Peonies
James Waddick (Mon, 05 Jun 2006 06:23:26 PDT)

Dear Angela and all;
My apologies for not replying more quickly. I am just back
from 3 weeks in China and Tibet researching peonies (with Paige
Woodward and others).

Here's a multi part answer:

1. Can you grow peonies? First look around and ask around.
Does anyone in your neighborhood, city, state grow peonies in the
garden. garden center or nursery? This may be THE MOST telling.

2. Contact growers in Australia. The most informative person
is Elisabeth Rundle " The Peony Lady'. She is now in Canberra, but
has run a commercial nursery for years. Check out her web site at:
http://www.peony.com.au/ and contact her by email or phone.

Also check the list of Australian growers at
http://nurseriesonline.com.au/PAGES/Peonies.html/

and the 'fact sheet' at
http://abc.net.au/gardening/stories/… is informative
and specific.

ie.: Do some local research.

3. I checked my atlas and find that Albany W.A. is around 35
degrees S latitude. At an equal latitude north peonies are no problem
at all, but latitude is not climate.

If you are actually sure you want to grow peonies for cut
flowers, you probably mean the cultivars of P. lactiflora or 'Chinese
peonies'. These are the most demanding of a cold dormancy and
chilling period. These will be the most difficult for you to grow.
Have you considered the various hybrids which require less
chilling and include the newer corals, salmons and yellows?

Even easier to grow at low or no chill are the tree peonies.
There are a number of excellent growers and hybridizers of tree
peonies in Australia most prominently Bernard Chow, but various
others. Perhaps the Intersectinoals will prove even better for your
area.

4. In summary, I suggest you read a good modern book in
peonies. I recommend 'Peonies' by Allan Rogers available both hard
and soft bound via Amazon and many others. There is a chapter devoted
to 'Getting Started Commercially'.

Finally you might go to http://www.peonies.org/ , the
Heartland Peony Society and review their FAQs on related topics.

Good luck. Jim W.

--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +