Jennifer J. Knutson

Master Gardener

Paeonia (Peony)

The peony is one of the most popular and showy of the garden perennials grown in Minnesota gardens. Like lilies, roses and irises, peonies have been admired and sought after throughout the ages by people of many cultures. They grow well and for a long time with minimal care. Their sweet-scented flowers are gorgeous and bloom in abundance in spring and early summer.

Peony Flower Forms

Single: One row of broad petals surrounds a center made up of yellow gold stamens

Japanese: Five or more broad petals surround a mound of modified stamens (stamenoides) that stand out by their “lacy” form and mix of colors.

Anemone: Outer petals surround a center in which all stamens have been transformed into narrow petal-like structures (petaloides). The outer petals and petaloides may be different colors.

Semi-double: Several rows of petals surround the center with clearly visible pollen-bearing stamens mixed in with some filaments that have been transformed into petal-like structures (petaloides).

Double: Five or more guard petals surround stamens that have all been transformed into petal-like structures (petaloides) similar in coloration to the outer petals and making up the bulk of the flower.

Bomb: Outer petals surround a central “snowball” of petals (petaloides). These blooms may also be called “double bomb.”

Variety Form Color/Center Height Bloom

Paeoniaperegrina / Single / Vibrant red/gold / 24” / Mid
Paeoniatenuifolia
‘Plena’ / Single
Double / Bright red/gold
Bright red / 18”
24” / Early
Early
Paeonia (Named varieties and hybrids)
‘Amalia Olson’
‘Angel Cheeks’
‘Big Ben’
‘Bowl of Cream’
‘Charm’
‘Coral Sunset’
‘Cytherea’ (hybrid)
‘Do Tell’
Duluth
‘Le Charme’
‘Mackinac Grand’ (hybrid)
‘Many Happy Returns’
‘Nick Shaylor’
‘Norma Volz’
‘Paula Fay’ (hybrid)
‘Pink Hawaiian Coral’- hybrid
‘Prairie Moon’ (hybrid)
‘Red Charm’ (hybrid)
‘Salmon Dream’
‘Topeka Garnet’
‘White Cap’ / Double
Bomb
Bomb
Double
Japanese
Semi-double
Semi-double
Japanese
Double
Japanese
Semi-double
Bomb
Double
Double
Semi-double
Semi-double
Semi-double
Bomb
Semi-double
Single
Anemone / White
Pink cream
Blackish red
Creamy white
Black red/black red gold
Deep coral/yellow
Rich rose/gold
Light pink/pink red white
White
Pink/pink gold
Dark red/yellow
Scarlet red
Light pink
White pink
Vibrant pink/gold
Medium coral/yellow
Pale yellow/gold
Dark red
Salmon pink/yellow
Dark red/yellow
Raspberry/white pink / 30”
26”
48”
30”
30”
32”
24”
36”
36”
36”
36”
30”
34”
36”
36”
36”
30”
36”
36”
30”
32” / Mid
Mid/late
Mid
Mid
Late
Early
Early/mid
Mid
Late
Mid/late
Early/mid
Mid
Mid/late
Mid
Early
Early
Early/mid
Early
Early/mid
Mid
Mid

From: Growing Perennials in Cold Climates by Mike Heger, Debbie Lonnee, and John Witman

Old Varieties

‘Felix Crousse’

‘Festiva Maxima’

‘Karl Rosenfield’

‘Monsieur Jules Elie’

‘Sarah Bernhardt’

Herbaceous Peonies in the Garden

Peonies can be healthy, vigorous and disease-free if grown in a favorable location. The highest quality peonies are grown in cultivated beds (not surrounded by grass or under large woody plants). They are quite permanent and do not like to be moved. They can be grown in a wide range of soils, especially if amended with organic matter. Mix in lots of peat moss, leaf mold, or compost. Fertilize around the outside of each plant just as the shoots start to emerge from the ground and water immediately to dissolve granules and move nutrients into root zone. Be careful not to get fertilizer on shoots.

