Remembering June 2022: Paeonia peregrina

 

When something that you grew from seeds flowers for the first time, it is a great event, especially if it takes 4-5 years to happen! (I will repeat, repeat & repeat again: it is worth the wait for peonies).

Paeonia peregrina flowered in early June with its particular redder than red, bowl-shaped flowers and it was a fiesta!
Two plants, one on the left side of the garden and one on the right, flowered. There are two more young plants in different locations (of different ages as well).
One overlooked advantage of growing from seeds is that you can plant the seedlings/young plants in various locations of the garden to see where they perform best. Afterwards, gift away the rest of them. I assure you that no one will refuse a species peony!

Paeonia peregrina grows native throughout SE Europe and Turkey, reason why probably some call it with the common name of Balkan peony and Red peony of Constantinople. It was botanically named and described by Miller in 1768 and the type specimen was based on material from Istanbul. The specific epithet peregrina means ‘exotic, foreign’ and it was probably used because this peony was a newcomer to the gardens in late 16th century.

Records show that it was introduced into cultivation in Austria in the late 16th century by way of Constantinople (hence one of the common name) and by 1629 the “single red peony of Constantinople” was also grown in England (https://www.paeon.de/h1/saun/greece/all.html).

In its native areas it can be found growing in open deciduous, and mixed forests, most commonly in part-shaded locations, but also in full sun locations. It requires calcareous soils and good drainage. If you take into consideration its native areal (Serbia, Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece…) it is easy to understand that it needs rather hot summers to perform well. The climate of Southern ON suits it very well; preferably planted in part-shade for the flowers to last longer.

Paeonia peregrina is often used as a parent in hybridizing programs; apparently it is easy to cross with others peonies. Therefore, seeds of garden origin will not always give ‘pure’ results. A full botanical description here: https://www.peonysociety.eu/species/herbaceous/paeonia/peregrina/

Very brief notes about growing Paeonia peregrina (and not only) from seeds:

Sow the seeds in late summer (late July, August) in pots (stop playing with bags unless you know what you are doing);
Use a sowing mix a bit heavier than what’s sold as ‘Sowing mix’ (with too much peat) – add some topsoil, black soil to it….
Water well and keep in a shaded location; protect from critters, keep well-watered, but not in excess (roots will emerge from the seeds); keep away from late fall cold rains.
Store in a cold frame over the winter. In the spring when the first shoots appear, start watering and take care of pots as regular.
Best grown in the same pot for 2-3 years, in part-shade.
You can also keep the pots ‘planted in the ground’ in a part-shaded location in the garden (see picture).

I plant 2-3 year old peony plants in the ground in late spring/early summer (it works well in our climate).
Water and keep an eye on them in the first season until they get established.

That’s it. Enjoy for many years afterwards!