How to get these persnickety showstoppers in your own backyard.
There’s no denying peonies are the IT flower of late.
But for their ubiquity in garden shops every spring, they’re actually quite the featto growevery year.
Credit:Alison Miksch
Do peonies need full sun?
Can they handle heat?
Here are a fewplanting pointersso your garden is peony paradisefor you and them.
Alison Miksch
Where Can Peonies Grow?
Peonies like cold winters, and that’s hard to recreatein the South.
(They like USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 7, but can grow in Zone 8.)
Or grow a tree peony, a larger shrub with woody stems and enormous flowers.
Do Peonies Bloom the First Year?
Peonies need time both to settle in and then to bloom.
Then don’t expect blooms for two to three years after planting.
Establishing peonies may take time, but youll be rewarded with blooms for years to come.
After that, you could have flowers for decades with the proper care.
Some plants can live up to 100 years.
Do Peonies Need Space?
Planting them too close together can lead to “leggy” plants.
Plus, plenty of airflow helps with disease prevention.
Do Peonies Need Sun?
Though they desperately need the cold, they do need to be planted in full sun down South.
Oftentimes, shade in the Southern zones will just result in leggy plants, which means weaker plants.
In hotter areas, you’re able to provide some light shade in the afternoon hours.
Tree peonies will tolerate partial shade.
Do I Have to Start With Bulbs?
How Long Do Peonies Bloom?
Peonies arent in bloom for long, so enjoy every flower while it lasts.
They bloom in late spring, and each blossom lasts for seven to 10 days.
When Should I Prune Peonies?
While many other plants can be pruned after blooming, the peony cannot.
The leaves soak up summer sun to make food reserves for the next blooming season.
Get rid of damaged foliage anytime.
Dont prune until the leaves begin to yellow in the fall, in October or November.
Frequently Asked Questions
Peonies need quite a bit of sun to thrive.
Some varieties will tolerate partial shade, but they need a lot of sunlight to produce their blooms.
Plant them in a location where theyll get at least 6 hours a day.
Afternoon shade is fine for plants grown in the Lower South.
Dont plant peonies under large trees or other tall plants that shade them from the sun.
check that the soil is not soggy.
Grow them in a raised bed in areas where the soil is poor.
Peonies grown in the ground are safe during the winter.
They need cold weather to initiate dormancy for produce flowers in the spring.
Add a layer of mulch to cover the roots of younger plants.
