Most gardeners think of peonies as a two-week show. They bloom, they flop, and then they sit idle for the rest of the season. That reputation is outdated, and it has cost peonies a place in a lot of Edmonton yards where they would genuinely thrive.
This presentation by Nick Maycher of Prairie Peonies makes the case for peonies as durable, ecologically useful perennials, not just ornamentals. Nick will walk through how modern hybridization has produced peony varieties suited to a wide range of landscape conditions, and how a better understanding of peony groups changes how you select and site these plants. Hosted by the Millhurst Community League and Sakaw Gardens, this is a free, accessible evening for urban gardeners who want plants that do more than look good for a week.
What You’ll Learn
- Peony groups and their differences. Herbaceous, tree, and intersectional peonies each behave differently in the landscape. Knowing which type you have changes how you plant, prune, and plan around them.
- Why bloom time is not the whole story. Peony foliage holds structure in a border through summer. A well-sited peony reduces your replanting costs and fills space that would otherwise require annual plants.
- Pollinators and peony timing. Peonies flower in late spring when many early-season pollinators are active. Single and semi-double forms are especially useful because they expose pollen and nectar more directly than fully double varieties.
- The ant myth, corrected. Ants are attracted to peony nectar. They do not open the blooms. Understanding this makes peonies a useful teaching plant for beneficial insects and pesticide restraint.
- Siting and companion planting. Where and how you place peonies determines how much work they do in your garden. Nick will address drainage, sun requirements, and what works alongside them in mixed perennial borders.
About Prairie Peonies and Nick Maycher
Nick Maycher founded Prairie Peonies in Edmonton in 2013 and has spent over a decade building a curated display garden that spans historic heirloom varieties to modern award-winning introductions.
His work focuses on peony education and public outreach, bringing practical, site-tested growing knowledge to gardeners across the region. Prairie Peonies gives Edmonton gardeners a rare chance to see a wide range of varieties in person before committing to a plant that will live in their yard for decades.
Peonies and the Broader Food Garden
At OFRE, we think about the urban landscape as a food system. Peonies are not a food crop, but they earn a place in that system. They attract and support pollinators during a critical window in the growing season. They provide structure and foliage mass in borders where food plants need companions. And as long-lived perennials, they reduce the pressure to replace plants seasonally, which is itself a form of resource efficiency.
If you are building an urban food garden and thinking carefully about every square foot of your yard, peonies belong in that conversation. Our fruit tree and berry bush care workshop is a good companion resource if you are planning your full perennial framework this spring.
We Hope to See You
This event is open to anyone curious about growing smarter in Edmonton’s climate. Whether you are an experienced gardener or just starting to think about perennials, Nick’s presentation gives you a foundation for making better landscape decisions. Come with questions.
