The peony is outrageously beautiful in bloom from spring to summer—with lush foliage all summer long. Here’s how to grow peonies and get the best peony flowers in your garden.
The fattest and most scrumptious of all flowers, a rare fusion of fluff and majesty, the peony is now coming into bloom.
–Henry Mitchell, American writer (1923-93)
Peonies are perennials that come back every year to take your breath away. In fact, the plants may live longer than you do—some have been known to thrive for at least 100 years.
When Is Peony Season? When Do Peonies Bloom?
Peonies bloom from late spring through early summer, depending on your location and the variety of peony you’re growing.
Many nurseries offer early, midseason, and late blooming varieties, making it possible for you to stretch out the peony season over many weeks and enjoy those lovely blooms for as long as possible!
Peonies are hardy to Zone 3 and grow well as far south as Zones 7 and 8. In most of the U.S., the rules for success are simple: provide full sun and well-drained soil. Peonies even relish cold winters, because they need chilling for bud formation.
Types of Peony Flowers
There are six peony flower types to choose from: anemone, single, Japanese, semi-double, double, and bomb. Fragrances vary as well—some plants such as ‘Festiva Maxima’ and ‘Duchesse de Nemours’ have intoxicating rose-like scents while others are lemony or have no scent at all.
Where to Plant Peonies
Peonies make fine sentinels lining walkways or a lovely low hedge. After its stunning bloom, the peony’s bushy clump of handsome glossy green leaves lasts all summer, and then turns purplish-red or gold in the fall, as stately and dignified as any flowering shrub.
In mixed borders, peonies bloom with columbines, baptisias, and veronicas, and combine well with irises and roses. Plant white peonies with yellow irises and a froth of forget-me-nots; set off pink peonies with blue Nepeta or violets.
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Peony is Indiana State Flower
An extra information,
peony is toxic for humans and animals. So do not eat it.
Peony seeds from a flower
Hi,
I usually buy my peonies from the store to place it in a vase at home. I would love to plant my own peony bush, however I live in an apartment so It will have to be in a container. I do wonder if there are any seeds I can take from the flower its self or should i buy the bulbs during the fall. I am not sure what to do. My favorite flower.
Thanks in Advance.
mowing
when can you mow them down
Peonies in large container
I purchased a peony bush in a large 30gal container from Costco. Is it okay to leave it in the container all summer (watering it) so that I can wait until fall to plant it in the ground?
Peonies
Do peonies do well in containers? The article doesn't mention this. Thanks.
Peonies don’t bud anymore
Inherited a large pot of already established peony. The first couple of years I had it there were just a couple of buds/blooms. Two years ago there was one bud...flower never opened. Last year and this, not a bud in sight. The pot gets full sun here in northern CA. I added some good dirt and fertilizer which I incorporated as much as possible. All I get is a pot full of beautiful green leaves. Disappointed peony lover...HELP!
Japanese Peony
I have a Japanese Peony that I bought 20 years ago. It has grown to be a beautiful bush and each year produces big beautiful flowers, more with each year. Last year I was advised by our local nursery that it needed iron. I was told to apply it over the entire plant. I followed the directions carefully as I treasure this plant. After applying the iron the leaves started turning brown on the edges and they got very dry(crispy like) Now this year the plant is getting dry and the leaves are turning brown and "crispy edges" are developing. I don't know what to do at this pointe and don't want to loose this treasured plant. What could be happening? Should I cut it back to the ground? Leave it alone? Help
Over-fertilizing Peonies
Hi Sue,
It sounds like your peony has been over-fertilized with iron. Try heavily watering around the roots of the peony plant to help to remove or dilute any remaining iron in the soil. Cut back any of the brown/dying foliage. Please keep in mind that we are not experts on this type of plant, so it could be a good idea to check in with your local gardening extension or even the nursery who gave you the advice to apply iron in the first place. We hope this helps!
Peony's not blooming.
My peony's have been in the same place for 25 years! I should add my father got them from the Sharp Farm and brought them to me. He knew so much about everything any topic. They have always bloomed! Beautiful pink and white flowers. This year, I only have really nice green health bushes. Why didn't they bloom?
