As spring fades into summer, peonies put on one of the garden's most spectacular displays. Their sumptuous, often fragrant blooms rise above lush foliage, stopping visitors in their tracks. The showiest doubles resemble frothy desserts, with names to match, including 'Peaches and Cream', 'Raspberry Sundae', and 'Pink Parfait'. It's little wonder so many gardeners choose to grow peonies, whether in cottage gardens, mixed borders, or cutting gardens.

But June marks a turning point. As petals begin to fall and the flowering season draws to a close, many gardeners assume their peonies no longer need attention. In fact, knowing what to do with peonies in June can make all the difference to next year's display, helping plants stay healthy, build energy reserves, and produce even more blooms.

The good news is that peonies require very little fuss. A few simple jobs now will help prevent disease, support strong growth, and set the stage for an even more spectacular show next spring.

1. Deadhead Spent Blooms

One of the most important jobs this month is to deadhead peonies as soon as the flowers begin to fade. Removing spent blooms stops the plant from putting energy into seed production and helps keep borders looking neat and attractive.

Using clean secateurs, such as the Fiskars Bypass Pruning Shears, available from Amazon, cut each flower stem back to the first strong leaf below the bloom. The sharp bypass blades make clean, precise cuts through soft stems, helping to minimise damage to the plant. Be careful not to remove too much healthy foliage, as the leaves will continue to photosynthesize and store energy for next year's flowers throughout summer.

Not only does deadheading improve the plant's appearance, but it can also help reduce the risk of fungal problems developing on fallen or decaying petals, particularly during warm, humid weather.

2. Leave the Foliage in Place

One of the biggest peony pruning mistakes gardeners make is cutting plants back too early after flowering. While the blooms may be gone, the foliage is still working hard, absorbing sunlight and storing energy in the roots to fuel next year's display.

Healthy leaves are essential for strong flower production the following season, so resist the urge to tidy up too aggressively. Removing foliage in June can weaken the plant and potentially reduce the number of blooms it produces next spring.

Instead, leave the foliage intact throughout summer and only cut herbaceous peonies back in fall, once the leaves have naturally yellowed and begun to die back. Not only will this help your plants build up energy reserves, but the lush green foliage can continue to provide structure and interest in the border for months after flowering has finished.

3. Water During Dry Spells

Established peonies are relatively drought-tolerant, but prolonged dry weather can leave plants stressed and less vigorous. If rainfall is lacking, give them a deep soak every week or two rather than frequent light watering, which encourages shallow roots. Water at the base of the plant wherever possible to keep foliage dry and reduce the risk of disease.

This is especially important in the weeks after flowering, when peonies are storing energy for next year's blooms. In my own garden, I use the Eden 96213 Essential Turbo Oscillating Water Sprinkler from Amazon to give borders and edges a thorough soak during dry spells. Just be sure to keep an eye on any hosepipe or watering restrictions in your area over summer, as these can come into force during periods of prolonged hot, dry weather.

4. Feed if Necessary

Peonies are not heavy feeders, but if you want to fertilize peonies after flowering, a light application of fertiliser can support healthy root development and help plants build up energy for next year's blooms. This is particularly beneficial for peonies growing in poor soils or borders that haven't been improved with organic matter in recent years.

When choosing the best fertilizer for peonies, avoid high-nitrogen products, which encourage lush foliage at the expense of flowers. Instead, opt for a balanced fertiliser or one slightly higher in phosphorus and potassium to support root growth and bud formation.

Good options include Espoma Plant Food from Ace Hardware and Miracle-Gro Shake 'N Feed Flowering Plant Food from Amazon, both of which are formulated to encourage strong flowering plants.

Apply fertilizer sparingly around the root zone and water it in well. A little goes a long way, and overfeeding is far more likely to cause problems than underfeeding.

5. Check Plant Supports

Many peonies, particularly large double-flowered varieties, can flop under the weight of their blooms, especially after heavy rain. If you've been wondering how to support peonies more effectively, June is the perfect time to assess what worked and what didn't during this year's flowering season.

If stems have collapsed or splayed outwards, make a note to support peonies earlier next year. Simple bamboo stakes and garden twine can work well, but for a neater, more polished look, peony rings or plant frames are often the better option.

In my own garden, I use Peony Plant Support Rings and Peony Plant Cages, both of which are sturdy, easy to install, and help keep heavy blooms upright without drawing attention to the support itself. Installing supports before new growth emerges in spring allows stems to grow through naturally, helping plants stay upright throughout the flowering season.

6. Watch for Signs of Disease

June is an ideal time to inspect plants for common peony pests before they have a chance to spread. While peonies are generally low-maintenance, they can occasionally suffer from issues such as blackened stems, leaf spots, grey mould, or infestations of sap-sucking insects such as aphids, particularly during periods of warm, wet weather.

Remove any affected flowers, leaves, or stems promptly and dispose of them in household waste rather than adding them to the compost heap. Good air circulation around plants can also help prevent fungal diseases from taking hold, so avoid overcrowding and keep surrounding vegetation in check.

If aphids become a problem, a ready-to-use treatment such as Safer Brand Insect Killing Soap can help control populations without leaving long-lasting residues on plants. Catching peony pests and problems early will help keep plants healthy through summer and ensure they're in the best possible shape for next year's display.

7. Enjoy the Seed Heads and Foliage

Once the flowers have faded, peonies still have plenty to offer. Many peony varieties develop attractive seed pods that bring shape and structure to borders through summer, while the foliage stays fresh and green for months before taking on beautiful shades of red and bronze in autumn.

It's easy to think the show is over once the blooms are gone, but that's far from the case. The seed heads have a sculptural quality of their own, and the foliage continues to provide a handsome backdrop for surrounding plants. Left undisturbed, peonies remain an attractive feature in the garden well beyond their flowering season.

Shop Peony Care for June

Peonies may be remarkably low-maintenance, but a little attention in June can make all the difference to next year's display. By deadheading spent blooms, keeping foliage healthy, watering during dry spells, and watching for pests and disease, you'll help plants build the energy reserves they need for a stronger return.

Put in the effort now, and your peonies will reward you with even bigger, more beautiful blooms next spring.

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April is when peonies come back to life. Peonies are my favorite flower – I look forward to them every year, and they hold a special place in my heart as the first bouquet my partner ever bought me.

It’s a short but crucial window: what you do now will shape how well your peonies bloom in the weeks ahead. If you want to grow peonies successfully, it helps to know exactly what to do in April.

This guide focuses on herbaceous peonies, the most common type in American gardens, which die back each winter and return ready to burst into life. By following a few simple steps now, you’ll support healthy growth and set your plants up for abundant, beautiful blooms.

1. Clear Away Winter Debris

Start by giving your peonies a gentle tidy. Brush away any old leaves, leftover mulch, or debris from around the base so the new shoots get plenty of light and air. This simple step not only helps your plants breathe, but it also reduces the risk of fungal problems later on. While you’re at it, pull out any early weeds – peonies don’t like competing for nutrients, especially when they’re just getting started.

'Early spring is the perfect time to clear the base of your peonies,' says Rachel Bull, Head of Gardens at Homes & Gardens. 'It gives the shoots space to grow and sets them up for a healthy, flowering season. Knowing when to plant peonies – or how to care for them in April – really makes a difference to the blooms you’ll enjoy later.'

2. Feed for Stronger Blooms

One of the best things you can do in April is fertilize peonies. Timing is key – apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or a layer of compost just as shoots start pushing through the soil. Keep it away from the crown, and you’ll give your plants a boost that leads to bigger buds, stronger stems, and those lush, iconic blooms.

If you want to make it even easier, try a product like Espoma Flower-Tone All-Purpose Fertilizer for a tried-and-true option, or Miracle-Gro Shake ‘N Feed Flowering Plant Food, both from Amazon, for a quick, low-fuss feed.

For gardeners who love a more organic approach, a generous layer of Back to Roots Organic Compost around the base can give your peonies a slow, steady supply of nutrients while enriching the soil for the season ahead.

3. Add Supports Early

Renowned for their generous, bouncy blooms, many peony varieties can quickly become top-heavy without the right support. Knowing how to support peonies is key at this stage, as staking in April helps keep stems upright and ensures the flowers are shown off to their full, elegant effect.

Thankfully, there are a few good options to help. Simple bamboo stakes with garden twine work well, or for a cleaner, more polished look, peony rings or plant frames do the trick. In my own garden, I love using these top-rated Peony Plant Support Rings and Peony Plant Cages – both sturdy and easy to set up.

4. Water Consistently, but Don’t Overdo It

Peonies like a steady level of moisture as they start to grow, but they won’t tolerate soggy soil. If April is dry, give them a good soak now and then rather than little and often.

If it’s been wet, you can largely leave them to it – good drainage matters more than anything.

5. Mulch Lightly (And Carefully)

A light mulch can help hold moisture and keep weeds down, but less is more here. Keep it clear of the crown to avoid trapping moisture where it shouldn’t be. Think of it as a supporting layer, not something to pile on.

The best types of mulch for peonies are compost, leaf mold, straw, or natural wood mulch, such as this organic dye-free premium mulch available at Amazon.

If you want to mulch on a budget, there are several types of mulch you can source for free, including leaves, homemade compost, and wood chips.

6. Keep an Eye on Buds and Pests

By mid to late April, you’ll usually see buds beginning to form, and that’s your signal to keep a closer eye on peony pests and problems. Take a moment to check for aphids or any early signs of disease, especially if the weather turns damp. Catching problems early is often all it takes to keep your peonies healthy and on track.

If you do spot pests, a gentle solution like Safer Brand Insect Killing Soap can quickly bring things back under control without disrupting the plant’s growth.

Shop Peony Plant Care for April

Peonies aren’t demanding plants, but April is when a bit of attention really pays off. Get the basics right now, and you’ll be rewarded with stronger stems, better blooms, and a display that only improves with time.

Nancy Meyers may be a filmmaker by trade, but her influence on interiors is not to be understated. The acclaimed rom-com director has developed a cult following surrounding the cozy and chic homes she features in her movies. This has translated into many keeping a watchful eye on her own home design via her Instagram page (ok, we are guilty as well).

Her latest Instagram has given us some floral inspiration, with a beautiful arrangement of pink peonies on display (she gets hers specifically from Trader Joe's, FYI). With voluminous petals and a vibrant hue, we are eager to recreate this bouquet in our own homes.

Peonies are popular petals for a reason; as evident in Meyers' photo, they are simply breathtaking yet demure flowers, that look beautiful in practically any room, from the living space to the kitchen. However, experts say that there is a tight window that peonies thrive in.

'Gardeners and homeowners adore large, fragrant peony blooms, and it is easy to see why,' Gardens Content Editor at Homes & Gardens, Thom Rutter states. 'Whether grown in the yard or placed in a vase, these romantic flowers cannot be ignored. Peony season is, however, sadly coming to an end. Peony growers in the US and Europe have revealed to Homes & Gardens that high rainfall this year will mean that the plentiful supply of homegrown peonies will soon be coming to an end. For this reason, peony fans should enjoy these cut flowers now while they are available. '

For the fresh, fully-bloomed appearance, Rutter recommends some easy-to-follow prep and maintenance tips.

'When considering how to keep flowers fresh in a vase, it is always best to change the water every 3 days, refilling your vase with fresh, lukewarm water,' he states. 'This simple step can help to improve the longevity of your peony flowers, extending their vase life by up to a week.'

Placement is also crucial to peonies' survival in the home; particularly for those with big windows, or anyone who lives in a warm and sunny climate.

'I would also suggest keeping cut flower vases away from direct sunlight or warm rooms,' Rutter says. 'Placing your vase in a cool, partially shaded spot, on the kitchen table perhaps, can also help to keep them looking good for longer.'

The season's most coveted table accessory is, once again, fresh-cut flowers. And can you blame us for loving it? Blooms make for stunning decor on both indoor and outdoor dining tables, bringing a burst of color, fragrance, and texture to gathering spaces.

Martha Stewart is giving us some inspiration with a recent Instagram post featuring pretty pink peonies in a glass vase accompanying a delicious-looking breakfast.

'I hosted a lovely late spring business breakfast and garden tour at my farm – homegrown strawberries just picked from the patch, freshly cut peonies, and a stroll through my productive half-acre vegetable garden,' Stewart states in the caption. The set-up is an early summer postcard – complete with everything we could ever want from an al-fresco farmhouse breakfast. However, we admit that her peonies take center stage.

While Stewart's trimmed peonies are certainly showstoppers, they also require thoughtful maintenance to remain that way. Luckily, we got some tips from an expert on how to achieve lasting blooms. First up: consider these flowers as perishable as fresh food, and store accordingly.

'Peony season is short and sweet, but you can preserve your unbloomed peonies by wrapping them in plastic wrap and placing them in the fridge,' says Interflora's bouquet design manager, Vicky Wilson. 'They can stay there for up to 1 month to bloom at a later date when you're ready to put them on show!'

Once ready to display, Wilson suggests putting the peonies in a clean vase, like Stewart's and ensuring to take care while taking the flowers out of their packaging as they are super delicate.

'Cut the stems by 3-4cm and trim any leaves that may fall into the water which will help bacteria spread to your peonies,' she states. 'To give your beautiful peonies the best chance to thrive you need to place them out of the way of direct sunlight and any drafts. Peonies are thirsty flowers so remember to top up their water every day and change the water completely every other day.'

Alternatively, peonies can be dried and used as accessories in the home (or even crafted into a wreath).

'Air dry your peonies by cutting 6 inches from the stem and removing any leaves,' Wilson suggests. 'Attach a rubber band around each stem or bunch and hang the flowers upside down. Allow room between the flowers so they can dry out evenly. Make sure they are stored in a cool and dry place with no sunlight for 2-3 weeks.'

