Peony Care Guide: How to Grow Peonies in Your Garden

Peonies (Paeonia) are large, fluffy flowers with many petals. These highly fragrant flowers have been cultivated for almost 2,000 years, and they come in shades of red, pink, coral, white, and yellow. Peonies are perennials that grow back in spring year after year—some peony plants can live up to 50 years.

Peonies can be grown as bushes, trees, or a hybrid of the two. All three types of peonies produce beautiful blooms, but there are differences in size:

1. 1. Herbaceous peonies: These peony bushes can grow one to three feet tall.
2. 2. Tree peonies: Tree peonies can grow four to seven feet tall.
3. 3. Itoh peonies: Named after Japanese peony breeder Toichi Itoh, these peonies are a hybrid of bush and tree peonies and can grow one to three feet tall.

Peonies come in hundreds of varieties, many of which have been bred to bloom at specific times of year. The most popular varieties include:

1. 1. Paeonia lactiflora: Also known as Chinese peony, this herbaceous variety blooms in early spring to late summer with double petals in colors of yellow, white, pink, or red.
2. 2. Festiva Maxima: This white peony contains striking streaks of red throughout. It blooms in mid-to-late spring.
3. 3. Coral Charm: This herbaceous peony has coral-peach semi-double petals. It blooms from mid-spring to early summer.
4. 4. Sarah Bernhardt: This herbaceous peony, named after the French actress, comes with double blooms in shades of pink. It blooms in late spring and early summer.
5. 5. Karl Rosenfield: Cultivated by breeder John Rosenfield and named after his son, this peony flower comes in a cherry-red color and has double petals. It blooms in late spring and early summer.
6. 6. Bowl of Beauty: A single-petal variety, this pink peony has a center with coiled yellow stamens that resemble a sea anemone. It blooms in late spring and early summer.
7. 7. Bartzella: This pastel yellow Itoh peony comes in semi-double or double petal varieties. It is a late spring bloomer.

Peonies originated in temperate regions, so they are hardy to cold weather, though they grow best in full sun. Follow these steps to add peonies to your home garden:

1. 1. Start with bare peony roots. Peonies are easier to grow from root cuttings than seeds. Look for bare-root peonies at your local garden center.
2. 2. Plant in the fall. Plant the bare root in the fall before the first frost so the peonies have time to take root. Know that herbaceous peonies will not bloom the first year they’re planted, and tree peonies can take three years to bloom.
3. 3. Choose the right planting area. Identify a sunny spot with fertile soil and good drainage. Take care when choosing where to plant your peonies because they’re difficult to move once they’ve rooted. Peonies make excellent border plants along garden beds because of their thick green foliage and height.
4. 4. Give your peony root cuttings enough space. If you are planting multiple peony roots, space them three to four feet apart. Trees will need more space—typically four to five feet. Plant peonies eight to 10 feet away from large trees or bushes, otherwise they will compete with those roots for water and nutrients. If planting an herbaceous variety, bury the root cutting half an inch to two inches below ground level. Bury tree peony root cuttings in a planting hole four to six inches below the soil surface. Ensure that any buds (or eyes) on the bare root are pointed upward.
5. 5. Add nutrients to the soil. If your soil needs more nutrients, mix a four-inch layer of organic matter, such as compost or manure, into the soil before planting. After planting, add a top layer of mulch, such as pine bark, to preserve soil moisture.
6. 6. Apply water directly to the root of the plant. Once your plant has begun to grow in the spring, it will only need to be watered once a week—and less if there’s plenty of rain. Water peonies more frequently during the summer, typically giving your plants around one inch of water per week.
7. 7. Add fertilizer. Once peonies take root and begin to grow leaves, they don’t need much tending. You can feed them a low-nitrogen fertilizer first when the new growth is two to three inches tall, and again halfway through their growing season.
8. 8. Support peonies with stakes. Like tomatoes, peonies may need to be staked because the blooms can get quite heavy. Keep an eye on your peonies, and if you notice some of your flowers drooping, especially after a rainstorm, attach them to a stake or hoop.
9. 9. Trim the peonies. Unlike roses, peony plants will grow bushy without pruning. If you want bigger blooms, you can trim the peony buds that grow at the base of the terminal bud. In autumn, after the plant has finished blooming, trim herbaceous peonies all the way to the ground. Trim the leaves on tree peonies. You do not need to water peonies when they are dormant for the winter. They’ll regrow their foliage the following spring.
10. 10. Provide good air circulation. Overcrowded peonies are vulnerable to botrytis blight and other fungal diseases. If your peonies get a fungal problem, trim back their leaves so that the plants don’t touch each other and trim away the diseased part so it doesn’t infect the rest of the plant.

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