Peonies need:

  • Full sun (at least 6-8 hours)
  • Good air circulation
  • Space 3-4 feet
  • Adequate water
  • Good drainage
  • Fertilize 10-10-10 in spring
  • Deadhead
  • Never cut stems back before they freeze in fall

Companion Plants

Aquilegia (columbine)

Artemisia (especially pretty with ‘Red Charm’)

Bulbs (especially Narcissus)

Dicentra (Bleeding Heart)

Geranium (Cranesbill)

Heuchera (Coral Bells)

Iris (Bearded and Siberian)

Nepeta (Catmint)

Syringa (Lilac)

Intersectional (Itoh) Hybrids

  • Stems die back each fall – cut one inch above ground when they die back
  • Emerge later in spring than herbaceous peonies
  • Produce flowers and foliage similar to tree peonies
  • Nice upright form
  • Stand up to wind and heavy rain
  • Very disease resistant
  • Produce many flowers once mature
  • Flowers last longer than standard Tree Peonies

VarietyColor Form Height/Width

‘Bartzella’
‘Cora Louise’
‘First Arrival’
‘Garden Treasure’
‘Hillary’
‘Love Affair’
‘Morning Lilac’
‘New Millennium’
‘Old Rose Dandy’
‘Pastel Splendor’
‘Prairie Charm’
‘Scarlet Heaven’
‘Sequestered Sunshine’ / Sulphur yellow
White/purple flares
Lavender pink
Light gold/yellow
Red yellow blend
White
Lavender
Coral pink
Yellow purplish rose mix
White to yellow
Clear yellow/red purple flares
Scarlet red
Lemon yellow / Semi-double/double
Semi-double
Semi-double
Semi-double
Semi-double/double
Semi-double
Semi-double/double
Single/semi-double
Single
Single
Single/semi-double
Single/semi-double
Semi-double / 3½’/4’
2½’/3’
2½’/3’
1½’/3’
2½’/2½
2’/3’
2½’/3’
3’/4’
2’/2½’
2½’/2½’
3’/3’
2½’/3’
3’/3’

From: Growing Shrubs and Small Trees in Cold Climatesby Debbie Lonnee, Nancy Rose, Don Selinger, and John Whitman

Resources

Heger, M., Lonnee, D., and Whitman, J. (2011). Growing Perennials in Cold Climates. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press

Lonnee, D., Rose, N., Selinger, D., and Whitman, J. (2011). Growing Shrubs and Small Trees in Cold Climates. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press

McGeorge, P. (2006). Peonies. Buffalo: Firefly Books.

Clematis

Clematis are bold and beautiful climbing plants; although there are some upright-growing and non-clinging species and hybrids. There are large-flowered, small-flowered, perfumed, hanging, as well as upright varieties. You can easily be seduced by the beautiful and sometimes exotic flowers. Best of all, they are easy to grow.

Clematis heracleifolia

‘China Purple’ / Deep purple-blue / 3 ft. height
‘Davidiana’ / Violet blue / 4 ft. height
‘Wyevale’ / Dark blue / 4 ft. height

Clematis integrifolia

Solitary clematis / Indigo blue / 3 ft. height
‘Alba’ / White / 3 ft. height
‘Rosea’ / Mauve pink / 2 ft. height

Clematis recta

‘Purpurea’ / White / 4 ft. height

Clematis – Tangutica Group

‘Bill MacKenzie’ / Bright yellow / 20 ft.
‘Golden Harvest’ / Deep golden yellow / 12 ft.
Golden Tiara® (Kugotia’) / Bright yellow / 12 ft.
‘Grace’ / Creamy white / 12 ft.
‘Helios’ / Bright yellow / 8 ft.
‘Lambton Park’ / Buttercup yellow / 12 ft.
My Angel® (‘Engelina’) / Yellow/purple / 10 ft.

Clematis – Texensis Group

‘Duchess of Albany’ / Two-tone pink / 10 ft.
‘Gravetye Beauty’ / Ruby red / 10 ft.
‘Princess Diana’ / Whitish pink/deep pink / 8 ft.
‘Sir Trevor Lawrence’ / Reddish pink / 10 ft.

There are many varieties in the Clematis Viticella Group and many named varieties representing a large range of Clematis groups which do very well in zone 3. A good reference book is Growing Perennials in Cold Climates by Mike Heger, Deb