Hidden Springs Flower Farm
Spring Grove, MN 55974
(763) 218-4540
Mailing Address/Office:
Hidden Springs Flower Farm
813 Elm St.
Anoka, MN 55303-2823
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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. |
  
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Paeonia mascula triternata wild (wild species)
This is the large rounded wavy leaved form of mascula. It produces fertile seed as you would expect from a true species with very attractive seed pods in the late summer and early fall. The emerging foliage is very attractive being a bronze-red that changes through various stages to green as the foliage expands. Must have full sun and a well drained soil location to grow best. Like many species this one does not do well in clay soils that waterlog in the spring or where snow cover is blown off in the winter, otherwise it is quite winter hardy.
$26.99
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Paeonia mascula wild (wild species 1768)
This species has a number of sub-species with variable foliage forms from broad rounded wavy leaves to those that are more narrow looking. All possess rosy-pink 5 blooms on plants 24 tall. This species was also common in Monastic herbal gardens. Early to bloom it has delightful gold fall foliage.
P. mascula requires excellent drainage and full sun to perform well. We do not recommend groing this species in heavy clay soil that may be water saturated at any time during the growing season. Quite fertile it can produce a lot of seed and will hybridize with other tetraploid peonies offering an rewarding way for you to expand your interest in growwing peonies.
$26.99
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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 its 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
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Paeonia officinalis rosea plena SOLD OUT (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.
$0.00
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Paeonia peregrina (wild species 1807)
This species was the parent of many of Dr. Saunders' hybrid peonies. Single vibrant red cupped flower with glossy deep green foliage. This is my favorite of all the peony species. 20 Tall. Brilliant tomato red color. Our original stock came from Germany and stops people in their tracks when it is in bloom. Soil with good drainange and a location in full sun are recommended. A rewarding parent of beautiful hybrid seedlings.
$28.99
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Paeonia peregrina 'Sunshine' (selected form of species)
(aka Otto Froebel) This is a selected clone of the species used successfully to create our 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
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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
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Paeonia tenuifolia flore plena SOLD OUT (ancient species 1836)
Double Fern Leaf Peony is scarlet, lipstick red and the earliest blooming of the double peonies. It must be grown in well drained soil in full all day sun. It can go dormant in early summer and should not be over watered at that time. Water from automatic sprinklers has been known to kill this plant so be sure and plant it where you can control the amount of water it will receive and cut back on watering once it starts to go dormant. Crowding by other plants or invading tree or shrub roots will also weaken and kill it. It is incredibly hardy when grown properly and is found growing in abandoned cemeteries in the open prairies which gives us a clue that it will thrive more easily in a fully exposed area with little extra care once established.
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Paeonia veitchii (wild species)
This woodland edge peony has 2 or more flowers per stem of a lovely lavender pink. The blooms often face outward in a wild flower fashion. One of the latest to emerge from the ground in the spring it quickly races ahead to be one of the first to bloom. Finely divided foliage emerges an attractive bronze color turning to green at blooming. 12 Early Very few available this season. Somewhat more challenging than other species to grow.
$26.99
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| Species Peonies are often noted for their more diminuative 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 |
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