What is it about peonies that makes us swoon so? Maybe it's all those ruffled petals, or the amazing fragrance, or maybe it's that they remind us of our grandmother's gardens. This year we are carrying a few select cultivars that can live for decades and be passed on to the next generation.
‘Duchesse de Nemours’, top left, is a double white heirloom peony dating back to 1856. It was bred by French breeder, Carlot, and named after Marie d'Orleans-Longueville, Duchesse of Nemours in the 1600's. This award-winning peony's strong stems and delicious fragrance makes it perfect as a cut flower.
‘Edulis superba’, an 1824 heirloom, is a bright pink double that blooms earlier than other herbaceous peonies. Edulis means ‘edible’, but beyond that I haven't been able to discover why it was given this name. Very fragrant.
‘Top Brass’ is definitely unique! Bred in 1968 by Charles Klehm, it's broad white petals hold yellow bomb-like petals and then topped with small pink petals. It has a light honey fragrance, and is good for cutting.
‘Mackinac Grand’ is a large, semi-double true red flower. Flowers can reach 7" across and are extremely fragrant. Introduced in 1992 in Michigan.
All peonies grow best in full sun/part shade, grow approximately 3'x3', bloom late May into June, and make great cut flowers. Cut stems diagonally and add sugar to the water. Peonies attract pollinators and are deer-resistant.
