US: Peonies flourish in Idaho

One version of perennials is that a perennial is a plant that, if it lives, is still alive three years after it was planted. Some perennials are short-lived, such as lupines. Others live very long lives with just a little care.

Peonies are one of the longest-lived perennials we’re familiar with, living up to 100 years or more. They’re tolerant of heat and cold, don’t require a lot of water and are light feeders of fertilizer. They can last all summer in Idaho without supplemental water. When they bloom, they perfume the air with their rich fragrance. Blossoms may be single or lush doubles. Most bloom in time to provide blossoms for cemetery arrangements for Memorial Day. Blossom colors range from dark red to dazzling white and, thanks to the Itoh varieties, rich yellow.

Breeders have developed a cross between tree peonies and herbaceous peonies, called Itoh peonies. Those peonies, now widely available in this country, feature large blossoms on each plant, framed by dark green disease-resistant plants. One thriving Itoh peony can produce up to 50 blossoms. They gain in strength and vigor as they age.

Read more at the Idaho Statesman