Product Description

Al Rogers has been growing peonies since childhood, and this book represents more than 60 years' experience. Peonies are treasured by gardeners for their longevity, lush foliage, rich fragrance, and landscape uses. Captured within these pages are not only the flavor, charm, and history of the peony and its hybridizers but also expert information about the genus Paeonia and its many cultivars. The species are discussed, and from the thousand-odd listed cultivars of both tree and herbaceous peonies, Rogers singles out the truly superior for recommendation, along with some introductions that show great promise. Enthusiastic amateurs and professionals alike will be thrilled with the complete and detailed information supplied in Peonies - an important book for any gardener's library.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #412891 in Books
• Published on: 2004-08-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

From Booklist
Rogers has specialized in peonies, from heritage plants to modern hybrids, for more than 20 years at his nursery, Caprice Farm. So it is not surprising that he provides an expansive treatment of the flowers in a guide full of counsel on growing and caring for them. Rogers begins with horticultural history, emphasizing the work of men and women who have hybridized peonies, and then describes different forms and recommends cultivars. In passing, he muses on peony lore, discusses propagation techniques, and advises business-minded readers on how to produce plants as a commercial venture. Neither merely for the home gardener nor strictly for professionals, the clearly and astutely written book is for all plant lovers. Alice Joyce

Review
"Besides botanical information there is peony history, lore, people, identification, propagation, hybridizing and cultivation to make this a fascinating book."
—Joanne S. Carpender, National Gardener, August 2004 (National Gardener )

"His writing is authoritative and scholarly."
—Pacific Horticulture, Winter 1999 (Pacific Horticulture )

"The amateur is well served here, but so too is the would-be commercial grower. Rogers offers the equivalent of a full course in every aspect of peony raising, from culture to propagation."
—Ann Lovejoy, Horticulture, February 2000 (Horticulture )

Besides botanical information there is peony history, lore, people, identification, propagation, hybridizing and cultivation to make this a fascinating book. Joanne S. Carpender, National Gardener, August 2004 (National Gardener )

His writing is authoritative and scholarly. Pacific Horticulture, Winter 1999 (Pacific Horticulture )

The amateur is well served here, but so too is the would-be commercial grower. Rogers offers the equivalent of a full course in every aspect of peony raising, from culture to propagation. Ann Lovejoy, Horticulture, February 2000 (Horticulture )

About the Author
Al Rogers, born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, acquired his first peony cultivar in 1929 at age eight. He owned and operated Caprice Farm Nursery, a successful peony nursery and mail-order supplier, for more than twenty years. Over the years he has written and lectured on peonies and other perennials, and served as a director on the board of the Perennial Plant Association for eight years.

Customer Reviews

The Peony Book You Want
This book was the first of a spate of peony books written over the last few years, and is generally considered to still be the best and most useful by most folks in the peony growing comunity. It is a comprehensive overview of history, hybridisers past and present, and current cultivars of interest. England is producing some attractive books, but the truth of the matter is that the United States is where the "action" has been for the last half century as far as peony growing and hybridising is concerned. There has been a spectacular increase in interest in these beautiful flowers over the last decade, and Al Rogers' book will surely be remembered as a classic part of this era of re-discovery in years to come.

A mine of information
This is the peony book I was waiting for: easy to read, packed with practical information, with lots of wonderful color plates and nice drawings. Every peony question will be answered in reading this great book that will satisfy both the casual gardener or the peony specialist...

Wonderfully Informative
Allen Rogers answers anything you would want to know about growing peonies. From the beginner to the experienced, you will find information that will help you succeed in your cultivation of these wonderful plants.