PPDL Picture of the Week
February 22, 2016
Starfish On Your Peonies?
Rosie Lerner, Extension Consumer
Horticulture Specialist, Purdue University
Gardeners
may be surprised to see what some describe as "starfish" growing on
their peony plants, some say they resemble crowns. These are seed pods that
often develop after the flowers fade. If allowed to remain on the plant
long enough, the pods eventually split open to reveal seed inside. Or the pods
may be empty if pollination was not successful or the flowers may be sterile in
some cultivars. The individual pods are botanically referred to as follicles;
the number of follicles in the cluster is variable.