If you’re looking for a peony that stops people in their tracks, the ‘Peony Do Tell’ is a perfect choice. This enchanting garden beauty offers a unique look with its stunning, anemone-form flowers that are both elegant and eye-catching.
Growing this peony successfully isn’t difficult, but knowing a few key tips will ensure you get the most spectacular blooms year after year. This guide gives you clear, practical advice for planting, caring for, and enjoying this remarkable plant in your own garden.
Peony Do Tell
The ‘Peony Do Tell’ is a herbaceous peony known for its soft pink, lavender, or rose-colored guard petals that surround a fluffy center of creamy pink and yellow staminodes. This color combination creates a delicate, almost watercolor effect that is truly distinctive. Unlike many common double peonies, its form is more open and intricate, making it a wonderful focal point.
It’s a mid-season bloomer, typically flowering in late spring. The plants are strong and can reach up to 3 feet tall, with lush, deep green foliage that remains attractive throughout the summer, providing good structure in your borders even after the flowers fade.
Why Choose This Peony for Your Garden
There are several reasons why this variety has become a favorite among gardeners:
* Unique Flower Form: Its anemone-style bloom stands out from the more common double and single types.
* Reliable Performer: Once established, it is incredibly hardy and long-lived, often thriving for decades with minimal care.
* Excellent Cut Flower: The stems are strong, and the blooms last a surprisingly long time in a vase, filling your home with their light, sweet fragrance.
* Pollinator Friendly: The open center, while not a true single, is more accessible to bees and other beneficial insects than very dense double flowers.
Finding the Perfect Spot to Plant
Getting the location right is the most important step for a healthy peony. ‘Peony Do Tell’ has needs similar to other herbaceous peonies.
Sunlight Needs
This peony requires full sun to produce the best blooms. That means at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. In very hot climates, some afternoon shade can help protect the flowers from scorching, but less sun usualy means fewer flowers.
Soil Requirements
The soil must be well-draining. Peonies absolutely will not tolerate soggy roots, which leads to rot. They prefer a fertile, loamy soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH.
* If your soil is heavy clay, amend it with compost or well-rotted manure to improve drainage.
* If your soil is very sandy, adding compost will help it retain moisture and nutrients.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Planting
Planting at the right time and depth is critical for flowering. Follow these steps for success.
1. Choose the Right Time: The best time to plant bare-root peonies is in the fall, about 6 weeks before the ground freezes. This allows the roots to establish before winter. You can also plant potted peonies in the spring.
2. Prepare the Hole: Dig a hole that is about 2 feet wide and 1 foot deep. Mix the excavated soil with a generous amount of compost.
3. Check the Depth: This is the most crucial part. Place the peony root so the “eyes” (those small pink or red buds on the crown) are no more than 1-2 inches below the soil surface. Planting too deep is the number one reason peonies fail to bloom.
4. Backfill and Water: Gently backfill the hole with your soil mix, firming it lightly around the roots. Water thoroughly to settle the soil.
Caring for Your Peony Through the Seasons
Once planted correctly, ‘Peony Do Tell’ requires minimal but specific care.
Watering and Feeding
Water your new peony regularly during its first growing season to help it establish. After that, they are quite drought-tolerant but appreciate deep watering during dry spells in spring and summer. In early spring, apply a balanced, low-nitrogen fertilizer or a top-dressing of compost around the plant. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, which promote leaves at the expense of flowers.
Staking and Support
The large blooms can be heavy, especially after rain. To prevent the stems from flopping over, install a peony ring or other plant support in early spring as the shoots emerge. This provides invisible support as the plant grows through it.
Fall Cleanup
After the first hard frost turns the foliage brown, cut the stems back to ground level. Remove all the debris from the area to help prevent disease overwintering. This is also a good time to add a fresh layer of mulch for winter protection.
Solving Common Peony Problems
Even the best gardeners encounter issues sometimes. Here’s how to handle common ones.
Why Isn’t It Blooming?
If your ‘Peony Do Tell’ has healthy foliage but no flowers, check these three things first:
1. Planting Depth: The eyes are likely buried too deep. You may need to carefully lift and replant it higher in the fall.
2. Insufficient Sunlight: Is it getting at least 6 hours of direct sun?
3. Too Much Nitrogen: Are you using a high-nitrogen lawn fertilizer nearby?
Dealing with Pests and Disease
Peonies are generally pest-resistant, but can have a few issues.
* Botrytis Blight: This fungal disease causes shoots to wilt and buds to turn black. Prevent it by ensuring good air circulation and cleaning up all foliage in the fall. If it appears, remove and destroy affected parts immediately.
* Ants: Ants on peony buds are harmless. They are just feeding on the sweet nectar and do not harm the plant or cause it to open. You can simply shake them off before bringing cut flowers inside.
How to Propagate and Divide
Peonies like ‘Peony Do Tell’ can live for over 50 years without needing division. However, if you want to create more plants or rejuvenate an old clump, division is the method.
The best time to divide is in the fall.
1. Carefully dig up the entire root clump.
2. Gently wash off the soil so you can see the eyes and roots.
3. Using a sharp, clean knife, divide the clump into sections. Each division should have at least 3 to 5 eyes and a good portion of thick roots.
4. Replant the divisions immediately at the proper depth, following the planting steps above. It may take a divided peony 2-3 years to bloom strongly again.
Designing with ‘Peony Do Tell’ in Your Garden
This peony’s soft colors and elegant form make it incredibly versatile. Here are some ideas:
* Mixed Borders: Plant it alongside early-blooming bulbs like tulips. Its emerging foliage will hide the dying bulb leaves, and it will then take over the show.
* Classic Companions: It pairs beautifully with catmint, irises, alliums, and later-blooming perennials like phlox or Russian sage, which will fill in after the peony’s bloom time.
* Focal Point: Use a single specimen as a standout feature in a sunny island bed.
* Cutting Garden: Dedicate a row to these peonies for reliable, breathtaking cut flowers every spring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do you pronounce ‘Peony Do Tell’?
A: It’s pronounced “PEE-uh-nee Doo Tell.” The first part is said just like the common word for the flower.
Q: Is the ‘Do Tell’ peony fragrant?
A: Yes, it has a light, classic peony fragrance that is sweet and pleasant, not overpowering.
Q: Can I grow this peony in a container?
A: It’s not ideal for long-term container growth, as peonies have large root systems and need winter chilling. It can be done for a few years in a very large, deep pot with excellent drainage, but the plant will be much happier in the ground.
Q: When will my newly planted ‘Peony Do Tell’ bloom?
A: Be patient. A bare-root division often takes 2 to 3 years to produce a significant number of blooms. A larger, potted plant may bloom the first or second spring after planting.
Q: Are the flowers of the ‘Do Tell’ peony good for cutting?
A: Absolutely. They are exceptional cut flowers. Cut the buds when they are soft like a marshmallow, just before they open. Sear the cut stem ends with boiling water for 10-20 seconds before placing them in a vase for the longest vase life.
Adding ‘Peony Do Tell’ to your garden brings a touch of timeless elegance and a unique floral display. With its simple needs and reliable nature, it’s a plant that will become a cherished part of your landscape for many springs to come. Just remember the golden rules: plant it shallow, give it sun, and provide good drainage, and you’ll be rewarded with its enchanting garden beauty season after season.