The peony (Paeonia lactiflora) is the state flower of Indiana, and generally blooms here toward the end of May. It is a traditional Memorial Day flower, and a very long-lived perennial. Location: Peonies are easy to grow in a sunny, well-drained location. They need at least a half day of sun.

Is peony native to Indiana?

The story goes that because the peony is not native to the Hoosier state, in 1995 the Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society and the Indiana Academy of Science lobbied to name the fire pink, a native wildflower with tiny clusters of red starry florets, as our state floral emblem.

Can peonies grow in the Midwest?

Midwest peony picks

This and the next four photos show easy-to-find peony varieties that grow exceptionally well in the Midwest. (Typically, peonies grow in Zones 3 to 8.) ‘Coral Charm’ (pictured) is an early-blooming, semidouble peony—a showstopper in the garden and a great cut flower.

What state do peonies grow best?

In the U.S., most peonies are grown in states north of South Carolina and Texas. Some varieties can grow farther south but they rarely bloom because winter temperatures are not low enough for flower buds to develop properly, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) explains.

What zones do peony grow in?

Garden Peonies are most popular in Zones 3 – 8, and may need a bit of extra care within the extreme edges of their range. If you live in the deep south, one trick to getting them to behave just right, is to choose an early-blooming variety that will come into flower before the heat of summer hits.

Why is Indiana’s state flower a peony?

The peony (Paeonia) was adopted as the state flower by the 1957 General Assembly (Indiana Code 1-2-7). From 1931 to 1957 the zinnia was the state flower. The peony blooms the last of May and early June in various shades of red and pink and also in white; it occurs in single and double forms.

How cold is too cold for peony buds?

Often damage by light freezes is visible through wilting stems in the morning and plants bounce back later in the day. Occasionally colder nights produce lasting damage exemplified by dead shoots, which do not recover. Generally temperatures which fall below 25 F may cause lasting damage.

Can I grow peonies in Chicago?

A: Yes, peonies can be planted and divided in the fall. Peonies are favorites for many people because they are long-lived, hardy perennials that reliably produce gorgeous, often fragrant flowers in spring. Select a full sun location for best flowering.

Are peony hard to grow?

Peonies are easy to grow and maintain with little care. They bloom in late spring or early in summer, delighting all that behold with their wondrous floral display. Peony blooms are a staple to spring time and are a popular cut flower.

Are peonies cold hardy?

Is protection needed for peonies in winter? Don’t worry too much about your prized peonies, as these beautiful plants are extremely cold tolerant and can withstand subzero temperatures and winters as far north as USDA plant hardiness zone 3.

Do peonies come back every year?

Peonies are perennials that come back every year to take your breath away. In fact, the plants may live longer than you do—some have been known to thrive for at least 100 years.

Do I need to cover peonies for frost?

love a chilly winter for their annual rest called dormancy. However, when awake in the spring and facing a late frost just before bloom time, the cold temperatures can freeze peony buds. Peonies should be protected with a light cover if frost threatens.

Do peonies spread?

They grow as tall as three feet and have a spread of between two and four feet depending on various factors. What is this? Sometimes you’ll see tree peonies being utilized in people’s yards, too. These are a bit different and the spread can differ wildly depending on the tree.

Should I mulch peonies for winter?

For the first winter, newly planted peonies should be mulched with organic material such as straw or evergreen boughs, or mound up the soil around them to prevent heaving of the roots. Remove the mulch in the spring before new growth begins.

How do you take care of peonies in the winter?

Don’t fret – peony plants love cold winters. Tree peony leaves will also deteriorate and need to be removed from the branches and ground. The branches on a tree peony are not cut down in the fall – leave them standing, bare naked for the winter.

Can you grow peonies in pots?

Growing peonies in containers is a great way for small space gardeners to enjoy the plants or for anyone to have a big and vigorous colorful bush on their patio. Choose a container that is at least 1 ½ feet (46 cm.) deep and as wide or wider (if it’s already in one, you may need to transfer it to a larger pot).

Are peonies poisonous to dogs?

Toxicity to pets

Peony, an early spring blooming shrub, has beautiful, large, colorful flowers (e.g., pink, white, red, etc.). This plant contains the toxin, paeonol, which is concentrated in the bark. When ingested in large amounts, it can cause gastrointestinal distress (e.g., vomiting, diarrhea, etc.).

Will peonies bloom second year?

If blooms occur the first year, they may be smaller and not of the typical form or color of a mature planting. In fact, some peonies may not even bloom the first year or second year. Patience will be greatly rewarded with an abundance of flowers by the third year.

How many years does it take for a peony to bloom?

Peonies rarely bloom the first year after planting. It often takes three years before you see an abundant display of flowers. But once the plants do start blooming, you can look forward to a lifetime of beautiful flowers. Peony plants rarely need dividing.

What do peonies symbolize?

Generally symbolic of love, honor, happiness wealth, romance, and beauty, the peony is traditionally given on special occasions as an expression of goodwill, best wishes, and joy.

How long does a peony live?

100 years old

When properly cared for and kept in optimal conditions, a peony plant can live a long life. It can even stay around to be over 100 years old.

Why do peonies stink?

Their perfume changes throughout the day and can depend on humidity, temperature or even the age of the flower. As the volatile essential oil evaporates, so does the peony fragrance. William Cullina, in his book “Understanding Perennials,” blames this elusive smell on “just our Pavlovian response” to ethylene.

Do deer like peonies?

Since deer don’t like the flavor of this flower, many gardeners find these large buds go unharmed by deer. Peonies also have a strong scent, which is another deterrent to deer.

Why do ants love peonies?

It is a myth that peonies require ants to bloom. The relationship between peonies and ants is a type of mutualism in which two organisms of different species benefit from the activity of one another. Peony flowers provide food for ants and in turn, the ants protect the blossoms from other floral-feeding insects.

Should you plant peonies by your house?

Side note #2: Plant your peonies away from the house. Whether or not ants are needed, they are attracted to peonies. If your plants are too close you will have an infestation.

Do peonies attract bees?

I love peonies! The nice thing about peonies is you can plant them once and enjoy them year after year. They don’t have a lengthy growing season, but the short week or two that they do bloom will be beneficial to your visiting bees. Peonies do attract ants, but don’t panic.