Peony farms thrive: Alaska only world market for late-summer blooms.

• Author: Bohi, Heidi
• Position: AGRICULTURE

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

If Alaska was a flower, the peony would be best appointed to stand in as its metaphorical double. Known for its sturdy stem, dramatic bloom and affinity to cooler temperatures and precipitation, this low-maintenance, flamboyant variety can best be described as the Klondike Kate of the horticulture world.

Analogies aside, in fact, Alaska and peonies are starting to develop quite the reputation in the cut-flower industry as word gets out that the state --never famous for its farming--is the only place in the world that can deliver peonies during the July to September growing season due its northern latitudes. And, like most things that come out of the earth here, these coveted blooms are bigger and bolder than their Outside counterparts.

BUDDING INDUSTRY

From Homer to Delta Junction, commercial distributors worldwide are watching Alaska's budding industry with an optimistic eye, ready to buy every stem of white, red, pink and fuchsia blooms that the midnight sun can shine on. Although no one expects peonies to be the next gold rush, horticulturists believe they are the first agricultural export with significant potential. For several Alaskan peony farmers, many who are already in production, the industry holds promise of six-figure incomes, and support services such as the transportation and supply chain industries also stand to benefit.

Dr. Pat Holloway, associate professor of horticulture at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and manager of the Georgeson Botanical Garden there, is credited for first researching the idea of commercially growing peonies in Alaska and has since become the resident expert on the topic. About 10 years ago she became interested in experimenting with planting peonies to see how they would do in Alaska and also began talking to fellow colleagues and gardening enthusiasts such as Ron Illingworth who had recently planted several at his house in North Pole.

"She was interested in how they did from a research-scientist point of view, I approached it as 'if they don't grow well with minimal attention then I don't want to bother with them,'" he says.

For the next couple of years, Holloway planted several varieties and reached out over the Internet. Almost immediately, she received an inquiry from a distributor in England hoping to buy 10,000 cut peonies--a week.

"We had to explain to him that we couldn't come up with that many flowers in the whole state," Illingworth says, adding that the best they...