Peony

Pests & beneficial insects

🐛 Prone to: Aphids

Aphids

Aphididae

Curled leaves, sticky honeydew and ants on patrol — usually with something already eating them.

.

Attract Hoverflies

Hoverflies

Syrphidae

The adults only drink nectar. It is the larvae that eat the aphids.

, Lacewings

Lacewings

Chrysopidae

Golden-eyed adults that mostly drink; larvae that hunt like small alligators.

, Ladybugs

Ladybugs

Coccinellidae

The one predator here where the adults hunt as hard as the larvae do.

, Parasitic wasps

Parasitic wasps

Braconidae, Ichneumonidae and relatives

Pinhead-sized, stingless, and lethal to aphids and caterpillars from the inside.

to keep them in check — plant French MarigoldExcellent, African MarigoldGreat and Mexican FleabaneGreat nearby.

Companion Planting

• 
  French Marigold
  

  French MarigoldExcellent pair

  • ❧French Marigold attracts Hoverflies and Lacewings and more, which prey on the Aphids that attack Peony
  • ❧French Marigold suppresses pests that trouble Peony
  • ❧Peony roots deep while French Marigold feeds near the surface — no competition
• 
  Moldavian dragonhead
  

  Moldavian dragonheadExcellent pair

  • ❧Moldavian dragonhead attracts Hoverflies and Parasitic wasps, which prey on the Aphids that attack Peony
  • ❧Peony draws Bees and Bumblebees that improve pollination for both
  • ❧Peony roots deep while Moldavian dragonhead feeds near the surface — no competition
• 
  Gai Lan
  

  Gai LanGreat pair

  • ❧Gai Lan attracts Hoverflies and Parasitic wasps, which prey on the Aphids that attack Peony
  • ❧Gai Lan suppresses pests that trouble Peony
  • ❧Peony roots deep while Gai Lan feeds near the surface — no competition

How to grow Peony

1. Germinates30 days
2. Space90 cm apart
3. GrowFull sun
4. Harvest~730 days

Water: Medium · Height: 90 cm · Soil: Deep, fertile, well-draining — do not plant too deep