Peony growers are predicting the season for this popular cut flower will be shorter than usual, owing to persistent and heavy rainfall.

Growers in both the US and in Europe say high moisture levels have forced them to end peony season early, and with more rain forecast there is considerable uncertainty about the availability of peonies in the coming weeks.

Excess moisture will also prevent them from cutting and storing these blooms - which is a method often used by growers and wholesalers to extend the season by several weeks.

Kady Adelman, retail manager for Adelman Peony Gardens in Salem, Oregon, says their farm is now past peak bloom season. ‘We have been hit with heavy rain, which has forced us to finish cutting flowers,' she explains.

Kady also says excess moisture has impacted quality, and will prevent them from storing stems for longer. 'As the flowers get water trapped in the petals we have a hard time getting them dried out, and they are more likely to rot in storage with the wet petals.'

Excess rain can also affect the growth of these flowers. 'Peonies really don’t like their roots be too wet,' says Kady. For optimum growth and flower development, peonies like to sit in well drained soil, which isn't too heavy or water logged.

The impact of temperature shifts on peony development

It isn't only rainfall and that can have an impact on peony season - warmer-than-average temperatures also play a part in how these herbaceous perennials develop, too.

'We thought our season would be a little behind this year because we had colder, early spring weather, then it turned warm really quickly,' says Kady, explaining that as a result some flowers were smaller sized because they didn’t get as much time to grow in bud before they bloomed.

Katy King, of Hidden Springs Flower Farm in York, Pennsylvania, says they experienced a warmer spring, which brought the season forward.

'I felt that this years' peony crop was about a week earlier than expected,' says Katy. 'We had a stretch of really warm weather that pushed them to open early, so rather than mid-to-late May they bloomed early-to-mid.'

'The weather is always challenging, although it is something out of our control and we just have to work with it,' adds Kady Adelman.

If you want to understand more about how to care and better protect peonies in your own yard, you can have a look at our expert guides on how to support peonies from flopping over, and the benefits of deadheading peonies.

When it comes to popular spring flowers, peonies reign supreme. We often see these glorious blooms popping up in vases on dining room tables, freshly cut, but they are also a great variety to grow in a garden. What's more? There's lots of variety within the peony family.

Case in point: Christie Brinkley's magnificent Chinese Tree peonies. The supermodel and home gardener posted a photo of her giant, white flower with voluminous petals.

'’I'm always surprised by the size of my Chinese Tree Peonies!' Brinkley states in the caption. 'They say they are “dinner plate” size, but mine look more like an entire serving platter!'

Slightly less common than peonies we typically see, tree peonies are floral showstoppers yet retain the delicate and feminine nature that is common in the flower family.

'Tree peonies, Paeonia suffruticosa, are the larger cousins of the better-known herbaceous peonies that many gardeners grow,' says Gardens Content Editor at Homes & Gardens, Thom Rutter. 'As Christine Brinkley shows, tree peonies can grow to quite a size, with some varieties and species producing blooms that are comparable to dinner plates!'

Not only do these blooms come in a variety of options, but they also come with some classic garden companions.

'Tree peonies can be found in a range of colors, such as pale yellow, as Christine Brinkley grows, to pale pinks or deep, rich reds,' Rutter explains. 'Christine's tree peony, as can be seen in the images here, has pollinator-friendly blooms, with large, open flowers attracting bees, butterflies and birds. Indeed, these nectar-rich blooms are popular plants for pollinators, and if you are keen to add shrubs that will encourage wildlife, tree peonies are a good option.'

As with any flower, there are some key rules to follow when it comes to care and maintenance, so the peonies reach their (very) full potential.

'When considering how to grow a tree peony, these plants should be thought of as shrubs rather than trees, growing to a height of 4 to 6 feet,' he explains. 'Plant these shrubs towards the back of the garden border in a sunny spot with well-draining soil, and before too long, you will be spoilt for romantic blooms.'

Peony bulbs are available to shop below.

They are a heavenly yet fleeting sight in the garden, and one we anticipate for months. If you love peonies as much as I do, you will want to encourage their blooms to radiate through the garden for as long as possible.

Herbaceous peonies can grow to be very large shrubs, and when in full bloom often succumb to falling over owing to the weight of their huge heads. I see it all too often in front yards - glorious peony plants covered in tight buds and full of promise, only to bloom then flop and lose all their petals during a heavy shower; their floral show cut short for the season.

I have grown peonies for many years, both in my cut flower beds and in containers, and once these plants get to a certain size, they need protecting from pests and problems. I know how important it is to ensure they are adequately supported and protected from adverse wind and rain when they begin to bloom. Here, I share everything I’ve learned about how to support peonies, and the best tools for the job.

How to support peonies: 7 expert ways to stop them from flopping

It’s useful to think about peony supports before your plants go in or begin to grow again. Take care not to damage the stems or the crown, and also ensure they are not bound too tightly, as they will require room to grow and airflow between the stems and heads.

Even if you’ve never added peony supports before, or your plants are already fully grown, there will be a method below that suits your yard and the way you like to garden.

Create support using a peony cage

These pieces of garden kit are genius. I wouldn't be without my peony cages for the larger of my herbaceous shrubs. There are different models to choose from, but all have the same effect.

The metal cages are on long legs and usually come in two parts, which are hooked together once in the ground to create a simple, strong frame to support your peony stems and stop them from falling sideways. A great feature of this kind of design is that you can easily hook together more than two semi-circular frames if you have a larger plant to support. You can simply place them around the shrub and hook as you go to create a larger-sized frame.

You can also use these frames to support tomato plants, roses, and even large indoor plants, so once peony season is over these cage supports will still come in very handy.

In my experience, they usually become invisible once my plants have grown to size. They are made from metal, however, so if you want a more natural, rustic look, another one of these ideas below might be better suited to you.

Give each stem an individual support using stakes

If you have peonies with particularly large and heavy heads, you might want to stake each of them individually. This may also be a useful technique if your plants have already succumbed to adverse weather and are looking very floppy.

Simply take wooded garden stakes - these bamboo canes from Amazon are ideal - or thin branches you have previously cut from the garden. Place them an inch from the base of each stem and secure in place using garden twine, like this natural jute twine from Walmart. I usually tie in two places, one towards the base of the stem and another higher up. Leave a little room for the stem to grow, and take care not to crush any foliage. This method also works very well if you're growing peonies in containers.

I use natural twine over plastic ties with my plants because it is softer on the stems, is biodegradable, and can easily be reused in the future.

Encase peonies in a natural cage made from canes

If you love the natural look, you can create your own plant cage using canes cut from your own garden. Hazel, dogwood or willow would work very well, as these woods are durable and flexible.

The idea is to cross them over, placing each end securely into the ground to create a natural cage support. You can weave them through each other, or add a few ties using jute twine to hold it in place.

Add several taller branches at the top to give height to the cage and allow it to support your peonies as they get bigger.

Corral peonies using twine and stakes

If you have very large peony shrubs that haven't grown up through a support cage, a quick and inexpensive fix is to corral the entire plant using canes or metal rods and several rows of jute twine or thin garden netting to encase your peonies securely.

Simply place your canes or rods around the perimeter of the plant, and then surround the stems with two or three rows of twine. You could also use velcro plant tape, available from Amazon for the job.

Add a plant grid

Another way I sometimes see peonies growing is through a metal grid. I see flower farmers using this technique more often, when growing on a larger scale. It works really well, but isn't the prettiest option for your own backyard.

You can get smaller grow-through hoops, such as this one from Amazon, and much larger geometric grids. These are placed on stakes over young plants, to allow the peonies to grow through the grid. Once they are mature, the grids become hard to see, but they are pretty visible otherwise.

You can create a version of this with netting too, using trellis netting, such as this from Amazon. It's a cheaper option, and the netting would certainly come in useful for many other plants, especially if you grow vegetables.

Use metal coat hangers for a DIY fix

For a cheap and cheerful DIY fix, you can take two metal coat hangers from the closet - the kind you often get when you pick up your clothes from the drycleaners.

Open them up and bend the tips so that you have a little hook on each end. Then all you do is wrap the coat hanger wire around the entire plant and secure by hooking the ends together.

Coat hanger wire is super strong and durable enough to support heavy plants, with the added bonus of being a free option.

Find a plant collar to support your plants

It might seem like a more drastic option, but by encasing your entire peony shrub in a protective grid or collar is a fail safe way to prevent it from falling over.

You can create your own, bespoke sized cage using a set like this from Walmart, with wire mesh and cable ties. It would definitely support your plants, but is a more obvious, and less natural choice for your backyard.

The right peony care is vital to getting the absolute most out of these bombastic blooms. You can discover how to fertilize peonies and how to avoid these peony pruning mistakes in our guides to guarantee amazing blooms every year.

Peony blooms in our yards and gardens are a glorious, uplifting sight. As one of the most popular cut flowers worldwide, being able to grow peonies successfully is a real coup for the home gardener.

When it comes to properly caring for your peonies, it's vital to know which type of peony you grow, as this will dictate when and how it is pruned.

Avoid making these common peony pruning mistakes, and follow our expert advice for success with these floriferous plants.

How to prune peonies

The three types of peonies are herbaceous, tree and intersectional. You may have more than one, so discover how to treat each plant when it comes to pruning.

Pruning herbaceous peonies

Herbaceous peonies are one of the most popular and eye-catching perennials to grow.

These soft-stemmed varieties produce new shoots from the ground each spring and thrive in a sunny spot that has rich, free-draining soil that has a neutral pH or is slightly acidic. They do not enjoy waterlogged conditions.

Once the first frost has hit the garden, take a clean, sharp pair of secateurs, like these bestselling Fiskars Bypass Shears on Amazon, and cut the stems down to within 3in of the ground.

Remove and compost all the cut material so it can’t host any of the pests and problems that can affect peonies, then mulch around the roots with well-rotted manure or compost (homemade if possible).

Pruning tree peonies

Tree peonies are woody-stemmed shrubs that produce large bowl-shaped flowers. These are either single or double-petalled in colors ranging from purest white to deepest maroon.

The only pruning they need is cutting back flowered shoots to just above new growth when blooms have died. If you wish to collect seeds for propagation, do this in the fall.

If stems become leggy over time they can be cut back by a third in fall, after the leaves have fallen to encourage new bushy growth.

Pruning intersectional peonies

Intersectional peonies are hybrids, which is a cross between woody-stemmed tree peonies and soft-stemmed herbaceous peonies.

They are more expensive and less common than the other two varieties, but are treated like herbaceous peonies when it comes to pruning.

It isn't easy to make deadheading mistakes if you take care. Snip just below the blooms when they fade in summer and then in the fall, and cut the foliage right back as you would with herbaceous peonies.

Then mulch over the roots with a generous amount of well-rotted compost or manure.

FAQs

Can I grow peonies from seeds?

Yes, but it takes time. Harvest peony seeds when they are ripe (they turn dark blue/black), then sow them indoors them 1in deep in seed trays or in 5in pots of seed potting soil, like this mix by Seed Starter on Amazon, which contains all the nutrients seedlings need for healthy germination.

It is usual for a few seedlings to appear in the first year and more in the second and third years. Seeds germinate in one of two ways: epigeal, when cotyledons (seed leaves) appear above the soil before true leaves form, and hypogeal, when juvenile leaves appear first and cotyledons remain in the seed case. Leave plants in their containers for two years to establish a good root system before moving them to where you wish them to flower. Protect them from slugs and snails.

If you love growing flowers in your garden, discover some of the best ways to maximise blooms with our guides on what to do with foxgloves when they finish flowering, and how to grow lily of the valley.

Tree peonies, Paeonia suffruticosa, are the taller, tree-like relatives of the much loved herbaceous peony famed for its brilliant spring blooms. Tree peonies should be thought of as small shrubs, growing up to 6 feet tall and wide, making this a decorative plant that is suitable for the back of the garden border.

You may already know how to grow peonies, but why not add a tree species to your collection this year? While not as common as standard herbaceous species, tree peonies are prized for their large flowers, that can measure up to 10 inches in diameter, blooming in a range of colors including pink, white and yellow.

What's more, with such large, colorful and fragrant blooms, several varieties of tree peony are popular plants for pollinators, often seen humming with bees, butterflies and birds in the spring and summer months. Here, we share expert tips and advice from peony experts on how to grow tree peonies in pots and borders your yard.

How to grow a tree peony

Tree peonies are in the same plant family as compact herbaceous peonies, but there are some differences to be aware of when comparing the two. For example, many gardeners will know that herbaceous peonies attract ants, with buds often seen loaded with ants at the time of blooming. However, unlike herbaceous peonies, the flower buds of tree peonies do not produce the sweet sap that attracts ants.

Things to know about tree peonies

'Tree peonies are so named for their woody stems, appearing shrub-like when compared to the common herbaceous peony,' says Kady Adelman, peony expert and Retail Manager at Adelman Peony Gardens, Oregon. 'They are generally slow growing,' Kady adds, 'eventually reaching anywhere between 4 to 8 feet.'

'While tree peonies defoliate in the fall, the woody stems stay intact above ground,' Kady continues. 'They tend to bloom earlier than standard peonies, and have larger flowers.'

'In addition, tree peonies are relatively hardy,' Kady adds, 'growing well in US hardiness zone 4 to US hardiness zone 8.'

'Some of the most easy varieties to grow include Alice Harding, Boreas, Gauguin, Hephestos, and Waucedah Princess,' Kady says. 'Some of these varieties have nectar-rich, open blooms, making them more accessible for pollinators.'

