Peonies will grow and flower abundantly for decades when planted correctly. The bare roots should be planted in the fall or early spring. They should be sited in full sun, planted into rich, well-draining soil, and the eyes should only be 1 ½-2 inches under the soil surface. If a peony is planted too deeply or sited in deep shade, it will produce foliage but no flowers. They perform best in zones 3-8, with a soil PH of 6.5-7, and need to experience at least 60 days of cold winter temperatures to flower abundantly.
Most cultivars grow to a height and width of approximately 3×3 feet so give them lots of room in the garden, or plan to move nearby plants as the years go on. If you’re growing peonies in rows for cut flower production, the roots should be spaced 24 inches apart, with rows that are 18 inches apart. Good air circulation around the plants is vital to preventing bacterial and fungal diseases.
Peony roots are sold by the number of eyes or grade number. The more eyes a root has or the higher the grade number, the sooner you will get flowers from that root. Here I have a grade 1 peony and I can see the presence of 5 eyes.
To start, loosen the soil where the peony root will be planted and add some compost to the area. Dig out an area one and half times the width of my root. Position the peony root so that the eyes are 1 ½ -2 inches below the soil surface. This is the most important part. Next, backfill with soil, firm it in lightly, and give it a deep watering. Mulch around the perimeter of the peony to help suppress weeds and retain moisture. Just take care not to pile lots of mulch on top of the root because this can cause it to become planted too deeply also.
Peonies take a few years to become established. Don’t worry if the first year you only see foliage, and the second year you only have one or two flowers. As the years pass the root system and plant will get bigger and the peony will begin to flower with abundance. The first thing you’ll see in spring is the red sprouts emerging from the earth. Then the leaves will begin to unfurl, and by late May into June they will begin to flower. Large established peonies benefit from a support system so their heavy heads don’t fall to the ground. You can use special peony supports or simply surround them with stakes and twine.
Another option is to cut your peony flowers. Since the best time to cut them is in marshmallow bud stage, which is when the bud squishes easily between your fingers, you’ll be harvesting the flowers before they have a chance to get top heavy and fall over. You can even store peonies dry for weeks by picking them in marshmallow bud stage, wrapping them in brown paper, and laying them in your refrigerator. When you want to use the peonies, remove them from storage but keep them wrapped, recut the stem ends and rehydrate them in a bucket of water. In a few hours they’ll look like they were freshly cut from the garden.
After your peonies are done blooming allow the foliage to remain in the garden until the first frost kills the leaves. At that time remove all the dead foliage to prevent disease.
After many years have passed, you may want to divide your peony. This is best done in the fall. Start by cutting off all the foliage at ground level, then dig and lift the entire root from the ground. Next, spray it down with water to remove most of the soil so you can clearly see the eyes. Look for a place where it may be possible to pull the clump apart or use a sharp knife to divide it into sections. Each division should have at least 3 to 5 eyes and a healthy mass of roots. Divisions with less than 3 eyes will grow, but it may be several years before the plant produces flowers. Repeat the planting steps we talked about earlier and you’ll be surrounded by peony blooms in no time!
Hi Danielle, First, I want to say I love your haircut and color! So refreshing! That length is pretty on you. Secondly, I wanted to let you know that I learn so much from your videos. I started some peonies last fall and a couple more this spring. I can't wait until they are all thriving. Your garden is just so beautiful and peaceful. Have a great evening.
I have peonies planted all along my driveway as well. I have had them for over 20 years and have moved them to several different houses. They were all free to begin with. I really love them, but a lot of times our weather changes just as they are blooming and the heat fries them. So sad. A problem I have is rhizome grass and field bindweed getting into mine, it’s impossible to weed out the roots, they become intertwined with the peony roots. I have dug them up several times and tried to get out every single weed root, but they always come back.
So helpful. Thank you for demystifying the process. I love peonies.
I have a couple garden beds that I mulch almost every year. Should I dig up any peonies I have planted there and replant them higher, so they don’t get buried too deep?
Great video! I love peonies! I transplanted my Sarah Bernhardt and brought it to our new home three years ago. She still blooms like crazy! I bought a few single petal ones this year and going to plant around our gazebo. I'm hoping for a pretty show next year. I have them in pots now and they are doing really well. Can't wait!
Hi Danielle, it's always so enjoyable to listen to your videos, you have inspired me to get out in my own garden and try new perennials, bulbs, and cut flowers. Now I know how to divide my peony bush. You always have great advice and information to share with all of us. Thank you, ????
Thanks Danielle! Very informative!
Thanks a lot for sharing, very helpful information, especially for beginner gardeners.
Thanks for the video! I bought and planted some bare root tubers this year and the planting instructions said to plant 6” deep. Looks like I’ll have a little project to dig up and bring them closer to the surface. Happy gardening!
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I just got two new peonies last fall so this was great information. Thank you so much! ????????????
I inherited my mom's place, along with the peonies she planted in the mid '80's, still blooming today. Well actually in a couple weeks.
When I moved into my house, there were peonies and sedum in the shade and hostas in the hottest, sunniest part of the yard ???? learning how to transplant things was a game changer! My peonies are much happier now
Wonderful ????
Thank you for sharing this valuable information
Thanks for information. My delivery of peony roots came in early November one night before a snow storm. I was very worried that they couldn’t establish roots. I can see some growth this spring. It is so hard to wait three years to cut stems. I look forward to your video each week. Your hair cut is attractive. Please keep us flower growers advised with your wisdom and experience. Thanks, Judith
When and how do you fertilize established peonies? I amended the soil with good compost in the fall and don't want to overfertilize. Love your channel!
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Love peonies. Learned as always from you, Danielle. Happy growing ❤