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Jun 24, 2024 8:02 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jasmin
Toronto, Ontario (Zone 5b)
Peonies Roses Clematis Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Bee Lover
Cat Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Enjoys or suffers cold winters Region: Canadian Permaculture Garden Ideas: Level 2
Peonies are stunning in bloom! 😊 It starts with the anticipation of new buds, and nothing compares to the excitement of seeing our peonies bloom, no matter how short the season is Lovey dubby

But what about the rest of the year? How your garden looks when the peonies aren't flowering! Please share your photos and tips on maintaining an attractive garden during the off-season. How do you deal with the changing foliage and bare stems? Do you have complementary plants that keep your garden vibrant year-round? Let's discuss and inspire each other with our out-of-season peony garden solutions!
"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."~Albert Einstein
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Jun 24, 2024 11:46 AM CST
Name: Valerie
Ontario, Canada (Zone 4b)
Region: Canadian Peonies Irises Daylilies Hybridizer Bulbs
Seller of Garden Stuff Plant and/or Seed Trader Bee Lover Birds Keeper of Koi
Great idea to start this thread Jasmin Thumbs up The first thing that comes to mind from your last comment was a reference to "bare stems"; you must remember that at least half of us grow mostly herbaceous peonies - no bare stems Rolling on the floor laughing
That being said, when it gets less sunny today I will take a pic or two for this thread.
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Jun 24, 2024 4:17 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jasmin
Toronto, Ontario (Zone 5b)
Peonies Roses Clematis Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Bee Lover
Cat Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Enjoys or suffers cold winters Region: Canadian Permaculture Garden Ideas: Level 2
This is what I do.

Beauty of Livermere poppies start blooming just as the tree peonies finish. The early clematises have also started. Very soon, Hungarian Lilacs will be in full bloom. I can't believe I don't have a nice picture of the lilacs.
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In the front, the poppies and the first roses have already started. I add Azaleas in pots, followed by terrestrial orchids in pots among the plants.
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When the rose hedge starts blooming, the garden looks full. This is already mid-June.
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This is the rose hedge from another corner; Red Meidiland encroaching on the neighbor's grass. I have the rose hedge, then three small tree peonies, then clematises and tall roses, then a small path, then a row of big tree peonies, and finally New Dawn climbing on the house.
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I also let native ground-covers grow on the paths.
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These are clematises among the tree peonies in the back. I still can't believe that I didn't take pictures of the clematises. I have only these.
Alannah and H.F. Young:
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President starts blooming rather early; First Lady will start blooming a bit later:
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This year, I am adding roses to the back garden Crossing Fingers!
"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."~Albert Einstein
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Jun 25, 2024 10:06 AM CST
Name: Valerie
Ontario, Canada (Zone 4b)
Region: Canadian Peonies Irises Daylilies Hybridizer Bulbs
Seller of Garden Stuff Plant and/or Seed Trader Bee Lover Birds Keeper of Koi
(I had a lot to say but stupid computer just blew it away - so here I go again Sighing! )
Your garden is beautiful Jasmin but it looks like you already have any 'bare stem' issues covered Rolling on the floor laughing Is it as shady as it looks?
I was going down another route and grow species or Group 3 clematis up (or over as some choose Rolling on the floor laughing ) lactiflora peonies. This one was cheap because the nursery lost its tag but it works well and by bloom time it will have made a good but gentle cover over p. Paul M Wild and Golly; note the dark red stems which work well with any lingering red blooms.
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The foliage is also very attractive.

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Clematis that will stay down include c. Filagree; this one is in part shade so won't mind suffruticosa peony foliage overhead;
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As you like roses you might want to consider rosa glauca. I use this either at full height (about 6' - 7' here) or cut it down in the Spring as a low hedge, as support for floppy grasses, or to complement the heights of the surrounding plants. The foliage is to die for and the flowers and hips are not too shabby either Rolling on the floor laughing

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It will gently self-seed if hips are left on.

