Peony plants
Peonies are luxurious, eye-catching herbaceous perennials producing magnificent, large fluffy flowers in colours spanning reds, coral pinks, whites, maroon browns and yellows from mid-spring into early summer. They produce more flowers as they mature with their ruffled blooms changing colour as they open, bringing fabulous fragrances to the garden from sweet to citrus and even slightly spicy tones. Resilient and long-lived, they have beautiful red stems that re-appear every spring, developing into a bushy clump of handsome glossy green leaves, which turn purple-red and gold in the autumn. Sometimes known as Paeonia, they are well suited to lining walkways or using to form a low flowering hedge. In the mixed border, they combine well with roses, irises, hebes and aquilegia. White peonies with yellow irises and pink peonies with blue Nepeta are particularly good combinations. Choosing the right planting position in a sunny spot receiving at least 6 hours of sunshine per day and getting the planting depth right (setting the crown at 5cm below soil level) is key to their success. Taller peonies can be supported with a peony ring or staked with bamboo canes. Ensure there is good air circulation around your plants and mulch in autumn to protect the roots through the winter.