike being moved. Stake the heavy doubles before the June rain knocks them flat.

Peonies in the vase

Buy them at the soft bud stage, when the bud feels like a marshmallow and shows colour. Hard green buds may never open.
Recut and give them deep water, removing leaves below the waterline.
To speed them up, use lukewarm water and a warm room; to slow them down, keep them cool.
Ants on the buds are only after the sugary coating. Rinse the buds gently before bringing garden peonies indoors.

A bunch usually gives about a week of pleasure, from bud to the moment the petals drop. For other summer flowers see roses and lilies; for meanings, flower language.

Peony at a glance

Question	Answer
Botanical name	Paeonia
Flowering in Irish gardens	Late May to June
Vase life	About a week
Pets	Mildly toxic to cats and dogs

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Peony questions

When are peonies in season?

Garden peonies in Ireland open from late May into June. Cut peonies are easiest to find from about April to July, when they come from growers in Europe and further afield; outside that window they are scarce.

Why does my peony have leaves but no flowers?

It is usually planted too deep. The pink buds on the crown, called eyes, should sit no more than a few centimetres below the surface. Too much shade or a recent move can also stop flowering for a year or two.

Are peonies poisonous to pets?

Yes, mildly. Peonies are listed as toxic to cats and dogs; eating the plant, especially the roots, can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Keep the vase where pets cannot get at it.

How do I get closed peony buds to open?

Recut the stems and put them in lukewarm water in a warm room. If a bud stays shut, gently rub away the sticky coating on the outside. Once they start to open, move them somewhere cooler so they last.