My all-time favourites for ground cover or gentle 'hiding' are certain geranium cultivars - those that wander around without putting down roots on the way and come the following Spring have returned to their original tidy clump, only to wander off again Thumbs up Some good ones I grow are g. albanum, g. oxonianum Hollywood, g. wlassovianum, g. procurrens X psilostemon Anne Folkard (yellow/chartreuse foliage all season), g. Blue Sunrise (foliage starts off chartreuse) g. oxonianum Katherine Adele and g. Fay Anna.

As I have just put in a couple of hours dead-heading 90' of peonies amongst rapidly budding daylilies it is obvious that these are good companions too. One of my favourite compositions is a yellow peony with hemerocallis Golden Zebra - short and the foliage colour complements the peony when in bloom.
One other 'combination' I use for peonies that die down early - such as Merry Mayshine - is to plant a heuchera behind it - I like h. Caramel. When I have to cut the dead stems in July, there is the heuchera ready to take over the show Hurray!

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As soon as the peony foliage is gone the heuchera gets more light and develops its gorgeous caramel colour.
Last but by no means least, Asarum europaeum is a good year round undercover;
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Jun 25, 2024 2:48 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jasmin
Toronto, Ontario (Zone 5b)
Peonies Roses Clematis Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Bee Lover
Cat Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Enjoys or suffers cold winters Region: Canadian Permaculture Garden Ideas: Level 2
Val, you garden is lovely.

Yes, my garden is shady, but I still have some sunny patches for roses and herbaceous peonies. More or less, I try to have a row of peonies, then a row of roses or clematises, depending on how sunny the spot is. Fortunately, tree peonies take quite a bit of shade. Many Clematises can take shade too Smiling

I also like Heuchera plants, especially those with burgundy leaves. They work well with deep-colored tree peonies like Shimadaijin and Rockiis with their maroon blotches. Their leaves also complement the tree peony leaves Lovey dubby

We shouldn't forget various Hellebores; they provide interest in spring, and their leaves also blend nicely with tree peony leaves Smiling

I have several native ground covers that thrive in the shade and grow around and beneath tree peonies: native Violets, May Apples, Wood Poppies, Canadian Anemone, Solomon's Seal, False Solomon's Seal, and Wild Ginger (both native and European) Smiling

You are right; Geraniums work well with peonies, but they might have different growing habits here. For example, Ann Folkard proved to be too aggressive in my garden, especially in the sun. I like native Geranium maculatum, but it doesn't cover much space. Smaller Geranium macrorrhizum hybrids (e.g., 'Biokovo') work well beneath the tree peonies in the shade Smiling

I use regular Geranium macrorrhizum (both pink and white) in the corners where no other ground cover can grow. They can also overwinter in pots. I also have ferns in the shady corners. There are two really shady corners in my garden: one below two huge Hungarian Lilacs, and another below Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace.' This latter corner is my 'black corner,' where I have deep burgundy tree peonies, Black Dragon and Cup of Shining Night Lovey dubby

Once I start listing plants that work well with peonies, it doesn't look too bad 😄. We have some choices. Now that I've landscaped the garden, I should take more pictures.

However, I need to include more roses in the back garden. At the moment, I have only three, all wild-looking: Rosa canina, Rosa multiflora, and Mozart (see below). They work well with herbaceous peonies. I love peonies, but a summer garden without roses... Thinking Confused I definitely need more roses in the back garden. I will keep you posted Smiling
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"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."~Albert Einstein
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Jun 26, 2024 8:12 AM CST
Moderator
Name: LG
Nashvillle (Zone 7b)
Butterflies Garden Photography Hostas Hummingbirder Peonies Region: Tennessee
Forum moderator
Wow Jasmin and Val! Your gardens look so beautiful.
Thanks for sharing.
LG - My garden grows with love and a lot of hard work.
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Jun 26, 2024 8:47 AM CST
Name: Valerie
Ontario, Canada (Zone 4b)
Region: Canadian Peonies Irises Daylilies Hybridizer Bulbs
Seller of Garden Stuff Plant and/or Seed Trader Bee Lover Birds Keeper of Koi
Thank You! LG - I make sure my gardens look just like gardens and not peony display areas - besides, I love to grow as many different plants as I can Rolling on the floor laughing
I have one caution for anyone reading this - don't grow anemonensis canadensis (Canadian anemone) unless you have acres of intensely planted garden. I worked on one area with a few stems of this for years and years - but I lost the battle so I call it my wild garden and cross my fingers it doesn't spread too far in my lifetime.
For those with sunny gardens I have to mention Kennilworth ivy (NOT an ivy) Cymbalaria muralis which spreads from a central crown and is very easy to control.