After the peonies blooms
After the peonies bloom and the stem is left. It looks like there are still seeds that want to bloom. (I know they are not) but is that a new bulb? Can I take that and plant it or dry it our so I can plant in the fall?
peony seed pods
Peonies do not produce bulbs, they produce seed pods. Removing them is advised, so the plant does not put energy into producing seeds—but apparently they can be planted, although it can take 3 to 5 years to get results and in what form is not clear because peonies grow from tubers, not seeds. It’s a bit of a mystery to this editor.
Peony that doesn't bloom
Moved the 11 plants to new house. that was 12 years ago. they bloomed beautifully. Except for this year. I lost one last year. I have lost 2, and am losing another this year. Two on the end of the row and another fourth from that end. they get 6 to 8 hours a day. We have chipmunks , voles, and moles. Do they bother the root system? I have noticed holes and tunnels in the area. How can I save my Peonies?
dying peonies
This is one for the experts. Check this page of the American Peony Society https://americanpeonysociety.org/learn/diseases-and-pests/
They may be better able to help you with a remedy, if there is one.
Spinlly peonys
I have planted several plants over the past three years. Why are they so tall and do not bloom well. A few here and there. What I would like is small plants that bloom at 12-18”. I have about 10 and they are all over the place. Help!!!
spindly peonies
Peonies don’t ask for much but they do demand sun. Full sun, the more, the better, not just a couple/few hours, a minimum of 6 houra but up to 8 hours of sun per day. Lack of adequate sunlight is the reason that most plants become spindly; they are reaching for the light.
The failure to bloom could also be because your tubers are too deep.
If you would like 12- to 18-inch plants, then find some that you like that will mature at that height. Peonies usually get higher than that. And check how much sun your preferred plants need and if you can not provide that much, don’t plant them.
Peonies
Can peonies be grown in a container on a terrace?
peonies in a container?
Sure, but it has to be a very large one (at least a foot deep), cover the with only 1 to 2 inches of soil (as you would inground), and water well and often, letting the soil get almost dry before watering again. Plan/be prepared to protect them from a deep winter freeze; plants in pots freeze differently than inground. Here is some guidance: https://www.almanac.com/extra/how-overwinter-your-plants-and-garden
Just a few flowers
For the last 2 years my peonies have only bloomed on one side of the plant. Buds begin to grow on one side but don’t develop. Does anyone have ideas?
bloom on one side
It is likely lack of sun on one side; are the blooms “facing” the sun?
Peonies
My peonies are the pink type, but every year the colour seems to get lighter and lighter. This year they are almost white. What can I do to get the colour back. Thanks
fading color
Peonies self-seed . multiply so it’s the new plants that blossom in a different shade, usually a paler hue than the parent.
Peonies Plants
It's mid June and someone gave me some peonies plants with tubers attached. The plant portion (the leaves) are drying out and appear to be dying. What should I do so that I can preserve the tuber to plant in the fall?
How do they grow?
It seems like my peonies send up their shoots in the spring (from eyes?) but there are no new leaf stalks put on for the whole season. How does that work?
Peony
I'm in this house ten years, each spring the big peony produces only one bud, what does it need to provide more blooms? Thanks.
what does it need to provide more blooms?
Sun.
Peonies
My peonies do not get buds at all. Healthyplant but no buds
Buds didn't open
I moved my peonies to a new house in September in zone 7. The soil is partly clay. They did well and bounced back quickly and put on lots of buds. Unfortunately, most of the buds didn't open. Did I plant too deeply? Should I try to lift them a little?
buds but no blooms
There are lots of reasons why peony buds do not bloom:
• they do not get enough sun; partial to heavy shade is not good
• they were damaged by cold temps in early spring or even a late freeze
• the plant could have Botrytis blight, aka gray mold, and the buds turn brown
• the move/transition could have affected them; give them a year or two to return to normal
Those are the most common reasons; yours might fit into the last one.
Peonies and late frost
Almost every spring we have a sudden late frost which kills the peony blooms. I have learned to cover them if I know it is coming. But it is heart breaking to see all those buds ready to open and then brown and dead after the unexpected temperature drop.
bitten by frost
Sorry to read this news. Next time, try to cover them, keeping the cover from touching buds.
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