Introduction Extravagant language seems to be the hallmark of peony lovers. Since we first started to look at plants for their beauty, and not just for their healing properties, peonies have basked in our admiration. Words echo down the centuries, recording the impressions that peonies have made on those who have grown and loved them. "We cherish them for the beauty and delight of their goodly flowers," wrote Englishman John Parkinson, herbalist to the king and apothecary of the time, in 1629. "The most superb and commanding flower which the garden holds," wrote Alice Harding, doyenne of American peony growers, in 1917. "The fattest and most scrumptious of all flowers, a rare fusion of fluff and majesty," wrote garden writer extraordinaire, Henry Mitchell, in the later years of the 20th century. No peony grower today would argue with these descriptions, and such is the magic of these flowers that they have seduced gardeners for more than 20 centuries-long before the massive and spectacular modern hybrids we grow today had appeared on the scene. Peonies are divided into two main groups: herbaceous varieties, which die down in the fall; and tree peonies, which are deciduous but whose woody structure remains during winter -- like the skeleton of any deciduous tree. Both bear extravagantly sumptuous flowers. In China, the peony has been consistently treasured down through the ages. In the West its fortunes have fluctuated. First praised for its beauty in 1629, it gradually fell victim to its success. The wealthy classes came to consider a plant that lasted the lifetime of a human being, and available to all, as vulgar and common. They wanted rare plants, things that were difficult to grow, and the peony for a time was known as a "poor man's flower." However, during the 19th century, as the number of named cultivars with spectacular flowers increased, the popularity of peonies rose. They became symbolic of the stylish Edwardian times before their decline set in once again. As the 20th century unrolled, the impetus for developing new peonies moved from Europe to the United States. American breeders began producing a series of handsome cultivars, both herbaceous and tree varieties, and more growers entered the market. In the last years of the 20th century, as China increasingly opened its doors to the West, new species were discovered, and Chinese varieties have been exported, adding to the pool of available plants. That trend continues. Today, herbaceous peonies increasingly are taking a large share of the cutflower market, and named plants are sought after across international borders. Westerners go to China in the peony season to view vast plantings of this flower that has featured for so long in Chinese art and history. In the 21st century the peony in the Western world has come close to attaining the status and desirability it has always held in Chinese society. This book is for gardeners who have already been seduced by peonies and want to find out how to choose the best varieties and care for them in their own gardens. It looks at the origins of peonies and highlights the efforts of early hybridizers. Some of the plants they produced are still popular today, more than 150 years after their first appearance on the market. The book also discusses intersectional hybrids, a cross between tree peonies and herbaceous varieties, and introduces readers to the species, of which few gardeners are aware. Long neglected in favor of their flamboyant descendants, the species produce simpler, sometimes more elegant flowers that appeal to modern gardeners. Both plants and seeds are more available now than ever before, especially in the United States. A list of suppliers is provided on pages 139-142. Many publish their selections or catalogs on the Internet. As with most popular flowers, new peony cultivars are constantly appearing, and suppliers can provide the most up-to-date information on which cultivars or species are available in any given season. Excerpted from Peonies by Pamela McGeorge All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
