By Chrisja
The buds on my peonies look red and sticky and are not developing properly. Some of them now have green spikes growing out of them. What is wrong?
8 May, 2014
Answers
I agree the green extensions are part of the bud case [sepals]. the sticky secretion is also a natural part of the bud development. More in the lactifolia species than the officinalis species.
Does the paeony have a varietal name eg Sarah Bernhart?
8 May, 2014
yours are doing what they should do at this time of year ,
the green spikes as you have described are the leaf stalks that help protect the bud as the sticky substance you might have ants also attracted to it but they do no harm so dont spray with anything , just sit back and relax nothing to worry about all is normal.
I have a feeling is this the first time you have grown them.
Gg
8 May, 2014