How to Plant and Care for Peonies: A Comprehensive Guide

In this article:

• The Four Main Types of Peonies
• Planting Peonies
• Caring for Peonies
• Troubleshooting Common Peony Problems
• Cutting Peony Flowers for Bouquets

You know that summer is finally on the way when the peonies bloom. These gorgeous perennials burst into bloom in the weeks around Memorial Day, when spring bulb flowers are winding down and summer flowers are starting to grow. Peony flowers in any shade are quite stunning, with some blooms growing as large as 9 inches! This popular flower is deer- and rabbit-resistant, which makes them handy for gardeners who routinely have problems with animals munching on their plants. If you drive by old cemeteries or abandoned farmsteads, you'll often see peony bushes blooming away, having received little care for many years. That's because growing peonies is easy!

Types of Peonies

There are four main types of peonies. They are, in order of bloom time: woodland peonies, tree peonies, herbaceous peonies, and intersectional peonies.

• Woodland Peonies: Typically grown in zones 3-8, woodland peonies stay small and low to the ground, up to 2 feet. While most peonies do well in full sun, woodland peonies prefer more time in the shade or dappled light. This species blooms a week or two earlier than most peonies with flowers blooming as early as April.
• Woody Peonies: One of the two most common types of peonies, woody peonies (also called tree peonies) grow in zones 3-9. These peonies are considered small shrubs, though some varieties top out at 7 feet. Look for their blooms in early to mid-May.
• Herbaceous Peonies: Along with woody peonies, herbaceous peonies are one of the two most common types of peonies. These peony bushes grow well in zones 3-7. Herbaceous types usually reach a height of 2 to 3 feet and a spread of 2 to 4 feet. Most herbaceous peonies have blooms that peak a couple of weeks before or after Memorial Day.
• Intersectional Peonies: Also called Itoh Peonies, these peonies are hybrids of the woody and herbaceous species. They grow in zones 3-9, and can get as big as 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide. These late bloomers typically show their best color from late May through June.

All types of peonies require similar care, so the choice of what to plant depends on where you live and the look you're going for. Tree peonies have different planting and pruning needs, and woodland peonies prefer more shade tolerance than other peony types. Otherwise, growing and caring for one type of peony is not unlike growing and caring for another.

Choosing the Right Time and Location for Planting

The best time to plant peonies is in the fall. If you order peonies online, this is usually when they'll be shipped. As the soil gradually cools in the fall, peonies are triggered to establish a strong root system that will support the plant next spring. Sometimes you'll find container-grown peonies blooming and for sale in the spring, and while it's not the ideal time, it's fine to plant them then.

Most peonies need at least 6 to 8 hours of sun each day, though some protection from hot afternoon sun in zones 8-9 is helpful. As previously mentioned, woodland peonies do best in partial shade and need protection from afternoon sun. Choosing an area with good air circulation is essential as well; to help prevent fungal diseases. Peonies grow best in slightly moist, well-drained soil. You'll also want to check your peony's expected mature size (they typically reach anywhere between 2 and 4 feet wide) and make sure you give it plenty of room to grow.

Planting Peonies

How to plant your peonies depends on whether you purchase a container peony or bare roots, which are dormant plants containing 3-5 buds and roots. We'll take a look at how to plant container peonies, bare root peonies, and tree peonies.

Planting Container-Grown Woodland, Itoh, or Herbaceous Peonies:

1. Dig a hole twice as wide and no deeper than the container your peony is growing in.
2. Remove the plant from the pot, and put it in the hole so that the top of the root ball is level with the soil (any deeper and the peonies will not bloom).
3. Blend the soil you've removed with an equal portion of Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Flowers
4. Fill in around the plant with the soil mixture.
5. Water thoroughly after planting.

Planting Bare Root Woodland, Itoh, or Herbaceous Peonies:

1. Soak the bare roots in a bucket of water for a few hours to rehydrate them before planting.
2. Dig a hole roughly two feet wide and two feet deep.
3. Blend equal parts native soil and Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Flowers, and create a mound of blended soil in the center of the planting hole.
4. Position the roots on top of the mound, so that the eyes (pink or red buds or sprouts) face up and the roots are fanned out and down.
5. Fill in the rest of the hole with the remaining blended soil, making sure that the "eyes" of the plant are covered by no more than 1 to 2 inches of soil (otherwise, they won't bloom). Pro tip: the warmer your zone, the less soil you need to cover the eyes.
6. Water thoroughly after planting.

Planting Tree Peonies:

1. Dig a hole that is twice as wide and no deeper than the container your peony is growing in.
2. Use the same soil mixture as described above (half native soil, half Garden Soil for Flowers).
3. Tree peonies need to be planted deeper than other peonies: Plant peonies so that the crown (where the roots meet the stem) is 2 to 4 inches deep. If the plant has been grafted (check the label), plant it so that the "graft union" (the part of the plant where the grafted top is joined to the rootstock) is 4 to 6 inches below the soil line.
4. Water thoroughly after planting.

Caring for Peonies

Now that your peonies are in the ground, help them thrive with some basic peony plant care. Peonies aren't difficult, but you still want to be mindful of a few things to ensure they stay healthy and blooming.

Watering: Water thoroughly at the time of planting. Water the plants again when the foliage starts to emerge in the spring, and once more when the flower buds appear. Peonies are not thirsty plants, but will benefit from being watered during dry periods for a year after the initial planting.

