Peonies — Low maintenance yet highly rewarding
Peonies can tempt our local wildlife all they want, but the wallabies will not partake of them, perhaps because parts of the plant (particularly the roots) contain paeonol, which is known to be toxic to horses, cats and dogs.
It’s delightful news for many gardeners who cannot resist the eye-catching display of springtime peonies, although, if you have a pet that likes a garden nibble, extra care may be required.
Peonies are frost resistant, wildlife resistant, hardy and easy to look after. All you need is a little bit of lime and chook poo at planting time, or better yet, Gateforth Peonies’ All in One Fertiliser (available in store now). Place them in a position where they’ll get 6-8 hours of full sun, protected from wind, then sit back and wait. It may take a year or two for your peony to reach its full blooming potential, but it’s a small price to pay for such a rewarding blossom.
We have a great range of tree, herbaceous and itoh peonies in stock now.
Suitable for: Cottage gardens, informal gardens, courtyards, coastal gardens.
Height: 1-1.5m
Width: 1-1.5m
