They're every gardener's dream. Peonies in the garden can easily last 50 years or more. Today, that's considered an heirloom, but their longevity is precisely what made them fall out of favor in 17th-century England. Wealthy aristocrats thought a plant that would last a lifetime was vulgar and common. No self-respecting gardener would even consider growing a "poor man's flower." Lucky for us, some poor man toiled away and introduced more and more spectacular selections, and the love affair with peonies continues.
Southerners find peonies a bit tricky in the garden. But certain selections will tolerate our mild winters, and peonies will grow as far south as Jackson, Mississippi, and Columbus, Georgia.
The key to growing peonies successfully in the South is in the planting. "The real secret is that the eyes of the peony can't be very deep," says André Viette of André Viette Farm & Nursery in Virginia. "What some people do is plant the peony at the right depth -- 2 to 2 1/2 inches -- but then they come along and mulch it with 3 inches. You don't want to mulch over the crown of the peony."