Feeding: Great soil plus just the right plant food equals a powerful care combination for your peonies. Give peonies the nutrition they need by feeding them with Miracle-Gro® Shake 'n Feed® Rose & Bloom Plant Food for gorgeous color and more blooms vs. unfed plants. Peonies should be fed twice a year, once after they emerge in the spring (after the new shoots reach 2 to 3 inches tall but before the flower buds become pea-sized), then again midway through the growing season (about 3 months after the first feeding) to build strong roots before winter comes. Be sure to follow label directions. 

Pruning: Most peonies have similar pruning needs, but tree peonies have a few different considerations.

• Once all of the blooms on woodland, Itoh, and herbaceous peonies have faded, cut back each flower stalks to just above a leaf, low enough that the stem doesn't stick out of the rest of the foliage. You can prune tree peonies that have grown unruly in either the spring or the fall (right before plants go dormant).
• If you prune tree peonies in the fall, any branches you cut back will not bloom the following spring (as you will be cutting off the flower buds). In the springtime, you can prune right after blooming. Whenever you choose prune, be careful not to remove more than 1/3 of the plant.

Dividing: Peonies prefer to be left undisturbed; however, you can add more peony plants in your garden through a propagation technique called dividing. This just means separating the plant parent into several smaller plants. Keep in mind that the divided plants may not bloom for a couple of years. Tree peonies are best left alone (undivided) to grow for generations in the garden. Other peonies can be divided if the clumps have spread too far or blooming has slowed. To divide peonies:

1. Dig up the entire clump and hose it off so that you can see the various roots and eyes (or buds) of the plant.
2. Use sharp, clean pruners to cut apart the plant, leaving at least one large root and 3 to 4 eyes per clump.
3. Replant, following the instructions above for planting bare root peonies.

Troubleshooting Common Problems with Peonies

Peonies are relatively fuss-free, but like any plant, they can have their challenges. Not to worry: peony problems tend to be fixable, so it's easy to get your plant back on track.

No Flowers: There are many reasons why your peonies might not be blooming. Here's a few common culprits for few or no flowers:

• New planting. Many peonies don't bloom for the first year or two after planting. Patience is the cure for this one.
• Stressors like too much sun, too little water, and diseases. When your peony is using resources to manage stresses, it will produce fewer or no blooms. Remove diseased stems and leaves, shield your plant from intense afternoon sun, and make sure your peony gets water during dry spells.
• Late frosts. If your area had a late frost in early to mid-spring, that may mean no peony flowers that year. Don't worry though; they'll be back the following year.
• Improper planting. How you plant your peonies also affects blooming. When planted too deep, peonies will grow into healthy plants, but they won't bloom. Following our planting instructions above helps ensure your peony will have flowers.
• Improper feeding. It's also important to feed your peonies. Proper nutrition helps your peonies grow healthy and strong and produce beautiful blooms.

Fungal diseases: Peonies can sometimes suffer from fungal problems. Botrytis causes flower buds to turn brown and fail to open. Some fungal diseases manifest as brown spots on leaves. Like many other plants, peonies can also get diseases like powdery mildew and root rot. Too much water can be at the root of many of these diseases, so adjust your watering routine as needed, taking recent rainfall and humidity into consideration. The best way to control these issues is to simply prune off and throw away (do not compost) infected flowers and leaves. In addition, keep the plants tidy, deadhead spent blooms, remove old growth at the end of the season, and make sure there is good air circulation around your plants.

Pests: You may find common garden pests like thrips, mealy bugs, and scale insects on your peonies, but these insects can be easily treated with pest control products. Watch out for stunted plant growth and yellowing, silvery, or chewed leaves and flowers. Ants are sometimes attracted to peony blooms, but they will not harm the plants. In fact, ants can help protect your peony flowers from scale insects and aphids. Just remember to gently shake out flowers before bringing them inside. (Contrary to the old wives' tale, peonies do not need ants in order to bloom!)

Drooping stems and flowers: Herbaceous and tree peony blooms can grow to be large and heavy, and stems are prone to flopping over after it rains. The best solution for herbaceous peonies is to place a peony cage (imagine metal supports with rings for the flowers to grow up through) over each plant in the spring before the leaves start to emerge. This is much more efficient than trying to support each individual flower stem, and more attractive than tying a piece of twine around the whole plant and cinching it like a belt. Tree peonies can be staked with a single stake. Drive the stake into the ground next to the stem and tie the plant loosely to the stake with a piece of twine.

Cutting Peony Flowers for Bouquets

Timing is key. Buds should be at the "soft marshmallow" stage, meaning if you squeeze an unopened bud, it should feel about as firm as a soft marshmallow. Another way to tell when to cut is to look at the coloring on the buds. Most of the outside of the bud should be green, but you should be able to see about 1/2 inch of colorful petals peeking through. Cutting at this stage reduces the chance of bringing ants inside with the flowers, but it's still wise to check the flowers before taking them into the house. Place stems in a vase of water and allow flowers to open. Change the water every few days, and add Miracle-Gro® for Fresh Cut Flowers so the blooms will last longer (vs. water only).

Ready to start growing peonies? Click on any of the product links above for more information, to purchase the product online, or to find a retailer near you.