Peony in Southern California?

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Author Message   Ilovemygarden  My Garden Posted on Thursday, April 10, 2008 - 08:04 pm EST :    My mom loves peonies, and took some home from wisconsin to grow this spring in her southern california zone 10 garden. I have told her they need a cold winter to grow again next spring. How can she simulate winter for her peony? Is the fridge adequate, or freezer? And how long would she have to keep them in there? Is it possible for her, or should grow them as an annual. Any info would be great! Thanks so much! Ilovemygarden - Wisconsin, Zone "5a/4b"   Galanthophile  Supporting Member My Favorite Photo My Garden Posted on Friday, April 11, 2008 - 05:00 am EST :    When you said "took some home" do you mean a fully grown plant in a pot? They cope well with a cold winter but I wouldn't put a plant in the fridge and certainly not in the freezer. It would be a pity to grow a peony as an annual. What sort of garden does she have and what daytime temperatures does she have? Galanthophile - Ann (Northern England), Zone "8"   Ilovemygarden  My Garden Posted on Friday, April 11, 2008 - 07:52 am EST :    She took home some roots, or tubers, if thats what you call them. The sort you buy in a bag/box in the early spring. She says they are growing well now. In southern California she gets daytime temps in the 70's year round. She is very coastal, so she'll avoid any serious summer daytime heat, but her nights, even in the winter, do not go lower than 40 degrees farenheit. Her garden is a container garden, with a few in ground beds. It would be such a shame if the peony could only live for one season! I know to keep warm climate plants/bulbs out of the winter cold I bring them in, there's got to be a way she could simulate winter for a cool season plant. I have actually read about refridgerating a plant before, I wish I could remember where... Ilovemygarden - Wisconsin, Zone "5a/4b"   Hankeat  Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - 02:55 am EST :    According to Jane Fearnley-whittingstall's book 'Peonies: The Imperial Flower' there're peonies that suitable to grow in zone 10. A peony nursery in Torino, Italy is in zone 10. http://www.peonie.it/home_all_eng.php http://www.climate-zone.com/climate/italy/fahrenheit/torino.htm Normally tree peonies are more heat tolerate. They should be planted at the north side of the house. In Summer the roots area should be covered to protect it from heat and it should be removed in winter, so that the plant can expose the coldness in winter. She listed the names of herbaceous and tree peonies for the zone 10 in the book too. Unfortunately I sold the book after I went through it. It's not worth to buy the book, as more than 2/3 of it are about history and stories. Moreover it's not cheap. Perhaps you can borrow it from library and buy a second hand one. Hankeat - Berlin, Zone "7a"   Ilovemygarden  My Garden Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 07:01 am EST :    Thank you, I will definately look into that for my mother! When you say "removed" in winter, what do you mean? Ilovemygarden - Wisconsin, Zone "5a/4b"   Hankeat  Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 11:59 pm EST :    Oh, that means remove the material that covers the roots area during summer time. Hankeat - Berlin, Zone "7a"

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