Growing advice for tree peonies

• Soil: Tree peonies grow best in well-draining soil that is slightly alkaline. If you are unsure of the soil pH in your yard, consider using something like this pH meter from Walmart. For best results, apply a loam-based top dressing or leaf mould to your soil every year, helping to improve the quality of your soil and add essential nutrients. I tend to mulch my borders in the all, using an organic leaf mold.
• Light: These plants grow best in locations with 'at least half a day to a full day of sun,' Kady says. 'It is best to plant in a spot with morning sun followed by afternoon shade.' When grown in full-sun, the blooms will fade much sooner than they otherwise would in a partially shaded spot. In addition, leaves can scorch in full sun, causing your tree peony to wither and defoliate.
• Watering: Water your tree peony deeply during the growing season, soaking the soil once a week when the temperatures rise. It is best to use your hand and feel the soil underneath your tree peony, to assess how dry the ground is. You can also monitor the foliage, as browning leaves or leaf-drop is a sign your plant is thirsty, but it is best to water before your plant gets to this stage.
• Fertilizing: Considering when to fertilize peonies, Kady recommends 'fertilizing your tree peony twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall,' Kady adds. Use a foliar feed, such as this fish fertilizer available from Walmart, helping to provide essential nutrients for your plant.
• Pruning: One common peony pruning mistake is to prune at the wrong time, so make sure you know when to shape your tree peony. 'Pruning can be done to maintain an attractive and compact shape for your plant,' Kady says. 'The best time to do this is in the summer after blooms fade but before the buds for next years begin to develop.'

Adding a tree peony to your yard can help to elevate your shrub collection, and the blooms of this unusual plant will not fail to disappoint.

For more information on growing peonies, see our guide on peony pests, to help identify and combat peony problems in your yard.

Peonies are some of the most glamorous stars of the summer garden; their many varieties producing deeply colorful blooms the size of dinner plates.

When you are coming up with flower bed ideas, there are three types of peonies to choose from: herbaceous, tree and hybrid intersectional peonies. All have different pruning needs to allow them to fill your yard with color.

Once you know how to grow peonies, either in your borders or in pots, you soon realise that pruning them correctly is one of the best ways of keeping the plants healthy and flowering year-on-year, so take care you don't make any of these common peony pruning mistakes.

4 common peony pruning mistakes and how to avoid them

Like all plants, peonies need to be cut back to keep them healthy and in shape. Doing so also helps to create a sturdy framework for their legendary beautiful blooms.

Here, I show you how to avoid four of the most common peony pruning mistakes to get the best results from you plants.

 Using blunt and dirty tools 

Always make sure the tools you use are fit for the job, and are sharp and properly clean.

Blunt tools tear plant material instead of cutting cleanly, leaving remaining stems and branches open to pests and disease.

Cutting tools that haven’t been cleaned can transfer diseases from plant to plant via blades still dirty with old sap and debris.

Sharp, clean secateurs and pruners are ideal for pruning herbaceous peonies in the fall. This handheld multi-sharpener tool from Amazon is the perfect thing for keeping your shears in top condition.

More sturdy loppers, like these best-selling Fiskars Bypass Loppers on Amazon, or a pruning saw like this top pick Corona Tools 10in folding saw on Amazon may be used for cutting back tree peonies, though smaller pruners may be adequate for small shoots after flowering.

 Pruning at the wrong time 

Pruning at the wrong time can adversely affect flowering and cause more substantial damage to the plant. The best time to prune herbaceous and intersectional peonies is in the fall, once all the foliage has turned yellow.

You can deadhead herbaceous peonies when flowers die by cleanly cutting stems just below the dead flowers.

If you prune tree peonies hard in summer when they are still growing they can lose a lot of sap which will weaken the whole plant and potentially provide an entry point for pests and diseases. The best time to prune them is spring or late fall.

 Pruning instead of deadheading 

Deadheading is when we snip stems back to a healthy pair of leaf buds just below the fading flowers. For many species of plants regular deadheading leads to more blooms, but peonies only flower once in a season.

However, deadheading is still an important part of your peony care regime as it stops plants producing seeds, which takes a lot of energy.

Never prune peonies when you deadhead them after flowering in summer as it will weaken the plant or shrub.

 Pruning too hard 

Heavy-handed pruning may work well for some plants but it won’t benefit any variety of peony.

Herbaceous peonies need their green growth to last through summer and die back naturally in the fall, feeding the crown and roots as it does so.

If too much green growth is removed in summer it will adversely affect the plant’s ability to grow and flower as well the following year.

Tree peonies only need a gentle trim to keep them in shape. Take off too much wood in the fall and your shrub may look unbalanced and take a long time to grow back into an attractive shape.

FAQs

 Can I divide herbaceous peonies? 

Like most perennials, herbaceous peonies can get too large. At this point, they can be divided in the fall when they have been cut back.

Dig widely around your plant to avoid damaging its roots and raise it from the soil. Then separate the roots into sections, making sure each division has 3-5 ‘eyes’ where new shoots will develop in spring.

Replant at the same depth as they were growing before, firm the soil around them then water generously and mulch the root area with well-rotted compost or manure.

 When should I fertilize my peonies? 

All varieties of peony can be fertilized in the fall using a general-purpose fertilizer such as Miracle-Gro all purpose plant food available on Amazon. Feed them again in spring just before their shoots start to appear to give them energy for the growing season ahead.

 When should I plant peonies? 

The fall is the best time to get new peonies in the ground because the soil will be warm from summer sunshine and damp from seasonal rain. Fall planting also gives the plant time to settle in and get its roots established before the really cold weather arrives.

Water new plantings well and add a layer of mulch to feed and insulate them through winter, but remember to remove the mulch before growth re-starts in spring.

Beautiful peonies are one of the stars of the summer garden, but there are lots of myths about growing them which can put people off trying.

Don't be deterred, they are fabulous plants - but they can be slow to grow so when buying, choose the largest one you can afford.

It's springtime, which means flowers are blooming in full force. Apart from gardens, the best place to display nature's treasures is in the home, and no one does it better than Ina Garten.

The Barefoot Contessa, who often shares her flower bouquets on Instagram, recently posted an arrangement of rich, red peonies in a glass vase – a spring staple that has us itching to get some of our own and display them on kitchen countertops or dining room tables.

Although peonies are a popular flower choice year-round, they are in season from April to July, reaching their peak from mid-May to the end of June. Experts say that now is the perfect time to introduce these delicate flowers into the home.

'As spring rolls on, more and more flowers begin to produce brilliant blooms,' says Homes & Gardens' Gardens Content Editor Thom Rutter. 'One perennial that is ever popular with expert and amateur gardeners alike is peonies, famed for their large, romantic blooms.'

Peonies are both dramatic and demure, making them an all-arounder for the home; they make a statement on a table but are not so voluminous that they become a distraction.

'Peonies are one of the most popular flowering plants, and while they only flower for a short time from late spring to early summer, learning how to grow peonies is recommended for those gardeners who want to add something special to their yard,' Rutter says. 'What's more, as Ina's photo shows, peonies make great cut flowers that can add impact to a vase indoors.'

We love Garten's bold red variety, but Rutter mentions that there are lots of color options for peonies.

'Peony blooms range in color from white to deep burgundy, and most varieties have an attractive fragrance,' Rutter says. 'In addition, these perennials are popular plants for pollinators, often seen humming with activity in the springtime. So, for any gardener looking for dramatic, romantic blooms, I would recommend planting a peony this year.'

A paler color, such as white or light pink, can be highly complementary against a darker kitchen, while darker varieties add a pop to neutral spaces.

Below, find a beautiful peony variety that looks great in any indoor space (but of course, we're starting with our living room, the way Barefoot Contessa would intend, after all).

Peonies are one of the most popular flowering plants, adored by gardeners for their blousy, romantic blooms that last for a short time from late spring to early summer. Peony blooms come in a variety of colors, ranging from soft pink to deep mauve, with large flowers measuring up to 6 inches that demand attention. 

As with most flowering plants, peonies suffer from a handful of pest and disease problems which can sadly impact blooming and plant health. Many of the usual suspects such as aphids, slugs and spider mites can be problematic, there are also some peony-specific issues for gardeners to be aware of.

For experienced gardeners who have grown peonies for several years, or new gardeners looking to learn how to grow peonies, knowing how to identify and combat peony pests and problems is crucial for successful growing. Here, we share expert tips and advice from professional gardeners.

Peony pests and problems

Peony pests and problems will impact blooming and the health of your plants, which can be disappointing for gardeners who grow this stunning ornamental that is celebrated for producing cup-like flowers that steal the show every spring. 

Gardeners who can identify the following common pests and diseases are best placed to prevent and swiftly combat problems, helping peony plants to thrive. 

Peony Wilt

Peony wilt is perhaps the most common issue that gardeners come across when growing peonies. Peony wilt is so named for the appearance of wilting leaves and drooping flower stems, and is caused by a fungal infection, called botrytis. 

'Botrytis is a type of grey mold that usually occurs when conditions are wet and moist,' says Kady Adelman, peony expert and Retail Manager at Adelman Peony Gardens, Oregon. 

'The first signs of peony wilting are brown or black spots on the foliage,' Kady adds, as seen in the image above. 'We recommend spraying the entire plant with a product that says it is good for black spot on rose shrubs.' Organic rose sprays are available from Walmart.

'Follow the directions on the product that you are using,' Kady says, 'which will help slow down the spread. If any leaves/stems are completely black/brown, go ahead and prune them off.'

To combat peony wilt, your focus 'should be on removing diseased stems and foliage and prevention,' says Reese Robbins, garden expert and creator of Just Pure Gardening. 'Remove any fallen leaves and debris from around peony plants to reduce the spread of the disease,' Reese adds. 

For gardeners considering when to cut back peonies, the ideal time is in the fall. At this time, 'cut back peony stems while also pruning nearby planting, to improve air circulation,' Reese continues. This can help to limit the future spread of mold and disease. 

Importantly, as is the case with any infected green waste, ensure that you dispose of it suitably. It is not advisable to compost this waste, as this can cause further problems and infect other plants in the yard. 

Mealybugs

Mealybugs are small pests that can cause much damage to your peony plants. Knowing how to combat mealybugs in your yard is crucial to ensure that peonies bloom successfully. 

Typically found in large numbers, mealybugs will appear white, making identification on green foliage a relatively simple task. 'Mealybugs have a defensive mechanism in that they produce a sticky white substance that appears cotton-like,' Reese says. 

Reese recommends using an organic, natural treatment. 'Neem oil is a very effective organic solution when dealing with mealybugs,' Reese says, 'quickly killing the bugs.' Organic products are widely available, such as this neem oil solution from Walmart.

Peony Mildew

Mildew is a common plant problem often experienced in mild and humid climates. Mildew is rarely fatal for plants, but is unsightly, and if left untreated it can limit the performance of plants. 

When considering how to get rid of powdery mildew, 'acting quickly is important,' says Kady. 'At the first signs of mildew, spray with a product that is good for treating mildew on plants,' such as an organic fungicide spray.  

I have battled with mildew on peonies on many occasions, and while it can detract from the beauty of peony blooms, it is rarely something to be worried about. Mildew typically thrives during the spring and summer months, when temperatures rise and when there is increased humidity. So, while it might be unsightly, it tends to be a recurring problem that gardeners must tolerate. Fortunately, we are spoilt for blooms during the summer months so our attention is drawn elsewhere. 

'As with peony wilt, it is important to ensure that your plants are getting enough air circulation and getting a good amount of sunlight,' Kady adds. While we seek to cram our borders and backyards full of planting, this can exacerbate the problem, so it might be 'worth giving your peony plants a little more room to breathe.'

Ants on Peony Plants

Many gardeners ask why peonies attract ants, pondered on an annual basis as ants appear in great numbers on peony buds. 'Ants are not needed to open the peony blooms, this is an old wives' tale,' Kady continues. 

'Ants are drawn to peony buds as they secrete a sugary sap just before they are about to bloom, and this foodstuff is sweet and delicious to them.' 

It is important to note that ants will do little harm to peonies, and once the buds open and bloom, the ants move on. What's more, ants will control and deter aphids and scale bugs from spreading, so while seeing hundreds of ants crawling over your peony buds might seem concerning, it is nothing to be worried about. 

'While they are not something to be worried about, if ants are a nuisance you can use an ant block product that you can find at your local hardware or garden center,' Kady adds, 'or you can shake them off if you want to cut and bring the blooms inside.' 

Products such as diatomaceous earth can help to deter ants and insects from peony plants. In addition, consider raiding your spice rack, and using spices to deter common garden pests, with many gardeners suggesting that cinnamon and cloves can be used to repel insects. 

Drooping Peony Blooms

One final problem to be aware of when growing peonies is that these large blooms can benefit from staking, particularly as the spring weather can often be changeable with high winds and heavy rain. 

'Peony blooms are very heavy,' Kady says, 'and they are made heavier after rainfall if water gets in between the petals and weighs them down.' For this reason, peony plants can benefit from staking. For gardeners seeking a project, why not try to build hazel plant supports, for a natural, artisanal look? 

'There are many options for supporting plants, including cages, sticks, or different types of supports,' Kady adds. 'We like to use bamboo and string as you can tuck the sticks under the foliage, hiding the supports so it is not such an eyesore.' 

Alternative plant supports are available from Walmart. 

FAQs

What is the best treatment to use for a peony suffering from mildew? 

Mildew should be easy to spot on peony plants, turning leaves white or grey, as seen in the image above. While mildew is rarely fatal for the plant, it can be unsightly, and gardeners are often keen to treat this problem. Use an organic fungicide spray on the affected foliage, repeating the treatment as necessary, ensuring that you follow the instructions on the packaging. 

