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Peonies are long-lived, easy-care, colorful spring-blooming perennials.
In this article:
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!
There are four main types of peonies. They are, in order of bloom time: woodland peonies, tree peonies, herbaceous peonies, and intersectional peonies.
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.
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.
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:
Planting Bare Root Woodland, Itoh, or Herbaceous Peonies:
Planting Tree 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.
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:
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:
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.
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.