If you want a garden filled with breathtaking blooms, learning how to care for peony is your first step. These classic perennials are surprisingly tough once established, and with a few key practices, they will reward you with spectacular flowers for decades.
Getting the basics right from the start makes all the difference. Peonies thrive on proper planting, sensible feeding, and a little seasonal attention. This guide walks you through everything you need to know, from selecting your plant to cutting those gorgeous flowers for a vase.
How to Care for Peony
Success with peonies begins long before the first bloom appears. It starts with understanding their simple, non-negotiable needs. Think of it as setting a strong foundation for a lifetime of beauty.
Choosing the Right Peony and Planting Location
You have two main choices: herbaceous peonies that die back to the ground in fall, and tree peonies that have a woody structure. For most gardeners, herbaceous types are the most common. Your first critical decision is where to plant them.
Peonies need sunlight to flower well. Aim for a spot that gets at least 6 hours of direct sun each day. In very hot climates, a bit of afternoon shade can prevent the flowers from fading to quickly. Good air circulation around the plants helps prevent fungal diseases.
The soil is equally important. Peonies demand well-drained soil. They simply will not tolerate sitting in soggy, waterlogged ground, as this causes the roots to rot. If you have heavy clay soil, you will need to amend it.
* For clay soil: Mix in plenty of compost, well-rotted manure, or coarse sand to improve drainage.
* For sandy soil: Add organic matter like compost to help it retain moisture and nutrients.
* The ideal: A fertile, loamy soil that is slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.5-7.0).
The Crucial Planting Process
Planting a peony correctly is the single most important thing you will do. A common mistake is planting them to deep, which is the main reason a peony fails to bloom. Follow these steps for success.
1. Timing is Key: The best time to plant bare-root peonies is in the fall, ideally about 6 weeks before the ground freezes. This allows the roots to establish before winter. You can also plant potted peonies in the spring.
2. Dig a Generous Hole: Prepare a hole that is about 2 feet wide and 1 foot deep. This loosens the soil for the roots to expand easily.
3. Amend the Soil: Mix the excavated soil with a few shovelfuls of compost or a balanced, slow-release fertilizer.
4. Position the Root: For herbaceous peonies, place the root so the “eyes” (those small pink or red buds on the crown) are no more than 1-2 inches below the soil surface. In colder zones (1-4), you can go to 2 inches. In warmer zones (7-8), just 1 inch below is often best. Tree peony grafts should be planted 4-6 inches below the surface.
5. Backfill and Water: Fill the hole, gently firming the soil around the roots. Water thoroughly to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets.
Watering and Feeding Your Peonies
Peonies are not thirsty plants, but they do need consistent moisture, especially in their first year and during dry spells in the spring. A deep watering once a week is better than frequent light sprinklings. The goal is to encourage deep root growth.
When it comes to food, less is more. Over-fertilizing, especially with high-nitrogen fertilizers, will give you lots of leaves and few flowers. A simple annual feeding is sufficient.
* Best Time to Fertilize: Apply a low-nitrogen, balanced fertilizer (like a 5-10-10 formula) or a layer of compost around the plant in early spring, just as the red shoots begin to emerge. Scratch it gently into the soil surface.
* Avoid: Do not fertilize after mid-summer, as this can interfear with the plant’s natural hardening-off process for winter.
Staking and Support is Essential
Those large, lush peony flowers are heavy, especially after a rain. Without support, your beautiful blooms will end up face-down in the mud. It’s best to install supports early in the season.
Use a peony ring or grid-style support. Place it over the plant when the stems are about 6-10 inches tall. As the plant grows through the grid, it will become completely supported but remain invisible. This simple step saves your flowers and keeps the plant looking tidy.
Pruning and Deadheading for Health
Regular deadheading improves the plant’s appearance and directs energy back into the roots instead of seed production. After a bloom fades, cut the spent flower stem back to just above a strong set of leaves.
In the fall, after the first hard frost has blackened the foliage of herbaceous peonies, cut the stems all the way down to ground level. Remove and discard this foliage (do not compost it) to help prevent any overwintering disease spores. Tree peonies only require light shaping or removal of dead wood in spring.
Managing Common Peony Problems
Peonies are largely pest-resistant, thanks to their toxicity. Deer and rabbits usually leave them alone. However, they can be prone to a couple of fungal issues.
Botrytis Blight appears as wilting stems, gray mold, or blackened buds. Powdery Mildew shows as a white coating on leaves later in summer. Prevention is your best strategy.
* Ensure good air circulation.
* Avoid overhead watering.
* Clean up all foliage in the fall.
* If problems persist, a fungicide labeled for these diseases can be used in early spring.
A unique issue is ants on peonies. They are attracted to the sweet nectar on the flower buds but do not harm the plant. They may even help by fending off other insect pests. There is no need to remove them; they will leave once the flowers open.
Dividing and Transplanting Peonies
Peonies can live for over 50 years without being disturbed. However, if a clump becomes to large or stops blooming well, you can divide it. The process is straightforward but requires careful timing.
The only time to divide peonies is in the fall. Carefully dig up the entire root clump. Gently wash off the soil so you can see the eyes. Using a sharp, clean knife, cut the clump into sections, making sure each division has at least 3-5 healthy eyes and a good portion of root. Replant immediately following the planting instructions above.
Cutting Peonies for Bouquets
To enjoy peonies indoors, cut the stems when the buds are soft, showing color, and feel like a marshmallow—this is the “marshmallow stage.” Cut in the morning, choosing stems with buds that are just beginning to open. Immediately place them in lukewarm water. To encourage tight buds to open, place the vase in a warm room. Changing the water every other day will extend their vase life.
Seasonal Care Checklist
* Spring: Apply light fertilizer. Install supports. Watch for shoots and water if dry.
* Summer: Deadhead spent blooms. Enjoy the flowers! Ensure weekly watering during droughts.
* Fall: Cut back herbaceous peony foliage to the ground and remove it. This is the time to plant or divide peonies.
* Winter: No special care is needed. Peonies require a period of winter chill to bloom, so they are well-adapted to cold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my peony not blooming?
The most common cause is planting too deep. The eyes should be no deeper than 2 inches. Other reasons include too much shade, overcrowding, or a recent division that needs time to establish. Excess nitrogen fertilizer can also promote leaves over flowers.
When is the best time to move a peony?
Fall is the absolute best time, once the foliage has died back. This minimizes shock and gives the roots time to settle before the next growing season.
How long do peony plants live?
With proper care, a peony plant can easily live for 50 years or more, often becoming a cherished family heirloom passed down through generations.
Should I worry about ants on my peonies?
No, ants are harmless visitors. They are attracted to the buds’ nectar and do not hurt the plant or cause it to open. You can gently shake them off before bringing cut flowers inside.
Can I grow peonies in pots?
Yes, but choose a large, deep pot with excellent drainage. Use a high-quality potting mix and be vigilant about watering, as pots dry out faster. A smaller or dwarf variety is often a better choice for container growing. They will need more frequent feeding and may need to be divided sooner than in-ground plants.
Caring for peonies is a lesson in patience and simple, consistent gardening. By providing them with sun, well-drained soil, a proper planting depth, and basic seasonal maintenance, you set the stage for a lifetime of reliable, jaw-dropping blooms. These resilient plants ask for little but give back an extraordinary amount of beauty, making them a cornerstone of any classic garden.