Knowing how to identify and combat peony pests, problems and diseases is important, as swift action can help to resolve any issues. As with all pest and disease control, always consider using organic, natural treatments where possible. For more peony care and growing advice, see our guide on the best approach to deadheading peonies, or how to grow a tree peony. 

The romantic and ever-popular peony has been crowned flower of the year for 2024 by 1-800-Flowers.

This is the seventh year that the floral and plant delivery company has named a flower of the year, and it's no surprise that this graceful bloom, often symbolizing love and growth, has been selected.

Peonies are fragrant flowers, most commonly found in shades of pink but also popular for their red, white and yellow hues. They have long been loved by gardeners as a springtime and early summer bloom, with their elegant bowl-shaped flowers making them a perfect addition to cottage garden styles.

'Peonies are simply glorious. I absolutely adore them in garden and floral design alike for their unapologetic glamor and heavenly scent,' says Rachel Bull, head of gardens at Homes & Gardens.

'My favorite varieties have to be ‘bowl of cream’ and ‘lemon chiffon’ - though I also love ‘coral sunset’. Watching as the color fades from magenta to apricot and then to pale lemon is astounding and very beautiful,' Rachel adds. 'Perhaps the fact they are never around for very long makes them all the more coveted.'

The most sought-after flower

1-800-Flowers says this desirable bloom is one of the most-searched for flowers on its site.

'Peonies, with their vibrant and delicate petals, are the perfect gesture for romantic and celebratory occasions,' says Abhay Patel, Brand President of 1-800-Flowers.com.

In the same announcement, the company also named philodendrons as its plant of the year.

'Looking ahead to 2024, we’ve selected the peony and philodendron as our flower and plant of the year to help our customers express themselves, bring joy, and cultivate meaningful connections with the important people in their lives,' adds Abhay.

Shop peony products from 1-800-Flowers

Their big, blousy, and somewhat fleeting blooms might make you think winterizing peonies is going to be complex. But despite their dreamy, delicate flowerheads, peonies will actually survive the harshest winters, as they are hardy to about -4˚F. In fact, a cold winter means they will flower better and grow back stronger the following summer.

Looking after your beautiful plants properly during winter is a key part of growing peonies successfully. For that reason, it's best to plan ahead and begin preparing them for cold winter weather in fall.

As with other perennials, this is done by cutting back the growth that was made during the current season. This will help to ensure that your plant has enough energy stored over winter and can quickly regrow next spring.

Expert advice for winterizing peonies

To ensure your peonies survive winter and to give them the best chance of blooming in the spring, it's sensible to get them ready before the cold months set in and protect plants from frost. So be sure to add peony prep to your fall gardening checklist. 

Knowing how to winterize peonies successfully depends on a few key things. 'It means ensuring your peonies have a nutrient-rich soil, removing any dead or diseased foliage, providing extra insulation during the coldest months, and making sure they have the right amount of light and moisture,' says gardening expert Mike Futia founder of Nerd Lawn. 'With the right level of care and attention, your peonies will be able to survive even the coldest winter months.'

Cutting back peonies for winter

By fall it might look as though your peonies are dying, but in fact they’re in the process of developing flowering buds for the following summer. Even if your peonies look dead, don't be tempted to start cutting back the foliage until late fall as they're still growing. The leaves will also help the plant store energy for next year's flowers.

Before cutting the stems, clean and sharpen your pruning shears to lessen the chance of spreading disease. You can use a pocket blade sharpener, such as this one on Amazon, to keep tools sharp while out in the garden. 

Simply cut back everything to about 1 inch above the ground, being careful not to damage the crown of the plant. Generally, peonies require very little pruning, but as with any shrub, it helps to maintain good overall health.

If you find any buds near ground level, leave them. They are often referred to as 'eyes', and they are next year's stems. 

Make sure you get rid of any dead foliage carefully to avoid spreading fungal disease (botrytis blight or gray mold), which affects peonies and can survive the winter months in compost heaps.

When it comes to pruning tree peonies, they respond well too. Prune in the fall and either take back the top growth by about a third in stages or, if you have a multi-stemmed tree peony, cut back every third stem to just under an inch (about 2cm).

Mulching peonies in cold weather

In fall, give your peonies a soil treatment before the winter months set in. 'You should begin by applying a thick layer of compost over your peonies, which will help insulate them from the elements and provide essential nutrients that will help them remain healthy throughout the winter,' says Mike Futia.

Known as mulching, this is key to getting the best out of your peony plants. Peonies planted in the ground should be mulched with a few inches of organic matter, such as compost or leaves, to protect their roots over winter.

You can also use straw, pine needles, or bark mulch for winterizing peonies. A good layer of mulch will prevent repeated freezing and thawing of soil that may heave and damage plants, and potentially stop peonies from blooming. In spring remove the mulch as soon as growth resumes. You can take a similar approach when winterizing roses too.

Fertilizing peonies in the fall

'You can also apply a winterizing fertilizer to the plant in fall,' says Zeeshan Haider, CEO and founder of Greenry Enthusiast. 'This will help provide additional nutrients for the plant to help it survive the winter. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully and apply the fertilizer in the appropriate amount.'

In areas with very cold winters, you may want to add an extra layer of cover for your peonies, especially if you want to protect plants from snow. 'Cover the plant with a layer of burlap or other fabric, and secure it with stakes or rocks,' says John Thomas of Backyard Garden Geek. 'This will help to insulate the plant and protect it from the cold.'

If you have tree peonies and live in a colder area, such as USDA zones 4 and 5, try wrapping the bush with burlap in late fall to provide protection against winds in addition to cold temperatures. 

FAQs

Peonies can suffer frost damage, which would be visible through wilting stems in the morning, but plants tend to bounce back later in the day. This guide might be useful to you if you're interested in propagating peonies, for an even greater show in your yard next year.

Peonies may have a short blooming season but their large and colorful flowers are a perennial favorite of gardeners around the world. They are plants that can live happily in the same spot for years but, if the need does arise to move them, when is the best time to transplant peonies?

If you are growing peonies and do want to transplant them then it is best to do it in fall when they are going dormant, to lift them with as much dirt as possible on the root ball, and to plant them again at the right depth.

We are discussing transplanting herbaceous peonies that can be lifted and moved around the garden successfully, rather than tree peonies that are much more difficult to relocate and do not respond well to being transplanted.

When is the best time to transplant peonies

Peonies are herbaceous perennial plants that can provide gorgeous displays of large blooms year-after-year as part of any backyard ideas. The time for planting peonies is either in late fall for bare root plants, or spring for potted peonies. It can take a few years for the plants to get fully established in their space and get into their groove of putting out stunning bowl-shaped flowers.

However, there may come a time when you do need to move peonies. You may have some new backyard landscaping ideas that need plants to be relocated, large trees that now shade what was a sunny spot in the yard, or you may be putting up a pergola or backyard greenhouse that requires a slight rejig of the garden. 

It could also be that, after years growing in their spot, the time has come to lift and divide peonies to create clumps of new plants for other areas. So when is the best time to transplant peonies?

The common thought among horticulturalists, and one you hear said often, is that peonies do not like to be disturbed and moved. However, Graham Rice, a vastly experienced gardener, claims this belief ‘is a myth’. He does offer some words of advice to anyone thinking of moving and transplanting peonies at home. 

He says: ‘It is important to move them in fall and to ensure that as much dirt as possible stays on the roots. This can be difficult as there are few fine roots to hold the soil. Moving peonies in spring is usually the cause of poor growth after transplanting.’

September to November represents the best window for transplanting peonies, when the plants are starting to enter their period of dormancy. It may be possible to move peonies in the spring, before they have started to grow again, however this is more likely to stress the plant and could cause peonies to not bloom for many years. Any transplanted peonies will not flower properly in the first spring after being moved and it may take a few years to get back to its full blooming potential. 

Peonies are deep rooted plants and not suited to being grown in pots long-term. You can grow peonies in pots for a few years before considering transplanting them into a flower bed one fall.

How to transplant peonies

Cut back the peony stems to an inch or two above ground level and use a garden spade to dig a large circle around the plant. You want to leave a good 12-18 inches around the stems to dig out a lot of soil with the root ball and avoid damaging the peonies' precious roots. Be careful digging and lifting the peony as any damage to the roots will have an affect on how happy it will be after being transplanted. 

You want to identify a new planting site that gets at least six to eight hours of sun a day. Peonies want full sun and a well-draining soil. If you are dividing your peony at this point, use a knife to separate the overall clump into sections that each have three-to-five eyes. These eyes are located on the crown and do not ever want to be buried more than two inches deep. Planting peonies too deep will cause them to sulk and never produce the flowers you seek.

John Negus, gardens expert, recommends to ‘dig plenty of well-rotted manure or garden compost into the bottom of the hole and mix with the soil that will be used for back-filling’ to boost the structure and fertility of the soil at the new planting site.

He says: ‘Make the hole wide enough to take the root ball comfortably, and if the soil is quite compacted, loosen it slightly to help the new roots to spread. Lift the peony carefully, retaining as much of the root ball as possible, and replant it immediately. 

‘Ideally the crown of an herbaceous peony should be no more than one inch below soil level otherwise they might fail to flower. After planting sprinkle bone meal (bone meal is available at Burpee) around the crown and lightly incorporate into the soil without damaging the roots.’

Water the newly-transplanted peony in well and then apply a thin layer of mulch around it in late fall. Such mulching materials can include homemade compost, leaf mold, or straw. This can help to protect the peony from the winter elements, but do not mulch over the crown itself and avoid burying the peony too deep.

FAQs

Transplanting peonies may come with an element of risk and you do need to accept you may not have the same show of flowers for a few years. To promote healthy growth and the onset of flowers, remember to fertilize peonies each spring with a general purpose balanced feed and spread a layer of mulch annually.

Peonies dazzle in late spring to summer with their large, blousy blooms. And if you already have one plant, it's possible to make more. 

Herbaceous peonies can be propagated by division, while layering works for tree peonies. However, with a little patience, you can also grow more of these show-stopping plants by collecting up the seeds and sowing them under cover. It's an enjoyable and affordable task – so why not have a go this fall?

How to collect and sow peony seeds

If you want to grow more peonies from collected seeds, avoid the classic deadheading mistake of removing all the spent blooms, else you'll have no seedpods left to harvest. 

Instead, keep a few flowerheads intact, allowing the seedpods to turn dark brown and the seeds inside to ripen. This is when they are firm and relatively loose within the seed capsule, says gardening expert John Negus.

Then, follow the five steps below:

1. When the seedpods are ready to be harvested, snip them from the plant using sharp and clean pruners, cutting just above a healthy set of leaves. 
2. Break each seedpod open with your hands, and collect up the large seeds inside. The Royal Horticultural Society says that the viable seeds will be black – any red ones have not been fertilized and should be discarded.
3. Sow them shallowly in pots of proprietary seed compost augmented with a quarter part, by volume, of coarse grit, John says.
4. Then, put them in a cold frame or a similar structure and be patient; they can take a year or more to germinate.
5. 'When planting them out, remember that although they like moist soil, new plants don’t take kindly to being overwatered,' John adds. Also, ensure they are in a sheltered spot that gets a good amount of sun.

Alternatively, you can sow the seeds directly in well-prepared soil, says John. Add grit, if necessary, to ensure good drainage. Then, cover the seeds with jam jars firmly implanted in the ground.

Can you store harvested peony seeds?

Just like when harvesting coneflower seeds, you can store peony seeds in paper envelopes, if you don't want to sow them immediately. Remember to label them clearly, with the date included, and store them somewhere cool and dry.

Stored peony seeds can be viable for many years, but fresh seeds tend to have better germination results.

How long will peonies grown from seeds take to flower?

Don't expect your newly-planted peonies to take the spotlight in your flower beds quickly – they can take several years to perform.

'The best way to speed flowering is to feed them with sulfate of potash,' says John. The Sulfate of Potash 0-0-50 Fertilizer from Cz Garden Supply Store at Amazon is well-rated. He suggests sprinkling it over the root area, monthly, from mid-spring until the fall, watering it in.

It's worth the wait. 'In time, when your charges flower, you may find that they are similar to, or even better than, the parent’s blooms,' John says.

Peonies make excellent cut flowers, and there are all sorts of gorgeous ways to style them in the home. So, not only does growing them from seed give you extra blooms to admire in your garden, but it will save you money at the florist, too.

Stunning beauties, resilient and long-lived, peonies deserve a place in every home. There's nothing quite like a herbaceous peony when it comes to sumptuous blooms, silken petals, and sweet but subtle fragrances.

For crucial events like weddings (peonies are one of the top flowers of choice for bridal bouquets), having a few tricks on hand to ensure your peonies bloom on time for the big day can be essential. Peonies that aren’t blooming can be a huge disappointment. Their voluptuous colorful blooms make for a spectacular display, so a lack of flowers is a huge letdown.

Like many cut flowers, peonies are often delivered or bought in their freshest state possible meaning they will often arrive at their destination closed to guarantee they’ll last longer in their vase or bouquet. However, arriving closed doesn’t need to spell disaster, there are a few florist-approved tips you can use to force these delicate blooms out of their slumber.

How to force peonies open

There are a variety of reasons why peonies don’t bloom, including gardeners not being in the know about how to grow peonies and when to plant peonies, plus issues such as extreme weather, pests, and diseases, so it’s important to understand how to make these flamboyant flowers open, fast. 

Growing in popularity, peonies are symbols of good fortune and a happy marriage, they are often used in bouquets given to celebrate a 12th wedding anniversary and in Chinese culture stand for peace, luxury, beauty, and high social status. So if you're looking to force peony buds open ready for an indoor display or floral bouquet, here's how.