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It grows in sun and shade.

So also does Hedera helix Needlepoint (yes, this IS an ivy) which grows very slowly and has small narrow-pointed leaves (more rain this year so broader leaves)

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and Hedera helix Duckfoot - another decorative and slow growing ivy that will happily live under peonies.

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I went to the houseplant area of a large nursery about 20 years ago and selected decorative ivies with thick leaves. These two have proved to be very hardy in Zone 4b along with a few others - Buttercup (gold leaves but more of a spreader to watch) Spetchley, Ivalace and even Hedera colchica Sulphur Heart.
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Jun 27, 2024 4:55 AM CST
Moderator
Name: LG
Nashvillle (Zone 7b)
Butterflies Garden Photography Hostas Hummingbirder Peonies Region: Tennessee
Forum moderator
Thanks for the warning, Valerie! I have the usual thugs in my garden, but an unexpected one is Aquiba vine. It is as bad as Kudzu here in my warm zone. I am starting to see warnings about it now, but when I planted it there wasn't the internet, and I had no clue as to its behavior.
LG - My garden grows with love and a lot of hard work.
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Jun 27, 2024 6:56 AM CST
Name: Valerie
Ontario, Canada (Zone 4b)
Region: Canadian Peonies Irises Daylilies Hybridizer Bulbs
Seller of Garden Stuff Plant and/or Seed Trader Bee Lover Birds Keeper of Koi
LG do you mean Akebia - Chocolate Vine? I grow that in a couple of places D'Oh! I hope it's not considered invasive here in Zone 4/5 Crossing Fingers! Sorry to hear it's going to be a problem for you Sad
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Jun 30, 2024 5:49 AM CST
Moderator
Name: LG
Nashvillle (Zone 7b)
Butterflies Garden Photography Hostas Hummingbirder Peonies Region: Tennessee
Forum moderator
Yes Val, you have the correct name.
It has seeds plus runs. Good luck with yours!
LG - My garden grows with love and a lot of hard work.
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Jul 10, 2024 5:36 PM CST
Maryland (Zone 7a)
Bookworm Roses Region: Maryland Peonies Hibiscus Herbs
Dahlias Cut Flowers Cat Lover Region: Canadian Garden Photography Butterflies
It's just one rose bush and many glads now. I do have tulips and daffodils in the spring. My heirloom chrysanthemums didn't survive the wildlife this year. There is a single dahlia that makes it through the winters. I want to add.more roses this fall.
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Jul 11, 2024 5:21 AM CST
Moderator
Name: LG
Nashvillle (Zone 7b)
Butterflies Garden Photography Hostas Hummingbirder Peonies Region: Tennessee
Forum moderator
That looks great Hiyamakki. I'm sorry that the wildlife ruined your Chrysanthemums. I planted a few Caladiums a couple of days ago, and just noticed that something had dug one up.

Our actual temperature is going to be 100° F for a couple of days (37.78°C). I am dreading it.
LG - My garden grows with love and a lot of hard work.
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Jul 11, 2024 10:40 PM CST
Maryland (Zone 7a)
Bookworm Roses Region: Maryland Peonies Hibiscus Herbs
Dahlias Cut Flowers Cat Lover Region: Canadian Garden Photography Butterflies
It has been so hot here too! We finally had some rain Wednesday and it cooled down enough that I spent an hour weeding mid-day. It's been a long time since that was possible.
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