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Are there any peonies that aren't 'floppy'??
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Posted by
perennialfan273 zone 5 (
My Page) on
Sat, Jun 2, 12 at 12:19
| Hi
I'm looking for some fully double peony cultivars that won't flop over when they flower. Is there a such thing?? I really like the look of peony flowers, but I'm looking for a cultivar with strong stems that can hold up the flowers instead of drooping over. I know that drooping flowers isn't a bad thing, but for me it is not aesthetically pleasing to see a flower that looks like it's about to fall off IYKWIM?? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Are there any peonies that aren't 'floppy'??
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| Gee, it's a shame none of the garden supply vendors sell any kind of wire plant supports. :) Some blooms are just so nice you've gotta accept the good with the "needs a little help" and take them on their own terms. |
RE: Are there any peonies that aren't 'floppy'??
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| Itoh hybrids never flop for me. Tree Peonies are strong too, although rain harms their tender blooms. All herbaceous full double Peonies that were described as "Peonies with strong stems' still flop after each heavy rain. 
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RE: Are there any peonies that aren't 'floppy'??
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| Yep, the Itoh hybrids were bred to be sturdier plants and IME, tend not to flop nearly as much as the standard herbaceous peony. I'd still stake them - it would be a shame to lose any of those spectacular flowers just for the lack of some early attention with peony supports :-) |
RE: Are there any peonies that aren't 'floppy'??
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depending on where you are, and what your style is, this may or may not be an option. Yard sales are great places to find chairs with no centers. I painted this one whatever shade of green I had in the house, and it is a GREAT support for the peonies:
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RE: Are there any peonies that aren't 'floppy'??
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mmqchdygg - Aren't you clever??? I just love that chair, and I have a few in my garage waiting for my husband to cane them - probably not going to happen, so out to the garden they go. Pretty colour paint choice too.
Jan |
RE: Are there any peonies that aren't 'floppy'??
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| Those yellow peonies are gorgeous! I don't know if there are any doubles that don't flop. I have about 10 peonies, all fully double. In the front garden I use 18 inch peony rings with the grid support. And they STILL flop after a rain. You should see them right now - a sad sight bent all the way over because it started raining this morning. Earlier in the week we had a brief storm, and I tied the blooms up with twine before the rain. That actually kept them looking pretty good for a few more days (till today). |
RE: Are there any peonies that aren't 'floppy'??
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| There are double peonies that do not flop. I do not know if you can get them in America, but here in Europe they are widely available. Just to name a few(provided that the names are true, as you can't ever be sure..): Shirley Temple- resistant to the strongest storms here, Instituteur Doriat, Mme Ducel. |
RE: Are there any peonies that aren't 'floppy'??
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| I am not familiar with the two last varieties, but Shirley Temple flops after each rain here... Any of Itoh hybrids I have is much stronger. |
RE: Are there any peonies that aren't 'floppy'??
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| Alina, I have a slight suspicion that my Shirley Temple MAY be another cultivar , but it is what the label said. It also fits the description, except that the flowers are not very big compared to some others, but rather more 'normal', thus fitting better in the garden settings. (you can't really combine plants with flowers of the size of a dinner plate with other garden plants). I will post a picture soon, as the flower buds are swelling. I have to add though, that I have read reports of other people claiming the same, so : how can you be sure yours is genuine? Some flowers have red spots, thus resembling Festiva Maxima, her mother. I have seen the most unbelievable things posted on the Internet, where people with great selfconfidence(unjustified) say: Shirley Temple. |
Non-floppy
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| I would like to add, that I'm sure there are many imposters of this peony. Some people describe it as very fragrant, some as without any detectable smell at all. Mine does not have a strong fragrance, but I have to wait to check again , if it has any detectable fragrance. I remember it as non-fragrant. |
RE: Are there any peonies that aren't 'floppy'??
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| I recently posted about wanting a non-floppy, double, pink, fragrant Peony and was told that Rozella would fit the bill. I purchased one via mail order last year and planted it in the Fall. She's still quite young and only time will tell, but so far so good. Best of luck! |
RE: Are there any peonies that aren't 'floppy'??
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RE: Are there any peonies that aren't 'floppy'??
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| 'Flame' is single. Most singles and anemone type Peonies are not floppy. The question was about fully double Peonies. |
RE: Are there any peonies that aren't 'floppy'??
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| I recently saw a short segment from Adelman Peonies on a local gardening TV show. She said to disbud the side buds and only leave one in the center to have stronger stems that don't flop over. This means cutting off all the smaller buds. Here are instructions on their website with photos |
Here is a link that might be useful: Adelman Peony care instructions
RE: Are there any peonies that aren't 'floppy'??
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| I have a double flowering red fernleaf peony that is in full bloom right now. It has almost forty blooms/buds on it and all are perfectly upright. Bear in mind that the flowers are only about 3-4 inches in diameter compared to some of my "floppy" pinks that are at least double in size. |
RE: Are there any peonies that aren't 'floppy'??
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| Most of my Peonies are traded, swapped, or came with the house and have no name, but I have plenty of double Peonies that don't flop. None of those have fragrance, though. (There is a trade off in everything.) Red Charm is one I have, while I don't know if these are the correct ID's here's what I think the others are... Duchesse de Nemours
Imaculee
Constance
Karl Rosenfeld As a rule, I've found that in my gardens the fragrant doubles flop and the non-fragrant ones don't. My suggestion would be if you truly want a Peony that doesn't flop, select a non-fragrant variety. |
RE: Are there any peonies that aren't 'floppy'??
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| I have seen Immacule mentioned as non-flopping another place. Duchesse de Nemours is always mentioned as flopping. Flame was the first peony ever that I tossed into the garbage bin and slammed the lid down. The whole clump was blooming for 2 days (two, in case you think it was a typo), losing the petals to a slight breeze and 3 drops of rain. Whoever released it on the market should be ashamed and put into the pillory for public view. |
RE: Are there any peonies that aren't 'floppy'??
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| I guess it also depends on what you consider "too floppy". I think most peonies will bend somewhat without staking, but I don't mind that at all. I've learned to live with it because I really don't like the look of caged peonies. Yes, those that bend all the way over to the ground are difficult to live with, but a little bending isn't bad. 'Better Times' (on the left) has been a good one for me. 
Kevin |
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