1. Remove all unnecessary foliage

We think the leaves on peonies are beautiful, however, the excess energy they use is slowing down the final bloom. We recommend removing any leaves you don't need for your vase display or bouquet to speed up the blooming process. 

2. Cut the stem on a sharp angle

The trimming process should be done with sharp flower-cutting scissors, such as these highly-rated Leize Garden Flower Scissors from Amazon, which are available in a variety of pastel colors. 

Disinfect the tool before using with a small amount of bleach or washing up liquid then proceed to trim about an inch from the bottom of the stems. Repeat this step every four hours, or until your bud has bloomed.

3. Place stems in a vase of tepid water

The slightly warm water will also help to speed up this blooming process but make sure the water isn’t too warm. Water that is too hot will only hinder the blooming process.

Use flower food, such as this Miracle-Gro for Fresh Cut Flowers from Amazon, which is a best-seller.

4. Keep the flowers in a warm bright room

Following this final step will encourage your peonies to open. Ensure that the room is warm but not hot, or you risk your flowers becoming too dehydrated. 

The warmth in the room will help to speed up the blooming process. Make sure the peonies are kept away from direct sunlight and heating vents since these are known to dehydrate flowers.

On the flip side: If your flowers are too open, simply put them in cold water or a cool room to help them close a little. If you have a wine cellar, this is a good option.

FAQs

Peonies are loved for their large and showy blooms, however these perennials are known for often being covered in ants during late spring.

The ants are actually attracted to the nectar produced by peony buds and are only around for a short timeframe. The ants do no harm to the peonies and their presence can actually be helpful for the plant. Contrary to popular belief, however, peonies do not need the ants to bloom. 

If you are growing peonies, then you are likely to experience an influx of ants to your plants each year. While it is unnecessary to feel the need to get rid of the ants, there are simple and chemical-free ways to deal with the insects.

Why do peonies attract ants?

It is the peony buds that are responsible for attracting acts, in particular the sugary sap that these organs secrete. Research has found that the peony buds produce a nectar full of sugars and acids just before they are about to bloom, and that is a great food source for the ants.

When one scout ant discovers this bounty, it will emit a pheromone trail all the way back to the nest. This is a high-alert message that is picked up by the rest of the colony, which will follow that trail in vast numbers back to the bud. The ants can be seen in huge numbers over the buds, consuming this precious nectar that is only available until the flower blooms. Once the petals have fully opened, the ants disappear off to another bud or plant.

What do ants do for peonies?

It may only be a fleeting relationship between the ants and the peonies, but it is a mutually beneficial one. The ants are around until the flowers have opened and then move on once the food source is gone. Many people automatically assume that ants are bad for a garden, but it is not always the case as during the time the ants are actively feeding on the sap, they help to protect the peony buds. 

The ant's presence keeps the flower buds protected from other insects that may want to nibble on petals or feed on sap from the plants. 

Ants offer protection from the likes of aphids and thrips, tiny insects that suck sap from leaves, stems, and buds, causing plants to lose leaves, have distorted stems, and prevent buds from opening. Aphids also excrete a substance that encourages black mold, while thrips can feast on buds and be a reason why peonies are not blooming.

How to deal with ants on peonies

It is important to point out that the ants do not actually cause any harm to the peonies and their presence is only temporary, so it is not really necessary to take measures to keep them off the plants. The only time it may seem vital is if the ants are causing problems elsewhere in the backyard as well. 

Miguel Palma, a professional gardener and owner of Jardin Tienda, says that peonies ‘will flourish and display their beauty regardless of the presence or absence of ants’ and the presence of ants will only cause small imperfections.

‘Although the ants' exploration may result in minor holes or marks on the flower buds, these imperfections are negligible and do not hinder the overall health or blooming process of the peonies,’ he adds.

‘If you prefer to minimize ant activity on your peonies, you can take a few measures. Gently rinsing the peony buds with water can reduce the attraction of ants by removing some of the nectar. 

'Creating a physical barrier around the base of the peony plants using natural repellents, or substances like using cinnamon in soil or diatomaceous earth can also deter ants from climbing up the stems.’

Another method of getting rid of ants off peonies include companion planting and growing aromatic herbs such as mint or lavender. These plants are two of many that emit smells that ants hate and can discourage their presence.

You can use chemical products, insecticidal soap, or neem oil sprays, however, these should be used with caution as they can also kill beneficial insects as well as the ants.

How to get rid of ants when cutting peonies

If you are growing peonies as part of a cut flower garden to then display their beautiful blooms in the home, then care should be taken to make sure that there are no ants coming into the house with the flowers. 

Hold the flower stems upside down and give them a good shake around to remove any ants. An alternative is to gently rinse each individual peony bloom with cold water to dislodge any remaining insects. It is also possible to add some soap to the water, this will deal with any ants without harming the flowers.

FAQs

It is perhaps surprising to learn that ants can have beneficial symbiotic relationships with peonies. Most people will see ants on the buds and suspect they are a problem, but actually they are protecting blooms and will move on without causing damage. Don’t be too quick to reach for the chemical bottle to deal with insects as you can all-too-easily get rid of helpful and beneficial insects. Growing peonies means you can enjoy their stunning and huge blooms, just don't be too put off by the ants and remember they are doing you a favor.

The peony flowering season is one of the most anticipated times of the gardening year. Although the flowers are short-lived, the plants themselves live for decades, producing their massive and eye-catching blooms year after year.

The easiest way for home gardeners to propagate their peonies and expand their collections is by division. While it is possible to propagate from seed, peonies do not produce true to seed, meaning the resulting plant won’t be exactly the same as the parent. Growing from seed is also a much slower process than division, which yields flowering peonies in one or two years. 

Division is not only useful for propagation either. Dividing after a few years of growth can help you adjust the position of your peony, or move the same type to another part of your garden. It’s also great for replicating varieties that are pricey or difficult to find. It's best done in the fall after cutting back peonies, or in late summer after flowering, no matter your peony type.

Step-by-step guide to propagating peonies

Peony division isn’t as simple as pulling soft roots apart and replanting the sections. Peony roots are incredibly tough and need to be cut with sharp tools to split them.

Before you start, gather pruning shears or a large knife to cut through the tough crown. When peonies are particularly large, I like to have a rubber mallet nearby for a helping hand when roots are too thick to cut on my own. Alternatively, you can use a specialized pruning saw. Also grab a spade to lift the plant out of the ground.

Clean and sharpen your pruning shears and disinfect any other tools you plan to use before cutting any roots too. Although cleaning is extra work, this step is vital when dividing plants to avoid spreading harmful bacteria or fungi to open and vulnerable roots.

1. Lift the plant

Dividing peony roots begins with cutting all the stems down to the ground. The green growth will need to be cut back anyway, and doing it sooner rather than later makes it easier to lift the roots out of the soil.

When cutting the stems back, I like to leave a couple of inches above the ground to help remove the plant from the soil. But as soon as you’ve pulled the roots out completely, you can trim these back to around an inch high too.

Using your spade, dig into the soil around the outside of the root system and lift from the bottom. Don’t worry if you catch a few stray roots – as long as the bulk of the roots are intact you should have no problems. Once the soil is loose, simply pull from the bottom to lift out the entire plant.

2. Make the roots visible

Before you can identify the eyes and figure out where to make your cuts, the roots need to be completely visible. 

You may be able to remove the soil around the roots by hand or by dusting them with a brush. However, the easiest way to clean the roots completely is to wash them under running water. This will help remove any stubborn dirt stuck between the dense roots, providing a clean surface for cutting.   

3. Identify eyes

New peony stems emerge from eyes – the small pink growths around the crown. Each section you remove should have a minimum of three healthy eyes to grow successfully. To be on the safe side, I prefer to include six to seven produce strong plants that have a higher chance of flowering sooner.

You can split your peony into two divisions with a few eyes on each side. But if the plant has several healthy eyes, remove multiple sections at once. As long as each section has enough roots to grow its own and enough eyes to sprout, it should grow happily.

4. Cut into sections

The next step is the most stressful (especially if you’ve never divided peonies before), but also the most exciting: grab your sharp knife and cut the roots into the sections you’ve identified. Make as clean a cut as possible – in other words, avoid any hacking – to help the roots heal quicker and prevent lasting damage.

Cutting in two requires some serious force, but smaller divisions on the outer edges are slightly easier to remove. You can trim wayward roots if they get in the way, keeping the bulk of the healthy roots intact.

5. Replant the sections

Replant each of your sections in a sunny spot, spacing them around three feet apart (depending on your specific variety). 

When planting peonies, don’t bury the roots too deeply as you'll encounter problems with your peony not blooming. Around two inches below the soil surface is recommended. Water plants well and keep the soil lightly moist to settle the roots in their new spots.

Fertilizing peonies in spring and fall for the first few years is also advised to encourage stronger growth. 

It's best to divide your peonies every few years to produce more and more plants to enjoy. As one of the best cutting garden flowers, growing lots of peonies is a wonderful way to fill your home with fresh blooms too. If you've run out of space in your flower beds for any extra plants, you can always share them with friends and neighbors too.

Q. I have clumps of peonies in my yard that put on a beautiful display every spring and then quickly start to look rather messy. Is it recommended to deadhead my peonies after they have finished flowering?

A: Peonies should be deadheaded as by removing the dead and dying flowers it helps to neaten up their appearance, reduce any risk of fungal infections, and also promote a healthier plant ready to flower again next spring.

When growing peonies, the task of deadheading should always be encouraged every year as blooms can quickly turn brown and unsightly. Deadheading is a very simple task and it will give the plant a good tidy for the months ahead until you cut peonies back completely in fall.

Benefits of deadheading peonies

Peonies have a short flowering season and their large blooms are highly anticipated. The main growing season for peonies is during the spring and early summer and their blooms can last from six weeks from the middle of May and through June.

After the plant has finished flowering in June, you do not cut back peonies until the fall as you want to leave the healthy foliage on the plant to allow it to create the energy for next spring’s blooms.

You do want to deadhead peonies after they have flowered. Removing the spent flowers will ensure the energy of the plant is diverted into the roots and foliage, where it is required for photosynthesis and flowers. It will also neaten up the whole plant, as old peony flower heads look large and unappealing once they have gone over.

Mary Jane Duford, gardening expert and founder of Home for the Harvest, says that deadheading is ‘generally beneficial for the health of the plant’ as it maximizes foliage health and energy production for the upcoming cold season and blooms next spring.

‘Removing the dead flowers can also reduce the incidence of common fungal diseases that affect peonies, both by eliminating the moist, contained environments of spent flower heads and also by opening up the foliage for better air circulation,’ she adds.

‘Lastly, taking off the spent flowers can help keep the flower stalks from flopping over and damaging the remaining foliage, which is particularly an issue for heavier double peony cultivars.’

If your peonies are not blooming, fungal diseases could be one potential reason to explain this. The process of deadheading and then cutting back in fall can prevent fungal diseases affecting the plant. Other ways to guarantee beautiful blooms every spring include fertilizing peonies, which is especially important if you are growing peonies in pots.

How to deadhead peonies

Deadheading is a vital part of any annual garden maintenance regime and a common practice that benefits both the health and appearance of plants. 

With peonies, it is very a very simple task that can be completed in just four super-simple steps:

• Start with a clean and sharp pair of pruning shears. It is crucial to clean and sharpen pruning shears to make clean cuts and reduce any chance of disease infecting the plant. Good practice is to clean garden tools after every use 
• Identify a spent flower stem and follow that stem down from the spent flower head to the first set of healthy leaves or remaining bud 
• Make a clean cut just above the leaves or bud stem and avoid damaging or removing any healthy foliage from the plant 
• Remove and compost the spent flower head. Mary Jane Duford advises: ‘Flowers from healthy plants can be composted at home, while plant matter from diseased specimens is most commonly sent to municipal yard waste for industrial hot composting.’ 

Peonies are a fantastic choice for any cottage garden ideas, they come to the fore in late spring and their appearance can signal the start of summer. The window to plant peonies is either in April, May or September and there is a wealth of cultivar choices out there for you to choose from. 

Their blooming period may be short, but they are stunning, so enjoy them while they put on their show and remember to deadhead the spent flowers for the benefit of your peonies.

Few possess the beauty of a tree peony – the gloriously colored blooms that blossom – and create a stunning display – every early summer. It's easy to understand why so many gardeners can't resist their beauty – including, most famously, Martha Stewart – the lifestyle magnate – who recently shared her tree peonies with the world. And aesthetics aside, her post comes with an important lesson.

'Some of the many tree peonies in bloom in my garden right now. They are truly beautiful flowers with lovely characteristics. Remember, never prune a tree peony plant!' 

Knowing when to plant peonies for an early summer show is the first step to success. However, the question of pruning is a different story. Martha's instructions are clear – we should avoid pruning at all costs – but is there ever any exception? H&G's resident garden expert, Drew Swainston, weighs in on the discussion. 

Tree peonies do require minimal pruning, though they can need some work once they are well-established,' he says. 

'Sometimes a tree peony can get too big for its space and contain lots of unproductive older wood. If this happens, prune in the spring before they start actively growing, as they may bleed if you leave them any later, and they will be weakened.'  

Though, in many ways, Drew agrees with Martha. 'The downside to any tree peony pruning is that you will sacrifice some of that year’s blooms,' he says. 'Apart from that rare regenerative pruning, most years a tree peony will require little more than deadheading and the removal of any dead shoots'

The experts at the RHS mirror this teaching. In the discussion of how to grow peonies (and care for them around the year), they say that the tree requires pruning – with a few exceptions. 

'Just remove flowered shoots, cutting them off just above the new growth on the stem in summer; or in the autumn after the seeds are collected if desired,' they say. Also, we should remove any dead shoots in late winter – 'cutting back to a healthy bud.'

