Care & Propagation
New Tree Peony Stem Growth vs. Herbaceous Nurse-Root Suckering
Spring has arrived in most of the continental United States and peonies throughout the land are starting to put out their new growth for the season...
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Care & Propagation
Winter Heaving of Peony Roots
Winter can be trying on peonies, particularly for the newly planted, less-than-ideally sited or poorly mulched. Flower buds can withstand sub-zero...
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HortiCULTURE
Peonies in Japan
At Cricket Hill Garden, we have long specialized in Chinese tree peonies. We have a preference for these because overall we find Chinese tree peon...
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HortiCULTURE
Peonies in Japanese Art
As in China, tree peonies are commonly depicted in traditional Japanese art. In Japan, tree peonies not only represent feminine beauty, but also we...
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HortiCULTURE
Paeonia rockii and Gansu Mudan: Peonies from China's Wild West
Paeonia rockii is a species of tree peony which is native to China's northwest. Cultivated tree peonies which are derived from this species are a...
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HortiCULTURE
Yellow Peonies: From the Wild and Into the Garden
Many years ago we had the pleasure to speak to a long-time member of the American Peony Society. This gentleman had been interested in and growin...
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HortiCULTURE
English Language Peony Poems
We have written before on peony related poetry from China and Japan. In English language poetry, peonies do not have the same symbolism that they d...
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HortiCULTURE
Japanese Peony Poems
The following selection of Japanese poems, or haiku all date from the Edo period (1603-1868). During this period, painters and poets were held in...
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HortiCULTURE
Chinese Peony Poems
In China, tree peonies have been objects of aesthetic fascination since at least the Sui Dynasty (589-618 CE). Painters and poets have worked to ca...
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HortiCULTURE
Public Peony Collections in the United States and Canada
There are many wonderful peony collections throughout the United States and Canada which are open to the public. Some are in botanic gardens and ...
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HortiCULTURE
Peonies in Flower Arrangement
Anyone who grows peonies, knows all to well the temptation to cut a perfect blossom for use in a floral arrangement. Indeed, some varieties of tr...
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HortiCULTURE
Peonies in Chinese Art
As we survey our garden of green shrubs, and fight to find room for a dozen more tomato plants here and a hill of squash there, even we occasionall...
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HortiCULTURE
Tree Peonies in Contemporary Chinese Painting
Chinese gardeners have been growing tree peonies for over a thousand years, so have Chinese painters been using them as inspiration for centuries....
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