Please help

Really like these as have two in the garden, just don't know what they are, please help!



Thank you

 

Welcome Mark.
It is a Paeonia sp. Commonly called Peony.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=P...Q&biw=1002&bih=483&sei=KoSlT4KXE4ay8gOahujrBA
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https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&cp=5&gs_id=k&xhr=t&q=peony&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1280&bih=647&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=bYSlT8iMK8Hb8QPSwa34BA#um=1&hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=peony+red&oq=peony+red&aq=f&aqi=g4g-S3&aql=&gs_l=img.12..0l4j0i24l3.6928.7790.0.9582.4.4.0.0.0.0.357.601.2j1j0j1.4.0...0.0.oG5VZMrd1Tg&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=92787d15894b341f&biw=1280&bih=647

 

Hi Mark,

they are Peonies.

 

Great choice Mark.
If you can support around the plant you will extend the useful flowering period. Once the heads come out fully, without support the weight of the flowers will cause the stems to fall.
Just a few canes with string around is enough.

 

Thank you, now I know this is there any advice I need for moving these and can they be potted?

 

I wouldn't do anything until they finish flowering and the foliage starts to die back.
Then you can chop the foliage down to close to ground.
You can then just dig up and transplant to a new hole. The corms often increase sideways so allow some space when lifting. Make sure the new hole is big enough and add a bit of compost in the bottom.
Once the plant has been lifted, you may find some corms that have seperated and left in the ground (or you may fancy just breaking a couple off the plant if there are plenty).
Just put them in a pot(s) and you will have another, smaller, plant(s) next year.
I have a number of large plants, taken as corms from MIL about 30 years ago and a number of others that have been reproduced. A lot of friends also have kinfold from my parent plants over the years.
These are plants that will owe you nothing. Very little care needed and guaranteed to produce good blooms every year. They seem to get better with age.

 

What is this in centre of flower?



Thanks

 

Seed pods I expect.

 

That's what I thought! Can anyone now advise how I can grow new plants from these, is there any special technique needed to get them to germinate?

Thanks

 

If the plant is well established, then just burrow away near the bottom of the plant.
You will find a system of corms.
Just take one off and put it in a pot. Any associated foliage should be cut back and allowed to die back.
It will grow on and, when it establishes, just replant it where you want it. It may be a couple of years before it flowers, but will develop as a plant.

 

Seed is best sown fresh and left exposed to the winter cold. Mice love them though so they need protection from them. Since most of them are hybrids you will not get the same sort of flower as the parent and many more are sterile so they do not set seeds. It takes a couple of years for the seeds to germinate and grow and a few more years to reach flowering size.

 

So when can I take seeds from the pods?

 

If seeds develop then the pods will split open to reveal a bright red interior and shiny black seeds. Time scale is hard, but certainly not before the end of June.