The RHS adds that tree peonies tend to produce more vigorous, upright stems, so removing some of the oldest stems at ground level in fall can help control their size during springtime. 

This eternal bloom has topped garden trends in recent years – and with Martha Stewart's approval, we expect they will continue to impress for many seasons ahead. We're joining the tree peony movement with these beautiful blooms from Lowe's below.

Q: I love peonies and would love to grow some of my own, but I don't have much space in my compact, urban backyard. Would it be possible to plant them in containers, to brighten the small patio area?



A: It's no wonder that peonies are so popular – they are spectacular, summer-blooming perennial plants with huge, blousy blooms in a spectrum of sunset-like shades. But as they need a lot of space to thrive, they are typically grown as border plants.

'Peonies do not suit long-term container cultivation,' warns John Negus, a gardening expert. 'The plants may not grow as well as they would in the ground, and if you can, you should plant them out as soon as possible.' However, if you only have a patio to play with, it's still possible to enjoy these beautiful bloomers – at least for a few years – with the right care routine.

• Shop peonies at FastGrowingTrees.com
• Shop peonies at Nature Hills

Tips for growing peonies in pots

When it comes to picking a pot for your peony container display, the bigger the better. 'Use a container at least 12in wide at the top or large enough to fit your hand sideways around the rootball,' says gardening expert Anne Swithinbank.

John Negus recommends using a soil-based potting compost that's suitable for mature plants. Anne agrees, and mixes this with peat-free compost at a 50:50 ratio, before adding 10% grit and 10% extra leaf mold. Avoid planting them too deeply as this can reduce flowering; the Royal Horticultural Society advises covering the red buds with no more than 1in of soil. 

Patio plants in pots dry out quicker than those in the ground, so ensure you stay on top of watering – not doing so is a common container gardening mistake. On the other hand, ensure you don't overwater them either, as waterlogged soil can cause problems with peonies, such as root rot. Adding grit, standing containers on pot feet (such as these rubber UFelice ones, available from Amazon), and making sure there are drainage holes in the bottom of each pot will help to prevent this.

Feeding peonies will encourage more flowers and healthy growth. 'Apply a slow-release general fertilizer in spring or liquid feed established plants as they grow and bloom,' Anne says.

Once the flowers have finished, you can deadhead peonies them using a pair of sharp and clean pruners to neaten up the appearance. This can also help plants channel their energy into new growth as opposed to seed production.

FAQs

You don't have to miss out on these beautiful blooms due to a lack of flower beds in your yard. Give growing them in pots a try – they'll add drama and vibrancy to any patio, deck, or balcony and look gorgeous as cut flowers to brighten the home, too. 

True, they are unlikely to last forever, as will eventually outgrow their pot, but their shorter lifespan is worth it for the fabulous display. Just ensure they get enough sunlight – if given too much shade, your peonies may fail to flower. For more information on growing peonies, see our guide to peony pests and problems or learn how to grow a tree peony, for an unusual peony shrub in your yard this year.

Q: I recently bought a new peony for my backyard. This is in addition to a couple of peonies I already have. The problem is neither of my existing peonies have had as many flowers as I hoped they would, and I don't want to make the same mistake with my new plant. I'm not sure whether it's necessary to fertilize them to help them produce more blooms. If I do need to fertilize them, when is the best time and how should I do it?

A: Peonies are beautiful plants that are popular for their huge, showy blooms in early summer. They are relatively easy to look after, too, as long as you don’t attempt to move them. Once established they resent being disturbed and will repay you by not blooming for a couple of years. Keep on top of their other main requirements too. They like moist but well-draining soil, so remember to keep them watered during any hot weather spells.

They also love being pampered, so if your existing plants are proving to be a little sulky on the flowering front you may need to fertilize them, along with your latest peony addition, which will benefit too. So it's a good idea to find out how and when to fertilize peonies to get the best out of your plants.

• Shop peonies at Nature Hills
• Shop peonies at Burpee

How to fertilize peonies

Give peonies rich, fertile soil, and they will thrive and reward you with plenty of flowers. To promote growth, apply a general-purpose fertilizer each year in spring. Then mulch with a layer of garden compost or well-rotted manure in fall to enrich the soil they're planted in.

'Fertilize peonies with a high potassium fertilizer to suit strong flower development such as a 5-10-5 ratio,' says Ben Hilton, founder of The Gardening Fix. 'Or you can apply a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer. This ensures that your plants get the correct levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Nitrogen promotes foliage growth while phosphorus and potassium encourage healthy, vibrant flower production.' This  Expert Gardener all-purpose fertilizer from Amazon would be suitable as it has a 10-10-10 ratio – this refers to the plant fertilizer numbers usually listed on the label. 

It's also important to apply a slow-release fertilizer that will continue to provide nutrients and feed the plant over time, according to Ben. This can be achieved by using a granular top dressing, as opposed to a liquid feed. If you're using a natural bone meal fertilizer or chicken manure, you can apply it throughout the growing season without risk of over-fertilizing your peony plants.

When to fertilize peonies

Peonies should be fed twice a year. First, when you see new shoots emerge in the spring but before the flower buds start to show, then again in fall to build strong roots on your plant ahead of winter. 

'It's best to fertilize peonies in the early spring, just before the buds start to swell,' says Lindsey Hyland of Urban Organic Yield. 'In the fall, you can apply a top dressing of compost or aged manure but avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers so your plant doesn't put out too much vegetative growth and neglects to flower.'

First water the soil around the plant thoroughly. After you have applied the fertilizer, being careful to avoid touching your peony's stems or leaves, water the area again to help the nutrients sink into the soil. 

Follow a spring and fall fertilizing routine for the first few years after planting a peony. Then you can ease off as peonies should only need fertilizing every three years or so, and if they're really thriving you can stop completely.

FAQS

Fertilizing peonies is generally a good thing but be sure to follow the label closely and avoid overdoing it. And remember that feeding is just one element of looking after these gorgeous flowering plants – you also need to know when to cut back peonies, deadhead them and keep on top of their watering needs if you're going to grow healthy and happy plants.

Few flowers top the showy blooms of peonies. This perennial is a cottage garden favorite, loved for its pompom-like blooms and subtle jasmine scent. It can be a sad sight to watch the flowers fade in fall, but knowing when to cut them back can ensure that their blooms return even better than before.

Knowing when to cut back peonies is among the most important things you can do when learning to grow peonies. While this flower is not too tricky to care for, it requires an annual prune for maintained health. Plus, cutting back peonies once their flowers are spent can encourage impressive blooms to appear again next spring.

That isn't to say that peonies won't survive through winter and into next spring without being pruned, however, pruning in fall will help them thrive when they do return. We've spoken to garden experts to find out more about cutting back peonies in fall and they shared their top tips for getting the job done.

Should peonies be cut back in the fall? 

Yes, fall is the perfect time to prune your herbaceous and Itoh peonies. When your plants start to show these signs of wilting and yellowing foliage, it's time to get your pruning shears out. Here are some expert tips for cutting back your peonies in the fall.

Cut peonies back for next season's growth

The main reason for cutting back peonies in fall is to protect the health of your plants for the next growing season. 'As with any flower, it is important to prune for the plant’s good health and encourage new growth Cutting away dead foliage also helps control insects and disease,' says Lisa Fontanarosa, flower grower and stylist.

'You should wait until the foliage turns yellow. This indicates that the plant has gone dormant and has stored up all the nutrients it needs for the winter,' says Juan Palacio, the CEO of BloomsyBox. 'Cutting back too early can deprive the plant of these essential nutrients.'

When your peony has discolored and wilted, it's time to grab your pruners to get the job done. It's best to use sharp tools to get clean cuts, like these bypass pruning shears from Amazon, and make sure to clean your gardening tools after use to prevent the spread of pests and diseases between plants.

Cut peonies back before winter

As Lorraine Ballato, the resident flower expert at New York Botanical Garden, suggests, your peonies should be cut back in fall before frost to improve their overall health. However, before cutting, it is essential to note that the act may not cure some plant diseases.

'It is highly likely that by the end of the season, your peonies have acquired leaf spot disease and other peony pests. Most often, it is botrytis, but it could be another of these fungal issues,' Lorraine says.

'The bad news is that all fungal spores overwinter unless you are in extremely cold climates like most northern Canadian provinces. So next season, when the conditions are right, those spores will reinfect your plant and at the least mar the foliage.'

Usually, these fungal diseases won't kill your flower, but they can make it more unsightly. 'Since no part of a peony is beneficial to native insects, cutting them back doesn't deprive those insects of their winter needs,' the expert adds. Therefore cutting peonies back to remove diseased leaves before frost kicks in is a key part of winterizing peonies.

You might also want to consider applying this copper fungicide from Amazon in the next growing season to protect your peonies from fungal diseases.

FAQs

Should peonies be cut back to the ground in the fall?

Knowing when to cut peonies is vital to your plant's health, but how far to cut them is another significant question at this time of the year.

Lorraine Ballato suggests cutting your peonies to the ground before leaving time to inspect the base of your plant. 'This would be a good time to pull back the mulch from the crown of the plant if it has shifted during the season,' she says.

One of the things you may not know about peonies is that if it's planted too deeply (or the growing buds are more than two inches below ground), the plant might not flower. 'At the least, flowering will be reduced. Those little eyes must have some sort of light, so the 2-inch rule works well for them,' Lorraine says.

'While you're at it, you could inspect whatever irrigation you have for your plant. Drought conditions are likely to occur next season, so you can get a little ahead of that issue now when it is more pleasant to be working outside.'

To care for peonies in the fall, cutting back eradicates pests and diseases and prepares your plants for winter. Be sure to research peony pruning mistakes before you begin this fall task. If you are looking for more inspiration, you can also transplant peonies and divide peonies in the fall.

Peonies that aren’t blooming can be a huge disappointment. Their voluptuous colorful blooms make for a spectacular display in the backyard in late spring and early summer, so a lack of flowers is a huge letdown.

There are a variety of reasons why peonies don’t bloom including gardeners not being in the know about how to grow peonies and when to plant peonies, plus issues such as extreme weather, and pests and diseases, so it’s important to get savvy about the issues that can affect these flamboyant flowers.

To help you identify what’s causing the no-shows in your yard, we’ve put together an expert guide.

Why won’t my peonies bloom?

‘Peonies can be quite stubborn when it comes to blooming,’ says Davin Eberhardt, CEO of Nature of Home. ‘Reasons for this may include a lack of sunlight, incorrect planting, improper fertilizing, or plants that are too young.’

We’ve covered these issues below along with the rest of the possibilities as to why peonies aren’t blooming.

Peonies not blooming because they’re in the shade

A major cause of peonies not blooming is a lack of sun. Peonies like full sun, although some will grow in dappled shade. ‘If your peonies are not budding, a possible reason is that they are planted where there’s too much shade and are not able to get at least six hours of direct sunlight,’ says Joe Taylor, founder of home improvement and garden publication PlumbJoe.

Peonies not blooming because they’re planted too deep

It’s vital not to plant peonies too deep. If they are, the peony can still have healthy foliage, but it won’t produce many – or perhaps not even any – flowers.

So how deep should you plant a peony? The crown should be no more than 2in (5cm) below the surface of the soil when you put peonies in. Be cautious when backfilling that the root doesn’t end up deeper than this, and watch out for this when adding mulch, too.

Peonies not blooming due to an excess of nitrogen

Another reason why peonies aren’t blooming? ‘You are fertilizing your peonies more than necessary,’ says Joe Taylor.

Peonies planted in soil that is rich and fertile don’t need to be fed, but otherwise a yearly feed with a balanced general fertilizer is a good idea. However, if you use a fertilizer with too much nitrogen, this can encourage the growth of foliage but result in fewer buds. Look for a fertilizer with a nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium ratio of 5-10-10, for example, to keep peonies blooming.

If you’re already using a fertilizer suitable for peonies, you might want to do a soil test through a local extension office, and get advice on amending the soil.

Peonies not blooming as they’re newly planted 

Another reason why peonies aren’t blooming very well could be because they are new to your garden. Peonies take three to four years to flower well, so yours may just need more time. Peonies do live a long time, though, so your patience at first will be rewarded in the long term. 

Peonies not blooming after transplanting

While peonies can be transplanted (contrary to myth), they can take time to start flowering again, so this could be the reason yours aren’t blooming. Make sure to move them when they are dormant in fall, be careful not to disturb the rootball, and get them into their new position as soon as possible. 

Peonies not blooming after a dry spring

In summer, peonies are quite drought-tolerant, but they do need plenty of water in the spring when flower buds are forming, and a lack of it could be the cause of peonies not blooming as they should. Keep a watch on the soil in the spring and don’t let it dry out.

Peonies budding but not blooming

It may be that your peonies are budding but the buds aren’t opening into flowers and, if that’s the case, there are a few different possible explanations for why you’re missing out on their extravagant blooms.

Weather

‘If your peonies have buds that are not opening, a reason why may be that your peonies have recently experienced a hard freeze,’ says Joe Taylor. 

If there’s a late frost just before they’re going to bloom, peony buds can be damaged. While you can’t do anything if this has already happened, it’s worth keeping track of the weather forecast and, if a freeze is threatened, protecting peonies with agricultural fleece supported on stakes. 

Fungal disease

Although peonies are low maintenance as a rule, it is possible for fungal diseases to affect the buds. To prevent this, deadhead peonies in spring, and cut back foliage in fall.

Pests

Thrips can feast on peony buds – as well as the leaves – in spring deforming the buds. Unfortunately, you’re unlikely to see them before they damage the plant. Peonies do attract acts to the nectar produced on the buds. However, if you do see ants on peonies then do not panic and try to get rid of them, as the presence of ants can protect the buds from thrips. 

