Peonies are some of the most beautiful flowers that grace our gardens in the spring. They are elegant, smell stunning, and put on a spectacular show year after year. These flowers are a popular pick with brides because of what they symbolize, romance and love. Peonies return year after year even in the worst of gardens and can survive 100 + years! These beauties are native to Western North America, Europe, and Asia, and started growing in popularity in the U.S. in the early 1900s. There are three Peonies varieties: Tree Peonies, Herbaceous, and Itoh. For this post we will be primarily talking about the Herbaceous variety, they are what you commonly find in your neighborhood garden. A common question among gardeners is, how to grow and care for peonies? In this post we will cover the basics you need to know to get started with peonies.
Peonies are perennials that will return year after year requiring minimal care and they can be grown throughout most of the country, even down to Zone 2! As mentioned, they can last over 100 years with little effort, so it is worth investing a little time and energy to give your peony the best start and give you the lushest plant. Peonies will bloom in the spring to early summer, only lasting about a week. Once they are done blooming, beautiful green foliage will be left for the rest of the garden season.
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Herbaceous Peonies love full sun, at least 6 hours per day, in the height of summer a little afternoon shade may be welcomed. Like most flowers, peonies prefer nutrient-dense well-draining soil. If your soil is more on the clay side, amending it before planting would be helpful. Adding in some fresh compost at the time of planting will also help these babies get their best start. Space peonies 3-4 feet apart to give room for growth and to allow air circulation.
If you are planting a peony root vs an established plant ensure that you are placing the eyes or where they will grow from no deeper than 2 inches below the surface, you will also want these nodules pointing upward; they are what will develop into the stems. Ensuring that the root is no deeper than 2 inches will give you the most blooms, when they are planted deeper, they are likely to produce fewer flowers. Don’t mulch around your peony because this can make it think it is buried deeper than 2 inches, impeding on your blooms.
If you are planting an established plant from a nursery, you will dig a hole twice as big as the root ball. Add compost to the bottom and fill with healthy soil. Water deeply.
Peony flowers can be quite heavy compared to their stems, applying a peony cage in early spring for support will help prevent the plant from leaning over. You will want to place this cage in the spring before the plant gets too large making it difficult to place.
Adding some compost annually to feed the plant is all that the peony will need in terms of feeding, it is wise to do this in the fall so the plants’ roots have nutrients to get it through the winter. In the fall the foliage will die back, this can be removed with clean garden sheers. In the spring new sprouts will emerge.
In conclusion, growing peony flowers may seem like a daunting task, but with the right knowledge and care, anyone can cultivate these magnificent blooms. As we’ve learned, choosing the right location, preparing the soil, and providing proper maintenance throughout the year are key factors in successfully growing peonies. So remember, “just like peonies, great things take time and nurturing.” With these tips in mind, you can start your journey to a beautiful and bountiful peony garden. And as writer Henry Mitchell said, “if you’re lucky and the gods of good weather smile upon you, you’ll have peonies to dream on for several weeks.” So go ahead, get your hands dirty, and let these alluring flowers add beauty and joy to your life. And who knows, maybe next time we meet, you’ll have some peony growing secrets to share as well. Happy gardening!
Happy Gardening!
For more gardening tips check out, Fall Bulb Planting For Spring Blooms
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