Culture
Easily grown in rich, fertile, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Add compost as needed before planting. Each plant will flower for approximately 7-10 days. Plant other cultivars with staggered bloom times to extend the total peony bloom period to approximately 6 weeks from spring into early summer. Remove spent flowers after bloom. Cut foliage to the ground and remove from the garden in fall after frost. Plants are long-lived, do not need to be divided and can be left undisturbed for years.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Paeonia is a genus of about 30 species of herbaceous perennials and subshrubs from Europe to Asia and in Western North America. Hebaceous types die to the ground each year where the subshrub (tree peonies) have woody stems.
Genus name comes from the Greek name for Paeon, physician of the gods and reputed discoverer of the medicinal properties of plants in this genus.
‘Scarlet O'Hara’ is an herbaceous (soft-stemmed) peony. It is the result of a cross between P. lactiflora and P. officinalis. This is a shrubby perennial that, each year, will typically grow 30-38” tall by mid-spring, bloom, display attractive foliage throughout the summer and early fall, and then die to the ground after frost. Large, single, fragrant flowers feature scarlet red petals with gold center stamens. Flowers appear in early to mid-season (early May in St. Louis). Green foliage is divided into oval to lance-shaped segments. Excellent cut flower. Glasscock-Falk, 1956.
Problems
Peonies are considered to be relatively pest free. Botyrtis blight and Phytopthora blight are sometimes problems. Ants on peony buds are common and totally harmless. If plants do not flower, possible causes include: (1) planted too deep or too shallow, (2) planted in too much shade, (3) late frost killed flower buds or (4) plant is too young or has been recently moved or disturbed.
Uses
Peonies are a standard of the perennial border, both as specimens and in groups. Also effective as accents or herbaceous hedges along fences, sidewalks, driveways or walls. Flowers are extremely showy, and foliage can remain attractive throughout the growing season either alone or as a frame or backdrop for other perennials.