It can't get much better than the scent of peonies filling your yard in spring. Renowned for producing large, open flowers, few plants offer such a vast range of forms and colors as peonies, from purest white to lemon yellow, softest pink to deepest red.

While you might already know how to grow peonies, knowing how to prune peonies and when to cut down peonies is an essential garden task, particularly if you want to keep your plants in good health and ensure maximum blooms next year.

Here, garden experts reveal how best to prune and cut back your peonies, the right approach to take, and the best time to trim. So, before you reach for your pruning shears, make sure you read our guide to guarantee brilliant blooms next year.

When to cut back peonies – a quick look:

The type of peony plant you're growing will determine when you need to prune peonies after blooming.

Herbaceous peonies should be cut back in fall, between October and November. This should be after the first frost and when the foliage has turned yellow. You should aim to cut peonies back to around an inch from the ground. This will help keep your peony plant healthy and free of disease when the blooms return next spring.

If you're growing a tree peony, pruning can be done in fall or spring. In fall, remove spent flowers and cut back top growth by about a third. Tree peonies are often grafted onto herbaceous peony rootstock, so take care not to prune them right back. In spring it can be a good idea to cut back tree peonies before new growth. This can encourage a boost of growth but may also sacrifice some flowers for the season.

Alternatively, you can also leave some fading peony flowers in fall to harvest peony seeds.

When is the best time to trim peonies?

Peonies grow best in US hardiness zone 3 to US hardiness zone 9. The type of peony you're growing and your local climate will determine when to cut back peonies. Those gardeners living in warmer, southerly zones will notice that their peonies flower much earlier than those in cooler zones.

‘Renowned for their oversized blooms, peonies are a prized landscape plant often used for cut flowers,’ says Lindsay Pangborn, garden and plant expert. ‘Cutting back peonies is a critical to-do item, but it’s important to think about timing. It’s a careful balance of aesthetic and plant health considerations.’

When to cut back herbaceous peonies

It may be tempting to prune peonies after blooming as soon as the leaves start looking yellow or brown, which can happen in the summer, you must wait until fall to prune them. One of the most common peony pruning mistakes is pruning too early.

That's because your peonies need their foliage to produce energy for next year's growth. Cutting them sooner could affect next year's flowers, which you want to avoid at all costs.

'Proper fall peony pruning is a good practice, as fungal diseases such as powdery mildew can survive on dead leaves throughout the winter, only to re-emerge and infect the new growth the following spring,' says Meredith Bishop, sustainable flower grower and owner of Bloom and Bounty.

When fall sets in, usually around October to November, your peony foliage will fade and wilt. It is then time to trim.

‘Cut your peonies down to about 1 inch (2.5cm) above the ground,’ says Jennifer Green, botanist and expert at Positive Bloom. ‘As a herbaceous perennial, peonies will die back only to re-emerge next spring, so do not worry about cutting them too harshly.'

Remember to always use clean, sharp essential gardening tools, such as these pruning shears available from Walmart.

'Do not be tempted to trim too early,' says Jennifer. 'August is not the best time to cut back peonies, as it doesn’t allow the foliage to absorb as much energy as it needs for the following year.'

The foliage of peonies tends to fade and wilt from August, and although the leaves may not look great, it is best to allow your plant to photosynthesize as much as possible and gather energy for next year's blooms.

When to cut back tree peonies

Unless you are trimming old growth left over from the previous year, you must not cut back your peonies in the spring, as this could harm the plant and prevent it from flowering.

The only peony you should trim in the spring is a tree peony. For those gardeners who don't know how to grow a tree peony, it's important to know that you wouldn't cut back tree peonies in the fall like you do a herbaceous peony. Early spring is the best time to prune tree peonies.

You should also only remove spent flowers from a tree peony and cut back not more than a third of the plant, as these plants are usually grafted onto herbaceous peony rootstock and cutting them right back may affect their growth habit.

Spring is not only time to cut back tree peonies, but also time to fertilize your peony plants. 'Peonies benefit from an application of blood meal and bone meal in early spring, just as the shoots are beginning to emerge from the ground,' says Meredith.

Shop peony pruning essentials

FAQs

What happens if you don't cut back peonies? 

If you don’t cut back peonies, the old foliage will become unsightly over the winter and into the spring, but they should still flower the following year. If you can trim your peonies, it is important to do so as it can protect against fungal disease.

Knowing when to cut back peonies is a crucial part of peony care in the yard. After deadheading your peonies, don't be scared to cut herbaceous peonies right back in fall to boost new growth in spring. But be sure to only trim your prized peonies at the right time, otherwise you risk a reduction in blooms the following year.

Asking when to plant peonies so you can bring flowers like the ruffled layers of a wedding dress with a mass of silky pink, white, or magenta petals – sometimes up to 300 – to your backyard?

Voluptuous, romantic peonies produce their richly scented blooms in May and June so, once you’re in the know about how to grow peonies, understanding when to introduce them to your yard is crucial.

Our guide has the lowdown on when to plant peonies to enjoy their generous flouncy flowers opening the door to summer year after year. 

When to plant peonies

The answer to when to plant peonies is that potted herbaceous and intersectional peonies can go in the ground at any time of year, but are best planted in late April or May or September. Bare root herbaceous and intersectional peonies can be planted in fall; likewise, potted or bare root tree peonies also perform well if planted during fall. 

Hailing from China, the most widely grown herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora) is long-lived and, as part of your flower bed ideas and for an unashamed show of hand-on-brow romance and femininity in the backyard, plant roses with it. Peonies are also great if you’re planting a cottage garden border; in this case grow foxgloves and bellflowers with them. And they also work well in contemporary borders. 

‘I like to see peonies emerging from a bank of ornamental grasses such as Liriope spicata or Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo' or intermixed with spring bulbs,’ says Oregon-based landscape architect and garden designer Bethany Rydmark.

When to plant potted peonies

The traditional herbaceous lactiflora peonies and the more modern intersectional forms can go in the ground at any time of year if you buy them containerized. The optimum planting time is mid to late spring or early fall when the weather is mild. However, potted peonies can go in the ground at any time of year, if need be. 

‘Once peonies are established in their pots they are able to be planted at any time of the year,’ says Alec White, owner and head nurseryman at Primrose Hall Peonies. ‘The sooner you plant your peony in the garden, the quicker it will root. For mature plants this means they will bloom in their next flowering season. All our plants are at least five years old, which means they are at flowering maturity.’ 

Avoid planting during very hot or very cold weather or when the ground is waterlogged. 

When to plant bare root peonies

As for when to plant peonies in bare root form, be aware of how these are cultivated. ‘Bare root peonies are lifted from the field in fall and kept in cold storage, and it is best to plant them as close to lifting as possible,’ says Alec White.

‘This is because the bare roots deteriorate as soon as they are out of the soil. The fine white hairy roots on the tuber start to die back after lifting and for this reason we would advise not to buy or plant bare root peonies beyond November depending on the ground conditions. 

‘We have noticed a number of bare roots available to purchase during spring – be aware that those bare roots will have been in storage since fall and will not establish in the garden until the following season at least.’ 

Soak the roots for half an hour to an hour before planting in well-drained, retentive, rich soil in sun. 

When to plant tree peonies

Both containerized and bare root tree peonies (shrubby peonies with woody stems) are best planted in fall, so that they can establish a healthy root system over winter, ready for the spring growing season. 

However, it is also possible to plant in winter (as long as the ground is not frozen or waterlogged) or early spring. But avoid planting during very cold weather and never plant during the heat of summer. 

Bare root plants are cheaper, but not as reliable. Soak the roots for half an hour to an hour before planting. 

Tree peonies dislike being waterlogged, so ensure they have a free-draining soil by digging in organic matter and grit, if necessary, before planting. 

When to plant species peonies

There are several lovely species peonies available – including soft-yellow P. daurica subsp. mlokosewitschii (Molly the Witch), pink P. cambessedesii (Majorcan peony), and red P. tenuifolia (fernleaf peony) – and they are best planted in late spring. However, they can be expensive, so it’s worth trying to grow them from seed in the fall. 

When to sow peony-flowered plants

Peonies can take time to establish. If you’re impatient, there are several plants that have similar flowers:

Peony-flowered opium poppies (Papaver somniferum Paeoniiflorum Group), such as ‘Scarlet Peony’ and ‘Black Peony’, have peony-like double flowers above blue-gray foliage in summer. Sow direct in April or May for flowers this summer or sow direct in early fall for flowers next year. 

Double hollyhocks (such as Chater’s Double Group and ‘Peaches ’n’ Dreams’) have peony-like flowers on tall stems in summer. They are short-lived perennials grown as biennials and can be sown in spring or early fall, or bought as potted plants and planted between May and October. 

Gorgeous double tulips (such as soft-pink ‘Angélique’ and crimson ‘Antraciet’) produce peony-like blooms in April and May. Plant them in late October or November for flowers the following spring. 

Knowing how to grow peonies should be high on the list of priorities for any gardener, as the beauty of these long standing favorites of the flower border is almost unsurpassed.

The flush of voluptuous peonies each year may be short but they are highly anticipated for their impressive, dinner-plate sized blooms, and many have a lovely fragrance.  

Few other plants have such large blooms, with a range of colors from pure white, through yellow to coral, pink and deep crimson, and a choice of single, semi-double and double forms. 

Try growing peonies as flower bed ideas to add color, luminosity and elegance, as cut flowers, or you could also make a peony border to edge a path, or enclosed in low hedging.

Each year, peonies will die down in winter before emerging in spring with their crimson flushed foliage, appearing to grow before your eyes and then deliver an eye-catching exquisite display. So they are definitely a flower to add into the mix of your garden ideas.

Delicate and beautiful, once know when to plant peonies, understanding how to grow them in your backyard is crucial.

How to grow peonies – different varieties

There are three types of peonies, or paeonia: herbaceous, intersectional and tree. 

When growing peonies, if you choose early, mid and late flowering plants, you can have a six-week flowering season, mid-May through June.

• Herbaceous peony: These classic and timeless perennials produce the large blooms we see in borders and beds and the plants have a bushy, compact shape, which die back every winter.
• Tree peonies: Are shrubby, reach a height of around 1.2m, and are the only ones that don’t die down at the end of the season. They bloom from early April to late May.
• Intersectional peonies: The rarer, more expensive intersectional peonies are a cross between tree and herbaceous and tend to have intense color with long-lasting blooms, and usually finely cut foliage.

The popular herbaceous peonies are a great choice when you are planning a cut flower garden as their stunning flowers will reappear year after year.

Peonies are available as bare-root plants, usually two years old that will not flower the first year. 

You may, however, prefer to buy an established mature containerized peony plant, at least five years old, ready to flower in the first year. 

Are peonies easy to grow?

Peonies are easy to grow, low maintenance, extremely hardy and offer decades of charm, with some producing blooms for 100 years.

When you grow peonies for the first time, it may take up to four years of patience before you see your first bloom, but their robust longevity and ease of care make them extremely worthwhile additions to your garden design.

There are many myths about growing peonies – but mostly they are unsubstantiated and if you follow some simple rules and take care with growing peonies then you will be rewarded with their stunning blooms, year after year, and avoid any tricky peony pests.

'If peonies are given fertile soil, adequate sunlight, and good air circulation, they are both easy to grow and extremely long-lived,' explain the experts at American Meadows.

When to plant peonies?

As many peonies are grown from bare root plants that are lifted in fall, bare-root peonies are best planted in fall, while the soil is still warm and ideally as soon as they arrive. 

'Be sure to plant your peonies at least one month before the ground in your area will freeze solid,' advise the experts at American Meadows, as this allows the roots sufficient time to establish before the arrival of winter. 

You can also grow peonies in early spring, they add, but your young plants will need plenty of watering if it's a dry summer. 'Spring planting typically results in a slower growth in the first summer season,' they advise.

Container-grown peonies, which have been lifted and potted, can be planted at any time that the soil is workable, though late spring to summer is good. 

Where do peonies grow best?

Peonies grow best when they enjoy certain conditions where they are planted:

• Peonies grow best when they are planted in full sun, but some species and the red flowering varieties will grow happily in light, dappled shade. Tree peonies need a sheltered spot.
• It is important to plant peonies in free-draining soil, advises Alec White of Primrose Hall Peonies .
• Clay soil is fine if it doesn’t stay wet, and peonies are also happy in chalk soils, but not in sandy as there aren’t enough nutrients.
• The majority of herbaceous peonies prefer neutral or slightly alkaline soil; a 6.5 – 7 pH is ideal, while tree peonies are more tolerant of acid soils.
• They need plenty of water but don’t plant in ground that becomes waterlogged as peonies won’t tolerate this. 
• Don’t allow your soil to dry out in the spring as this may cause the plant to abort its young buds; they are quite drought-tolerant in summer, though.

How to plant peonies

Prepare the ground to a depth of  18in (45cm) and add about 6in (15cm) of well-rotted manure or compost. Peonies will reward you if given a good start in life. They will grow to be about 1m x 1m, so allow space for this.

Plant carefully with the crown no more than 2in (5cm) below the surface, the 'eyes' facing upwards. If the peonies are planted too deeply, they will produce lots of foliage but no flowers.

The experts at American Meadows advise planting the eyes 1-2in below the surface of the soil if you live in a colder zone, but 1in or less if you live in a warmer zone, to maximize the plant's exposure to colder winter temperatures.

If growing a group of peonies, plant them about  30in (75cm) apart to not crowd the crowns and keep a good airflow. 

'Don’t plant your herbaceous or intersectional peonies too deep, and over mulching is a common cause for a peonies to not flower,' explains Alec White.

