Disbudding Peonies: Louisa Yeomans King’s Peony Advice
May 17, 1905
From Orchard House to Kingstree, Louisa Yeomans King taught America how to garden with grace—and a dash of pragmatism. Her counsel for peonies is as crisp as a white blouse on a June morning:
May 17. Disbud most of your peonies now; that is, of a cluster of buds, cut off all but the larger central one. Certain varieties, however, are considered more beautiful if left alone to flower as they will. Among these are Alsace Lorraine and La Rosiere.
Discipline for abundance—except when the variety begs to be extravagant.
Louisa Yeomans King at her typewriter
A Tree Peony, scientifically known as Paeonia suffruticosa.
Peony cuttings in water
