Peony advise

ginvzt

I have removed a bush at the front of the house, and made a raised bed this weekend. The bed size is about 120cm x 120xcm, 15cm high.

Now, I am in love with peonies - always have been. And lilies of the valley. No hiding here.

My idea was to get a white peony to plant in the middle and then plant around it lilies of the valley, as the box is big enough, and I think it would fit all of them (for example, plant peony in the middle, and then 8 lilies around closer to the border).

I have been looking at Kelways website, and they have some fantastic one,s but I just wanted your advise if there are some that I should avoid? The space will get sun from about lunch probably till evening (west, south-west facing), sheltered spot.

I am considering getting 2 plants now and planting them together, as I think it would look very empty with one (I have a couple of peonies in the back planted in the last two years, and they are quite small so far, one or two flowers on each last summer). I know, I may need to split them in a couple of years.

The varieties I am thinking are "officinalis alba Plena" and "Argentine". What do you think? Will they go well together? The house is red brick, and I (and OH) think that the white flowers will show off beautifully against it.

Any other suggestions?

gardenroute

1. First of all, do not lift and divide your existing peonies - they do not like root disturbance. It won't kill them, but it would stop them flowering for a few years.
2. Peonies are nice but they have a very short season, and in winter they die back. Do you want something like this at the front of the house, which you would see every day, but has such a short flowering time?
3. Up against a house a peony and lov, IMHO, would look out of scale, I would opt for something that is much bigger and with a stronger shape so it ties in better with the building behind it.
4. A 120x120 bed could hold more than 2 peonies and a bit of lily of the valley.
5. A Trachelospermum jasminoides could be grown up against the wall for its evergreen leaves and fragrant white flowers in July. There are many plants you can choose, but I always plant one in that situation. A Rose would also give you a much longer display of flowers. Again it would give you frangrant flowers. Both these could be trained against the wall and planted in adddition to other things.
6. The lov can look a bit messy at certain times of the year, it might be best in a corner somewhere so you can pick the flowers and bring them in without ruining the display by your front door.
7. A lot of peonies like partial shade so you could plant them in the back garden instead, where your much more likely to spend your time in the summer months.
For this reason I generally like to plant winter flowering plants in the front garden as this is the only part of the garden most people see in winter, and plant summer flowering plants in the back garden as thats where people relax, etc in the summer. This isn't a hard and fast rule I stick to, just something to bear in mind.
8. I can't help you with the two varities you named, but with big double flowers they will need some kind of support.

ginvzt

Thank you! The place is not against the wall at all. It is in front of the living room window, and there is a narrow path behind the planter (half a slab, about 30cm width). There is a full slab width path on two sides with a bit of gravel next to the wall as well. The path to the main door runs in front of the box.

I know about the peony dying back in winter, but the bush we had wasn't that great either, bare branches did not look great.

We thought about a nice rose, but not too sure about it. I am open for suggestions. Would a combination of rose and peony work?

gardenroute

Rose and peony would be a good combination. Take into account the growing size of both as neither will like being shifted along a bit if they are planted to close. There's room for more plants as well. Have a look around the neighbourhood and see which plants are growing well, as you know these plants will do well in your garden.

Mojisola

Roses are as tough as old boots - there shouldn't be any problems moving one later on if you need to.

gardenroute

http://www.gardenseeker.com/roses/rose_sickness.htm

ginvzt

Thanks, I will think how to combine the two so they don't look odd. Any suggestions for the rose variety? It will not be against the wall or any support, and I don't want it too tall, so that it wouldn't cover the window - it is dark as it is in the room. Would love something with big blooms, so that it wouldn't look too small next to peony.

lostinrates

ginvzt wrote: »

Thanks, I will think how to combine the two so they don't look odd. Any suggestions for the rose variety? It will not be against the wall or any support, and I don't want it too tall, so that it wouldn't cover the window - it is dark as it is in the room. Would love something with big blooms, so that it wouldn't look too small next to peony.

white again?...I'm loving ''Glamis Castle'' atm. I suggest a browse through peter beale and david austin for something YOU like.

www.davidaustenroses.com and www.peterbealesroses.com

David austen ''english''roses are well worth the slightly higher price often. Long flowering seasons, beautiful blooms and often superb scent.

FWI were doing a white font garden too, and have Glamis castle, and the divine climbing rose Claire Austen planted. Lilly of the valley and white peonies are planed too.

I wouldn't worry, personally, about difference in bloom type. It will add something, not fight with each other. And the rose will be in flower much, much longer than the peony in many cases!

ginvzt

Yes, I would love a white garden. Will see how I get on. I would love to lant a lilac bush/tree, but not in that spot (another favourite of mine). Will have to find a place for it in the back garden once I get rid of existing trees (I am too scared to call someone for quote to remove those trees! - it is going to cost a fortune, there are about 5 leylandiis, crab apple, decorative cherry, and some more mixed trees in garden that is not that big! )

ginvzt

lostinrates wrote: »

white again?...I'm loving ''Glamis Castle'' atm. I suggest a browse through peter beale and david austin for something YOU like.

www.davidaustenroses.com and www.peterbealesroses.com

Thank you, I found one so far, that sounds perfect:
http://www.classicroses.co.uk/products/roses/margaret-merril/

Will look more and also will check the other website.

lostinrates

ginvzt wrote: »

Thank you, I found one so far, that sounds perfect:
http://www.classicroses.co.uk/products/roses/margaret-merril/

Will look more and also will check the other website.

I hope it helps. FWIW I'd keep the cheryy and the crab apple,and climb roses up them. Crabapple jelly is the very best and it provides a good vehicle for a climber....

we've taken down 60 leylandii, but are trying to preserv the plums and apples we've got here.....we like the slight wild underneath them, and that they give some maturity.

we have white lilac (IMO the nicer than the pink or..um..lilac ones.) White buddleia is also useful....not least because the bright butterflies it encourages should look superb in a white garden.:)