Water in your plants, but don’t overwater. They will take three years to bloom well, but as they will live such a long time, you can take them with you if you move house. 

How to care for peony plants

Although they are fairly low maintenance, there are a few ways to take care of your peony plants and make sure they bloom beautifully every year.

• Remove weeds by hand as if you hoe, you can damage the feeder roots, which lie just below the surface of the soil. 
• To dramatically increase the size of the plant and the flowerheads, disbud the plant for the first three years of growth when the buds are pea size. This will help the plant to bulk up quickly and not waste its energy producing that bloom. 
• There is a myth that peonies can’t be transplanted and moved, but if you get them out of the ground when they are dormant, in fall, disturbing the rootball as little as possible, and plant them as soon as you can, they will be fine.
• Don’t plant peonies back in the same spot unless you remove the soil around the plant and replace it with new soil. 
• You can divide them when they are lifted; cut cleanly and have three stem buds or eyes on each section. 
• In fall, when the peonies have died back, cut the foliage to the ground and dispose of it. Botrytis, or peony wilt, will overwinter in dead foliage and may attack young, fresh growth the following spring. 
• If your soil is rich and fertile you won’t need to feed them; otherwise, feed your peonies once a year in spring, summer or fall with a balanced, general fertilizer. 
• Being very hardy they don’t need any winter protection, in fact, the cold starts the dormant period when they store their energy in their roots where the buds are forming.

Do peonies come back every year?

Peony are perennials so their flowers will come back every year.

They may not have the flowering span of many other summer flowers, but when peony are in bloom they have a stunning presence that will keep returning, without much fuss, for 60 to 70 years. 

So while peonies are generally more expensive than roses, for example, think of these aristocratic plants as a long-term investment for your flower bed ideas.

It is easy to see why in China, peonies are known as the king of flowers, and have been cultivated there for thousands of years.

How to grow peonies from seed

If you're wondering whether can grow peonies from seed, there are good reasons why many gardeners choose not to try this method. 

While it is possible to collect seed from your peonies when the pods are really ripe, it will take five to seven years to produce a flower, most seed is infertile, they need two years to germinate, and may not be true to form. So this is not an option for the fainthearted!

It is perhaps only fitting that the peony, the flower that stems from Greek mythology, boasts magical abilities. While all peonies radiate a mystical aura in their own right, one species, in particular, is entirely mythical: Coral Charm Peonies. 

This herbaceous perennial blooms from late spring to early summer, in which time their petals change from soft salmon pink to apricot orange, and, lastly, a zesty lemon yellow. These transformative flowers are unsurprisingly admired for their ability to add an ornate and ever-changing drama to both homes and gardens, and when planted outside, return year after year.

Differing from tree peonies, these herbaceous perennial flowers die back into the ground over the winter months. However, their blossoming season is notably short and thoroughly mysterious. Like all peonies, this only adds to their allure and means they are the most sought-after stems of the season. 

Below, we investigate their charm – you can find out more about how to plant peonies in our separate guide.

'We love the dreamy color-changing petals of the Coral Charm Peonies – when they blossom, their vibrant coral petals lighten to a peachy pink shade before turning creamy white, it almost feels like you're getting three flowers in one,' shares Olivia Harvey, director at Bloom & Wild.

How should we style peonies in our homes?  

If you're planning on planting peonies in your garden, take note of these myths about planting peonies, but if you're bringing them into your home, follow the florists' expert styling tips below.

1. When in doubt, opt for bold colored peonies 

If you decide against Coral Charm peonies and choose a bloom whose color remains static, follow the advice of celebrity London designer and founder of luxury online florist Bloom, Larry Walshe, who suggests investing in a rich dark red peony, which has already captivated for centuries.

'Deep Red is the most prized peony variety in China and Japan and has the strongest ties to honor and respect. It's also the most symbolic of wealth and prosperity in those cultures,' Larry explains.

2. Trim them short 

See: Flower bed ideas – beautiful ways to create floral displays in your garden

It's the question every flower owner debates – do we leave long our flowers long, or cut their stems? According to Kate Kern, the Head Florist at Maison de Fleurs, the most stylish option is to cut the peonies short before mixing them in a colorful vase with herbs. 

'We love to style all shades of peonies [by] cutting them short and mixing them with herb foliage and placing them in colorful glassware. The herbs ensure the bouquet oozes with 'a gorgeous fresh scent perfect for dressing tables for dinner parties, or kitchen tables,' Kate shares.

'This is a gorgeous way to style them for a hallway or feature table as you enter the home – a fresh burst of color as you come through the door,' she adds.

3. Style them in a fishbowl vase 

While we chose peonies for their aesthetic value, the correct shaped vase can make all the difference in the overall appearance of your room. Therefore, it is just as important to get the vase right. 

According to Liam Lapping, florist at Flowercard, the chicest way to do your peonies justice is with a fishbowl vase. Liam similarly urges us to cut our stems before arranging them in a fishbowl where we can see the full flower head.

'Ensure you spread the flowers out evenly to give the peonies a chance to bloom,' Liam adds.

4. Curate a front-facing bouquet 

See: Raised bed garden ideas – build raised planters now for productive, low- maintenance gardening

Bloom and Wild may be renowned for their Coral Charm Peonies bouquets, but they're also full of styling tips that will improve the appearance of your blooms throughout your interiors. Their florist Harriet Parry encourages us to style our peonies into a large front-facing bouquet once the flowers open up big when they bloom. 

'A front-facing bouquet makes things extra impactful. Cut a mix of your stems into three different heights. Pop the tallest at the back, the medium in the middle, and the shortest at the back. Remember to leave room for the peonies to bloom, so keep them spaced out as you go. Cramming them means they won't be able to open up as fully,' Harriet suggests.

Though peony season is only short, we're certainly going to make the most of it while we can – the race to bring them into our homes has begun. 

Peonies herald the call for the start of summer, they epitomize the fun and joy that summer brings with their riot of color and gorgeous fragrance filling the air with the sweet, spicy and lemon scents. 

For some though, long held myths about planting peonies has stopped them from choosing to grow these wonderful and virtually care-free plants in their garden. 

Alec White of Primrose Hall Peonies has had a love affair with peonies ever since he first started growing them 15 years ago and he believes every garden deserves at least one beautiful peony. So, he has shared the biggest peony myths and misconceptions with us and debunked them with simple explanations, in the hope that gardeners who have previously been put off from growing peonies might decide that they will finally give it a go and choose to grow a peony of their own.

Myth 1: Peonies are hard to grow

This myth is the most prolific and the truth is if you follow some simple rules with peonies, you will be able to have a gorgeous plant blooming in your garden from the first season you plant your new peony.

• Buy a well-established, mature peony plant (peonies don’t flower reliably until they are around 5 years old).
• Plant in a sunny or part-shaded sheltered position in any free-draining soil.
• Don’t plant your herbaceous or intersectional peony too deep – ensure the crown is no more than 25mm below the surface. Over mulching is a common cause for a peony to not flower.
• Feed your peony plant once a year in the spring or autumn.
• Cut back herbaceous and intersectional peonies in the autumn once the leaves have turned brown; remember Tree peonies respond well to pruning to keep them under control.
• Water your peony consistently while buds are forming in the Spring but take care not to over water as peonies don’t like to have wet ‘feet’ or roots.

Myth 2: Peonies are delicate and don’t like the cold

It is not clear where exactly this myth has come from but a lot of peony beginners have been worried about the more recent cold snowy winters. The truth is that peonies have been popular for centuries and have been used in medicine and food in Europe and China for thousands of years. 

Parts of China and also Japan, which is well known for tree peonies, have much colder climates. There are well-known growers and breeders in northern states of America and even in Alaska, very well known for lots of snow. 

Peonies are hardy down to -25ºC and enjoy the colder weather which signals a dormant period above ground with buds forming below the surface on the roots ready to re-emerge when the weather starts to heat up towards Spring. Most growers will tell you the colder the winter that the better the blooms the following peony season.

A late frost can cause some damage to leaves but it won’t do any lasting damage to the plant, if you are worried you can cover your peonies with some netting to prevent the frost settling and prevent any burn.

Myth 3: Peonies will only grow in certain soil types

Myth totally busted: peonies are happy in any soil type even clay provided the soil is free draining. If you have particularly solid clay soil try mixing in some sand or pebbles through the soil to encourage drainage before planting. 

When planting a new peony in the garden we always advise adding some specialist peony fertiliser to enrich the root growth for the first season and you can continue to feed your peony once a year, this is not essential, but can encourage better blooms.

Myth 4: Peonies cannot be moved

A few bad experiences and maybe inexperience have promoted this myth about peonies.

Any plant is not super happy about being moved from its cozy spot which it had become accustomed to but peonies are absolutely fine with being moved. It is best to plan where you would like to move your peony to so you can have as smooth a transition as possible. The best time is also in the autumn once the plant has been cut back (and has been pruned if it is a tree peony).

There are a couple of errors to avoid when replanting a peony and these are usually the cause of the plant not flowering the following year; firstly ensure the eyes on the roots are not damaged in lifting, transport or replanting (these are the pink buds on the roots).

Secondly, ensure that the plant has not been buried or covered with too much soil. A herbaceous peony crown or top of the plant needs to be quite close to the surface only approximately 2 or 3in below. Be cautious when mulching your borders that you don’t cover up the base of your peony. 

The process is exactly the same when planting tree peonies, but with grafted peonies it is best to plant with the graft union about 10-15cm below the surface.

Myth 5: Peonies only last for a few years like normal perennials

This could not be further from the truth and may have come about because some peonies have not flowered and so people think they have essentially died, dug them up and not given them a chance. Peonies are in fact a long lived plant. They can last for decades in the garden and some varieties have been known to live for 90 plus years happily.

Peonies take a while to mature from seedling or cutting and so plants tend to only flower at 3 – 5 years old. To have the best success with peonies buy mature plants from a reputable nursery, a mature peony should bloom in your garden from the very first year and continue to produce more and more blooms every year. If you see or have a peony with 20 – 30 blooms, tip your hat and salute, as it may be older than you.

Myth 6: Peonies are not fragrant

Our favorite myth to bust, it is with delight that we love chatting to gardeners and telling them that most peony varieties are scented! Some varieties more than others though and it is not linked to color as we currently grow many peonies with fragrance in red, fuschia, apricot, yellow, white and cream! There are different types of peony scents ranging from spicy, sweet, powdery and citrus.

Our most favourite and highly scented peonies are the following:

Duchesse de Nemours – beautiful semi-double creamy white flowers with a strong, intoxicating scent.

Madame Calot – prolific, double pink flowers and strong fragrance.

Sarah Bernhardt AGM – very popular garden and cut flower variety, loved by gardeners and florists alike. Sarah Bernhardt AGM is a gorgeous fully double sugar-pink with crimson flecks on the outer petals and with a sensational scent.

Bartzella– a luminous yellow Itoh peony with gorgeous lemony scents, holding up very well flowering for extended periods with side buds staggered blooming from the main buds.

Monsieur Jules Elie– beautifully fragrant variety with lavender pink double flowers which tend not to fade in full sun, making it an excellent cut flower.

Festiva Maxima AGM – a personal favourite, with a good scent and large, fully double white flowers with a crimson fleck on the outer petals. Makes a popular cut flower.

Myth 7: Peonies only flower in May

This myth makes sense but with the love we have for peonies who wouldn’t want them flowering in your garden for longer? We have separated our peonies into early, mid, mid-late and late flowering varieties. If you curate your collection with a variety from each category you could have a peony flowering in your garden from April to July.

See: Flower bed ideas – beautiful ways to create floral displays in your garden

Intersectional hybrid peonies, a cross between tree and herbaceous varieties, can produce huge fragrant blooms, which seem to hold better on the stem due to woodier tree peony DNA making them a sturdy plant and will often flower for twice as long as a normal tree peony (perhaps for 4-5 weeks).

We have put together the list below of early, mid and late flowers. Some varieties straddle the border so we would always advise choosing a few from each category to enjoy an extended peony season in your garden.

After the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) was forced to cancel several of its shows – like the RHS Chelsea Flower Show – many beautiful flowershave been left without a home.

Primrose Hall Peonies have the widest selection of rare and unusual peony varieties for sale in the UK.

SeeThe RHS announce virtual Chelsea Flower Show 2020

They are a thriving British nursery growing herbaceous peonies, tree peonies as well as Itoh peonies on five acres in Bedfordshire.

The Plant Heritage Society has awarded the nursery the National Collection for Itoh varieties, these are all currently growing in the field ready to flower every Spring.

Primrose Hall Peonies are regular exhibitors at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and they aim to create exciting displays with their collection of interesting blooms.

SeeThe RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2020 has been cancelled

Alec White, owner and nurseryman has a passion in peonies and gives regular talks and workshops as well as writing articles using his expert knowledge of these spectacular plants.

As all the shows including RHS Chelsea Flower Show have been cancelled for 2020 it is imperative that to keep these nurseries running online sales of their plants and flowers are promoted as much as possible.

Alec has this to say, 'please make the most of your time at home and make your garden as gorgeous as possible. So much time and effort is put into these beautiful plants to grow them so they are at their best to plant for spring so stock up on peonies and when the virus hits peak and all we have to gaze out at is our gardens, your peonies will be cheering you up with their gorgeous blooms.

Gardening and spending time outdoors will be the best medicine for all the Covid-19 anxiety. Fresh air and green is relaxing and calming, we could all definitely do with some of that.'

Primrose Hall Peonies, primrosehallpeonies.co.uk

How to buy flowers from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show

If you want to give one of these plants a home, head over to the RHS website. They have a guide to the nurseries that were due to take part in their shows, which allows you to search by plant type or alphabetically so you can find each nursery’s website and email address.