How to Plant Fern Peonies
Peonies are flowering plants in the genus Paeonia, which has 25 to 40 species. The fern peony (Paeonia tenuifolia) is an unusually small peony that grows less than 1 ½ feet tall and has delicate foliage. It's a hardy perennial that can recover from considerable damage as long as it has good drainage. The fern peony flower blooms spectacularly in early summer. It may be planted in United States Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 3 through 8. This means that the plant requires a period of winter cold in order to thrive. You can grow more fern peonies by dividing a mature plant. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Select a site. Fern peonies generally require full sun to produce the best blooms. However, they may benefit from a slight amount of afternoon shade in climates with long, hot summers.
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Mix compost into the soil. It's essential that fern peonies have rich soil with good drainage, especially if you want good blooms. Apply fertilizer if the soil is sandy.
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Divide a mature plant in the fall. Water the plant thoroughly and allow it to soak into the soil overnight. Dig well away from the plant to ensure that you dig up as many roots as possible. Remove the leaves and wash the root ball. Cut the plant with a sharp knife so that each division has at least five buds.
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Place the divisions into the new location so the eyes are covered by less than 2 inches of soil. Apply a layer of mulch during the first winter.
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Apply a granular fertilizer in spring. In the fall, allow the mature plant to die without cutting the foliage. Cut the stems down to the ground after the first hard freeze.
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