Proud owners Vicki and Eric Sjulin recently celebated 25 years in business at Swedish Touch Peonies.
This family-owned business is in the beautiful Loess Hills of Southwest Iowa just off I-29, approximately 50 miles south of the Omaha/Council Bluffs area.
If you’re looking for skilled, family owned and run, peony growers, they have exactly what you need.
The type of soil they are growing their plants in is called loess (pronounced luss), a German word meaning crumbly. The soil consists of a gritty, light-weight material composed of tightly packed grains of quartz, feldspar, mica, and other minerals. This unique soil and location gave them a major advantage in growing quality plants, as peonies thrive in this type of environment.
The Loess Hills extend from the southwest to the northwest tip of Iowa. Wind formed the bluffs over 25,000 years ago, and the only other place like it in the world is near China’s Yellow River.
This is the 5th generation of Sjulins involved with a long history in the nursery business dating back to the early 1900’s. As such, they are very knowledgeable with what they grow and pride themselves in offering many of the selections their grandfather grew decades ago. Some, he even named himself. During the blooming season, they practically live in their fields to provide cut flowers for the Omaha and Lincoln markets. They’ve been doing this for the last 25 years. This also enables them to recognize growth habits, dig mixes, get counts, and indulge in the tranquility, beauty, and fragrance of their peony fields!
Everyone is invited to take a look at the breathtaking peony varieties currently available in their online catalogue at www.swedishtouchpeonies.org. Their sales are strictly wholesale 25 root per variety minimum and 50 per order. As the inventory changes, they try to keep the site updated, however, in the event you request something “sold out” they will contact you with options and will not substitute without your approval.
When you place an order, you will be dealing directly with Ryan, Eric or Vicki. These three do the majority of the work, with help from Vic’s parents. They try to return calls, and e-mails as they come in. During fall harvest, they can not keep up with contacts as well, so it might be a week or two before you hear back from them.
Swedish Touch Peonies, 2972 Swedish Rd., Hamburg, Ia. 51640 email sjulinvicki@gmail.com Wholesale accounts only
Article information submitted by Teresa Crecelius.
