The First Peony - 'Shima-Nishiki'
The Tree Peony 'Shima-Nishiki' is the first to bloom. The name means "fire flame" in Japanese, an apt title to describe the red blooms striped with white. Occasionally, there are solid red blooms. Every year this peony gets better and seemingly overnight, the puny-looking bare branches are suddenly fleshed out with a tremendous profusion of leaves. The bush is dense, forming a 4 ft. mound. Our plant resides at the top of one of the terrace beds in back where it gets some morning sun and dappled sun (mostly shade) for the remainder of the day. We have many peonies in the garden and they all came from Adelman Peony Gardens in Salem, Oregon. It is worth a drive just to see their beautiful display garden in May. Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
Yes, this is a must for me too. I have three containers full of it. Some people grow it in the shade, mine is in full Florida sun and does great. I am trying to over winter one of them.
ReplyDeleteI also can't say enough good things about it, except I wish it came in another color. The first time I saw them was planted with Poinsettias, it was a nice combo.
ReplyDeleteMy "Diamond Frost" is still going strong as well - one in a hanging basket and the other in a large container with geraniums - which are also still going strong. Maybe I'll try bringing it inside to over winter.
ReplyDeleteIt is a marvelous plant. I use it every year. The one with the dark leaves does as well plus you have the darker leaves.
ReplyDeleteI have not tried this although I see it in lots of my gardening mags. I am always for a tough plant. It's on my list!
ReplyDeletePhillip, I have to get this plant into my garden~It's stellar. gail
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing. Have two friends who have a garden on James Island used in sweeps in a gray-white-blue garden. It always looks like mist rising early morning!
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