I would love to have a thread where you can post about a peony garden bed so we can get ideas from each other. Even a part of bed with companion plants or a new bed that you hope will grow in or changes you plan to make to a bed. Inspiration that you like for peonies.

I have a new bed that was created when we moved a tank..The crates and milk jugs cover red peonies.. there is a red camellia to the left middle. I will put a matching camellia in on the right in spring..all the rocks were there or from the ground. I am hoping it will work and I won't have to move everything. The rocks thru the middle cover a gas line, so I don't dig it up!

Several members here have posted amazing pics of their mixed bed gardens over the years, I've taken away so many ideas that I'd love to try! Think it was Annette that started a string years ago about color echoes, so much thought and planning put into what to plant next to each other! And hers actually blooms at the right time to see the combos—I tried big purple alliums in a bed of white irises a few years ago but the alliums didn't bloom until after all of the iris blooms were long gone....

https://garden.org/thread/view...

Littlebin... lovely! What is in front with the yellow flowers?

Liz...I'll have to look up Annette's. (I liked the one with weigela and pink peony, might move Hermione by it if the weigela lives.)

I am so excited to see different ideas!!! One gardening guy never plants says only contrasting plants, another suggests color echos...I think it is all fun to see.

My idea is to stuff my garden with plants until it says no more, haha.

Yellow Corydalis

Sandsock said:Littlebin... lovely! What is in front with the yellow flowers?
.

One year when we had warm spring, the roses bloomed at the same time as peonies and they were spectacular l blooming together. THat was an odd year. In latter years, the roses bloomed after the peonies were done. I had seen some pics from a member here who lives in norther CA. She had peonies planted with azeleas and rhododendrons together. This combo was so gorgeous because they bloomed at the same time for her. The azeleas and rhodies provided a great backdrop for her peonies particularly the tree peony blooms. Unfortunately, my azeleas bloom too early in my zone for this to work. I think this combo may work in your zone, Annie. Another combo that I wish would work for me is having my lilacs bloom at the same time as my peonies. Unfortunately, the lilacs bloom way too early even before my earliest ones start to bloom. The only flowers that bloom reliably at the same as the peonies in my zone are bearded irises, alliums, some clematis, and some baptisia.

I was worried about my native clay, I had dug a 2 ft hole before getting rain, and it took 4 days to drain! (it was cold and one morning the water had even frozen).
I remembered a 'bed' photo I had seen on here while looking for photos of Leda, and decided to try and recreate that raised sloped "bed", though not at as tall a slope or I would need alot of retaining block.



It is taking alot of soil though, so for now, I have just made mounds enough to plant into at different heights, and will have to fill between them in the future, so it looks extremely odd lol, and one great muddy mess.....
When it snows it is kind of cute though, somewhat like little snowmen lol.

kousa said: Another combo that I wish would work for me is having my lilacs bloom at the same time as my peonies. Unfortunately, the lilacs bloom way too early even before my earliest ones start to bloom. The only flowers that bloom reliably at the same as the peonies in my zone are bearded irises, alliums, some clematis, and some baptisia.

I am planning on pairing lilacs and clematis, though it will be a few years before the lilacs are big enough. I also am going to use a purple smoke tree with clematis as well - those dark leaves will go great with a pink or white flower.

What sort of clematis gets close to peonies in bloom time?

Thanks!

Top

I have clematis, roses, and peonies. I might sow something else once they are growing up, I like foxgloves and lavenders, no lilacs here.

Littlebin, a picture with the snow would be so cute..post if it happens! At first I hated the slopes I have, but now I see the advantage and am learning to use it....I think you will be grateful you started your mounds.

Karen...my roses took forever to bloom this year..until late July! It didn't help that I pruned them hard last year so I could put deer netting over them.

Top...Hmm I just learned that there are different classes/times for clematis. I got 4 for $1 at Lowes clearance. I have 2 older ones, but in 3 years I haven't had a bloom...something I will have to look into because I know people do have them bloom around here. I also found this article that should help https://awaytogarden.com/exten...

The interview was great. Love Dan and how helpful he's been to me.

Timing a clematis in bloom to other plants can be futile. So much depends on a warm spring or a cool/cold spring. For me, here in Zone 7, 2012 was the best year ever with blooms on Omoshiro starting in late April instead of the usual late May.

Top...I found a seller on Etsy that has a ton of clematis(small) and some early, easy pale pink...maybe it will work for me, if I can keep the voles and bunnies away.

I did find a bunch of pictures in the "color echoes" thread with iris and peonies...still not sure what colors I would like together though.

Fina Gardens has Siberian Iris that they say blooms with peonies.

@Topdecker I have to agree with Arlene (Pirl) that clematis blooming time is rather unpredictable. Some years, they will bloom with the peonies and some years they bloom later or earlier than the peonies. Having said that, the few that have bloomed somewhat consistently with the peonies in my garden are Arabella, Little Duckling, Diana's Delight, and Sarafina. Pink Champagne is another possible good one that blooms at the same time of peonies if you don't prune it.

Here is a pic of Sarafina. I was hoping that it would bloom at the same time as my lavender pink NOID tree peony but as you can see the TP had already finished blooming just when Sarafina was at its peak. It kinda clashed with the coral color of Coral Charm. I am planning to move this clematis to accompany Cora Louise. I think they will look swell together if it can consistently bloom at the same time as CL blooms.


Sandra Marie with Little Duckling clematis


Magical Mystery Tour with Arabella


Diana's Delight is a good clematis to accompany late blooming whites.


Walker's low is a great companion plant for peony but it looks shabby after the first bloom is done.


You kind of have to experiment to see what works best. Sometimes the result is not quite as what you expect if the bloomings do not coincide. Anyway, I think that is what gardening is so much fun. You can be wrong but the flowers still look good no matter what you pair them with.

Lovely pictures with Arabella and Little Duckling, Karen. Do they keep blooming for a long time once the peonies are done for you?

Decorative onions, catmint, irises and geraniums work for me for blooming with peonies. I guess for different zones and sun exposure - different list. Did not figure out what to plant with my TP in shade, though. Actually, may be dwarf rhododendron or mountain laurel could do the trick.

Oh Karen, those combinations look wonderful. I image other flower lovers in your neighborhood make sure to walk past your home everyday!

What is the best time to move clematis?

@Kousa - Love the Arabella combo but they're all so nice.

@mieko2 - It's best to move a clematis in late winter or early spring, just before new growth begins.

Normally I'm a big fan of color echoes, but as I age I tend to go with contrast more often.

I agree that Walker's Low is best in full bloom, then it goes downhill and loses that magical effect it once had. Every plant has its own time to be the star on stage. It's up to us to accept it.

Arlene, that is gorgeous!
Is that deer fencing? If so, lucky you!!

Thanks for the information regarding clematis.