How To Grow A Peony That Lasts 70 Years
Peonies are gorgeous perennials that can bloom for decades. They can last for nearly 100 years, if properly cared for. Growing peony plants is easy and pays huge dividends. Their beautiful, fragrant blooms can’t be beat and their glossy green foliage adds interest even after the spring display is done. Plus, deer don’t bother them! Read on to learn how to grow peonies that will last for generations.
Types Of Peony
Let’s talk about the different types of peonies: The most common type is the herbaceous garden peony. These are the pretty spring bloomers you see in most people’s gardens. But there are also fernleaf peonies, woodland peonies, tree peonies, and Itoh peonies which are a cross between tree and garden peonies. In this article, we’re going to focus on the common garden peony.
There are thousands of cultivars of garden peonies that grow in zones 3 through 9. They are split into five main flower types: single bloom, double bloom, semi-double bloom, anemone, and Japanese. They come in a variety of colors from blush to bright pink, white, peach, and red.
How To Plant A Peony
You can buy peonies as potted plants or tubers. Potted peonies do best when planted in fall, but you can plant them anytime during the growing season. However, you should only plant tubers in fall.
Choose a sunny spot with enough room for your peony to grow 3 to 4 feet (0.9-1.2 m.) wide and tall. Think hard about where you want to plant your peony, because once they’re in the ground they don’t like to be moved.
Add plenty of compost to the planting hole and don’t plant peonies too deep. Cover the crown of your plant or tuber with 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5 cm.) of soil. Planting too deep is one of the most common reasons why peonies won’t bloom.
How To Take Care Of Peonies
Fertilize peony plants for the first couple years in early spring or just after flowering. Older, established peonies don’t need much care. Just add a layer of compost and mulch around plants in spring, making sure not to pile the mulch around the stems. If blooms diminish, feed plants with a low nitrogen fertilizer or work bone meal into the soil around your plants once every 3 to 5 years.
Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!
Sign up for the Gardening Know How newsletter today and receive a free download of our DIY eBook "Bring Your Garden Indoors: 13 DIY Projects For Fall And Winter".
To grow bigger blooms, try disbudding your peonies. Simply pinch off the smaller side buds, leaving the main terminal flower bud. Disbudding will result in less blooms, but each flower will be bigger and better formed.
Flowers may be too heavy for peony stems to support, especially on double bloom varieties. You can stake peonies in spring before foliage leafs out. There are even metal stands made specifically for peonies. If you’re in a pinch, though, a tomato cage will do.
Peonies look just as good in a vase as they do in the garden. They make excellent cut flowers that last several days. Cut blooms just before they open. Gently squeeze buds to see if they are ready. They should feel like a marshmallow, with a little bit of give. Don’t take more than one-third of the flowers from a peony. This will keep your plant healthy and blooming well next year.
Cut back peonies in the fall to about 3 inches (7.5 cm.) high. Throw away any diseased foliage – don’t put it in your compost pile. Peonies are generally pest free, but they do occasionally suffer from powdery mildew later in the summer. They may also have trouble with botrytis blight which is caused by cool, wet weather. Water early in the day and maintain good airflow around plants to prevent problems.
Ever wonder why there are ants on your peonies? They love the sweet nectar the peony buds produce in spring. Many people believe the ants help the peonies bloom, but that’s actually a myth. Peonies can bloom all on their own!
Once peonies are established, they are very easy to care for. With just a little bit of work, your peonies will last for generations to come. What an amazing legacy to leave in your garden!
Laura Walters is a Content Editor who joined Gardening Know How in 2021. With a BFA in Electronic Media from the University of Cincinnati, a certificate in Writing for Television from UCLA, and a background in documentary filmmaking and local news, Laura loves providing gardeners with all the know how they need to succeed, in an easy and entertaining format. Laura lives in Southwest Ohio, where she's been gardening for ten years, and she spends her summers on a lake in Northern Michigan. It’s hard to leave her perennial garden at home, but she has a rustic (aka overcrowded) vegetable patch on a piece of land up north. She never thought when she was growing vegetables in her college dorm room, that one day she would get paid to read and write about her favorite hobby.
-
5 Plastic Products To Avoid In Your Garden – And How You Can Embrace Plastic Reduction
The less plastic we use, the healthier our planet will be. Here are some big plastic gardening products to avoid, plus some alternatives.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
8 Small Trees For Front Yards – Boost Curb Appeal Without Dominating The House
Discover the best small trees for front yards, which make an impact in multiple seasons without overshadowing the rest of the yard.
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
Time To Transplant Peonies: Why Fall Is The Best Time To Move Peonies, And How To Do It Right
If you want the healthiest peonies, replanting is a great way to boost longevity. Here’s why fall is the best time to move peonies, and how to transplant them correctly.
By Tonya Barnett
-
7 Hydrangea Care Mistakes To Avoid If You Want Stunning Blooms
Hydrangeas are heroes of the summer garden, but these common care errors will stunt plants' growth potential and result in poor flowering.
By Bonnie L. Grant
-
8 Fast-Growing Ground Cover Plants – Hide Bare Soil And Curb Weeds
Ground cover plants are the ideal solution to green up bare patches of soil. These fast-growing varieties will add a professional look to your landscaping design in no time.
By Bonnie L. Grant
-
Time For Peony Trimming: When To Cut Back Peonies For Longer Lasting Plants
You may love peonies, but do you know when to get busy with the snippers? Find out when to cut back peonies, as our expert advice points you in the right direction
By Tonya Barnett
-
6 Common Peony Diseases: How To Identify, Prevent & Treat Them
Peony diseases can ruin blooms and even be fatal to these typically long-lived plants. That’s why it’s important to learn how to identify, prevent, and treat problems before they cause lasting damage.
By Laura Walters
-
Types Of Peonies Every Gardener Should Know
Knowing the different types of peonies helps when you want your garden to include these fabulous plants. Showy and always impressive, peonies are an elegant addition.
By Bonnie L. Grant
-
Orchid Care: How To Grow Happy, Healthy Plants Indoors
Growing orchids as houseplants is such a rewarding hobby. Learn their unique care needs to keep plants thriving and bursting with flowers.
By Melanie Griffiths
-
What to Plant After Spring Bulbs Have Died Back – 8 Stunning Ideas
When spring bulbs die back they leave unwelcome gaps and fading foliage in their wake. But with some clever planting choices, this can be concealed. Discover the best options to take their place for beautiful beds all season long.
By Mary Ellen Ellis