Ask The Experts

Why are there empty beds since they were full last year?

We are re-organizing several peony beds around themes. Since peonies are best moved in the fall, last fall we relocated two of each kind to the other peony beds. The currently empty beds will be amended this season, and replanted this fall, 2015. The themes for these beds on the south side of the Peony Garden are in order:

Historic...

When will the new tree peonies bloom?

Tree peony bloom begins several weeks ahead of the herbaceous peonies. Depending on the weather they may come into bloom by late April. A selection of historic tree peonies is being planted most years as we rejuvenate the Peony Garden and Laurel Ridge. The new tree peonies will take several years to establish: we will have a bloom chart...

Where do I find good 'Question and Answer' peony forums on the web?

There are several excellent peony 'Question and Answer' web sites. These links will take you directly to the 'Q&A' pages maintained by the American Peony Society and the Canadian Peony Society....

How do I find a local peony society?

There are a number of peony societies in the United States and Canada. We have world-wide list of peony societies with their web links on our Resources page. If you'd like to explore North American organizations, check out the web sites of the...

Which peonies here are favorites of the Peony Advisory Board?

Each of our Advisors has decades of experience with peonies or historic garden plants. Each brings her or his unique perspective for favorite peonies at the Nichols Arboretum. Here are their top choices in their own words.

Lindsay D'Aoust of Quebec, Canada

'...

Who is on the Peony Advisory Board?

The Peony Advisory Board membership in 2018 is listed below. More information about their roles is in the Peony Resources section of our website.

APS = American Peony Society member

CPS = Canadian Peony Society member

Where do I find cut peonies for sale, and how do I keep them?

Ask a florist for peony availability. For visitors in our region, a Michigan-based grower of cut peony flowers is Bridgewater Gardens here in Washtenaw County (see Peony Resources). This is not an endorsement but is for...

Do you sell cut peonies for flower arrangements?

We do not cut our peony flowers for sale. This is a living museum exhibit of historic peonies that is open for all to enjoy. Removal of any flowers would degrade the experience. Cut peonies may be ordered in advance through your local florist, and some of the commercial sources listed in our Peony Resources under "Peony Organizations and Links...

What is the difference between tree, intersectional, and herbaceous peonies?

How many species of peonies are there in the wild? How many cultivars in gardens?

The current scientific review by Dr. Hong recognizes 54 species in the wild. His most recent review in English is Peonies of the world: taxonomy and phytogeography, published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in 2010. The number of species found in the wild is quite different from the number of cultivars (human selections) found in...

Pages