Mailing Address/Office:
Hidden Springs Flower Farm
813 Elm St.
Anoka, MN 55303-2823

Peony Species

Peony Species are the wild botanical forms of the peony found in nature or some ancient double flowered selections known as far back as the 1500's. As our world grows smaller preserving the genes of these wild plants becomes more important. Species peonies from Hidden Springs Flower Farm are sold as fresh dug field divisions from mature flowering plants, not small seedlings or 3 1/2" pot plants that are years from blooming. This gives you a better start and all are grown in unprotected fields here in Minnesota's USDA Zone 4. Peony species are some of the more demanding and challenging of the types of peonies grown because they tolerate the least amount of crowding and die quickly in soggy wet soil conditions since most come from very well drained mountian habitats with little competition for light.

Paeonia officinalis Mt. Baldo  (wild species 1753) Our original 3 plants were grown from seed that came from Mt. Baldo in Italy. The plants grow to 24” tall and are very early blooming with rosy pink flowers. While we still have the original plant it’s offspring have often superceded it in brilliance of flower color. The habit of the plants are superb forming a nice tight rounded form in the garden and are well adapted to dry well drained sites in full sun. These will be divisions from the original 3 plants grown from wild seed. As our seed divisions grow large enough we will offer some of the select ones also. Very fertile and rewarding for those wishing to try growing peonies from seed. $26.99 [Add to Cart]

Paeonia officinalis rosea plena  (ancient cultivated species 1613) This pink double flowered form of the Memorial Day peony has exceptional color and form on compact plants which at maturity will be about 4 feet across. Found throughout Europe in the wake of old monasteries where they were cultivated in medicinal gardens for centuries this species still adorns our gardens today. For those seeking doubleness in their hybrid peonies this has been a successful fertile seed producer but requires that you help the process along by applying the pollen to the stigma as it is normally concealed from the bees by the many extra petals. Known to be tolerant of warm climates it is a good choice for those wanting to experiment in more southern locations where the regular peony is more challenging to grow. $24.95 [Add to Cart]

Paeonia peregrina 'Sunshine'  (selected form of species) This is a selected clone of the species used successfully to create salmon, coral, flamingo or cherry colored hybrids. 20” Easy to please its bright red cup shaped flowers and deep green leaves are a perfect compliment to one another. Used by Saunders and Glasscock to produce many of the most collectable hybrids today. Needs full sun and a well drained soil. $24.99 [Add to Cart]

Paeonia tenuifolia  (wild species 1759) This pixie-like single flowered wild fern-leaf peony is small enough to look right at home in a sunny rock garden. Much more dainty than the double flowered form at only 12” tall. It must have well drained soil and it will go dormant as early as August and should not be overwatered then. It is fertile and will produce seed so it can be used in hybridizing new plants or you can grow your own next genration of fern leaf peonies. $28.99 [Add to Cart]

Species Peonies are often noted for their small and often dwarf plant habit like Paeonia veitchii and Paeonia tenuifolia which never need staking. The double flowered forms of Paeonia officinalis have a natural habit of producing a plant up to 4 feet wide. Species peonies flowers are found in colors from pure white, soft pastel lavender, pink, vibrant red-orange, lipstick red, patterned flowers and even yellow. Some of the first peonies to bloom in the perennial garden are the species peonies right along with some of the daffodils. Species peonies have a wide range of plant sizes and foliage types from the fern leaf peonies narrow foliage to wide blue green foliage of the species from Soviet Georgia like Paeonia mascula triternata.

In many cases wild peonies are becoming more and more scarce as their native habitats are changed and destroyed by the actions of people. Some that we offer are now listed as rare, endangered or vulnerable in their native habitats. Our goal at Hidden Springs Flower Farm is to provide people access to not only the genetic material of these species but also the beauty that they provide in a more botanically minded gardenscape. While we have a wide selection of species peonies the number of divisions is limited much more so than our other peonies which were bred and selected to be more productive from a commercial stand point. That means there will never likely be an over supply of these plants and few nurseries will devote the extra years needed to produce good field size divisions. We hope you will explore the fascinating wild side of peonies by trying a few species in your garden. Happy Gardening! Harvey and Brigitte