Peonies represent romance and happy marriage, making them a popular wedding choice.
There is a myth that peonies, which are not hardy to extremely hot temperatures, are impossible to grow in Southern California. It can be done, but it will require a bit of preparation on the part of the gardener. Plant peonies just before Halloween and cover the surrounding soil with crushed ice every evening for at least two weeks. For the best results, choose a variety known to be grown successfully in this area. Does this Spark an idea?
Sarah Bernhardt
This peony blooms with big, soft pink heads that are very fragrant and have double petals. It needs partial to full sun. It thrives in soil that is sandy loam or sandy loam with some clay with a pH from 5.5 to 7.5. The Sarah Bernhardt tops out at 3 feet. You may see medium-sized green leaves in late winter to early spring, but blossoming will occur from late spring to midsummer.
Kansas
Kansas is another double-petaled peony, but it is flashier than the Sarah Bernhardt, with flowers in shades of bright red and crimson. The blooming season of this peony is relatively short, from late spring to early summer. Kansas does well in sandy loam or sandy loam and clay soil with a pH of 4.5 to 7.5 and exposure to partial to full sun.
Festiva
The Festiva peony is also known as the Festiva Maxima. It has an abundance of lighter green, medium-sized leaves and blossoms generously from midspring to early summer with sweet-smelling, very large white flowers that have double petals and deep red centers. This peony will grow to approximately 3 feet, like most of the standard-sized varieties, and appreciates a growing environment with full or partial sun and sandy loam or sandy loam and clay soil between pH 4.5 and pH 7.5.
Red Charm
If you want a red peony, the blood-scarlet Red Charm should be your choice. The rich color of the abundantly-ruffled, oversized blooms is set off by its distinctive deep green foliage. Red Charm is a smaller peony, reaching a maximum of 2 ½ feet tall. It blooms from late spring to early summer in partial to full sun. The soil for this peony should be sandy loam or sandy loam with some clay and between pH 5.5 and pH 7.5.
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