Product Review

The award-winning 'Mons. Jules Elie' is noted for its double pink bloom with beautiful, smooth rosy pink guard petals surrounding a mound of inward-curved silvery-pink petals, providing a slight two-toned effect. This peony is the recipient of the Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society. Peonies are tough, undemanding perennials that can bloom happily for a century or more with little care. Choose a sunny to lightly shaded spot to plant with good air circulation and plenty of room for them to grow. Because they like ample water, they do best in somewhat heavier clay-type soils and away from the roots of trees and shrubs. The 'Mons. Jules Elie' Peony can grow up to 2-3 feet tall and wide. When planting, water deeply and maintain even soil moisture until the ground freezes to help the plant develop as many feeder roots as possible its first fall. To protect the delicate roots the first winter, apply mulch. After the ground freezes, mound the newly planted area with 2-4 inches of soil or 5-8 inches of a fluffy, non-matting mulch such as straw, cornstalks, peat moss, or evergreen boughs - but not leaves. Hardiness zones 3-8. Tip: Potted dormant perennials can be kept in a well-lit cool/cold area (i.e. garage, shed, even in a protected area outdoors) until ready for spring planting. Do not allow them to completely dry out.