Is anyone growing Emile Debatene peony?
I just purchased one at a big box store.
It has three shoots.

I have one which is supposed to be 'Emile Debatene' with Lowe's on the back of the picture label. For one reason or another, I marked the tag as 2-14-09 purchase date. It began slowly but is now a nice plant with several eyes. For $4.98, I figured it would not be a serious loss if it failed.

I am wondering as to the color?
And yes, the price at the box stores warrants a try!

Pic of my 'Emile Debatene' just peeking out from a very long and cold Spring.

This link has an average pic which is usually shown as a dark pink with lighter edging on the middle petals. http://www.hiddenspringsflower...

Hi Caroline, I just got Madame Emilie Debatne in a pot from one of our local nurseries almost 2 weeks ago. Here's a picture of the tag that came with the pot, I hope you find this helpful.

Jerry, WOW! I have never seen such a large amount of pips on 1 peony before. How long have you had your plant and how many blooms do you get every year?





Annette

The one from Hidden Springs is the real thing. The picture from the package shows a Japanese form not the double form that Madame has

That is always the problem with all plants from the big box stores. It is just whatever their suppliers have to sell cheaply. They make good filler plants for extra space but will not be true to name the majority of time. I have been misled many times but the plants are usually good just the wrong names and wrong colors.

Thanks, we shall see what it does.
Pretty cheap flowers are okay too. Mine do not need to be named varieties.

This is a clump of a single pink with a yellow center sold as 'Karl Rosenfield'. It was a result of dividing probably 4 years ago. It is an early riser and very prolific in spreading. I usually have good luck with most of my peonies.

None of mine give that many!
Some I have had for more than 30 years!
Peonies must really like Illinois.

The growing season in Canada is probably much shorter and, this is only my intuitive opinion, they become tired after a few years and the soil becomes depleted of essential micronutrients. I do not mind digging and dividing mine since most of them are cheap no-names and I can choose the best roots to replant. I usually have blooms the second Spring.

Jerry, how do you amend your soil for your peonies? Your plants are quite prolific, I've never seen peonies so large.

I have to say I'm surprised that Monrovia put the incorrect picture on the tag for Emile, as well as on their website.. Either way, I'll be happy to see this peony bloom. Their plants that I've bought in the past are beautifully grown.

Annette

My soil is acidic, so I toss a handful of lime on them. They prefer alkaline soil, I've been told.

Our soil is basically yellow clay and my lot is well-drained except for fernies and I plant them in an 8 inch raised bed for additional drainage. During the hot early summer when the plants are at their peak growing season, I use about two scoops of Miracle Gro in a 35 lb cat litter bucket with a 1/4" hole drilled in one side at the bottom to water them. That makes a weak fertilizer but it does well when applied about every 2 or 3 weeks. The Miracle Gro has numerous trace elements not found in ordinary farm fertilizer such as 12-12-12. I place the bucket so the hole squirts out water at about the normal drip line. I found that watering the leaves with a hose invariably either burns the leaves or causes leaf spots. Keeping the water below the leaves works best.

As far as amending the soil, our area tends to be alkaline and needs an acidic product for some acid-loving plants. This should be a banner year since the blossoms will be late and have less chances of frost damage.

And will you please post pictures when they bloom?
Every one?

This is my watering can. Just put it into place and fill with the hose and let it trickle out. Gives it time to soak into the soil without so much runoff. Just add the MG powder before filling. Two of the MG scoops are enough. I think it equals 3 tblsp which is plenty for multiple applications.

Clever idea and tip! Thanks for sharing!!!

Thanks for sharing how you care for your peonies, I greatly appreciate it. I recently purchased some Azomite that I started using in the garden this spring. It's reported to have over 67 minerals and trace elements. I'm looking forward to seeing how it's going to work. I've been reading about it for several months, and I've started adding it to the planting holes of the new peonies.

Annette

The trace minerals and elements are just as or more important than the NPK values. MG is expensive as it is about $5 per pound in the single fill packages. But one can see the difference in the color of the foliage and, in some instances, the brightness of the blossoms.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/s... Will the real 'Emile Debatene' please stand up?