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Peonies are herbaceous perennials with stunningly beautiful spring blossoms that make them a staple of bouquets and cut flower gardens. And this is a beauty that lasts; some peonies are known to last for at least 100 years! There are a few tips and tricks we have in order to make sure your peonies endure for years to come.

Not only are the flowers beautiful, many of them, such as the Duchesse de Nemours, but also have intoxicating rose-like aromas in addition to their pure white blooms. Others, such as the Karl Rosenfield feature a deep pink color that is hardly seen in other plants in the garden.

Generally, Peonies are hardy from zones 3 to 8, making their charm available for a large part of the country. They do not like to be moved once they have been established, so take caution when choosing a location. Additionally, peonies do not like to compete with other plants for supplements like sun, water, or nutrients, so they are best treated as specimen plants, placed apart from other rivaling plants.

Ground Rules

Light

These Peonies are not too particular with their sunlight requirements; they can handle full sun or partial shade and thrive beautifully. However, Peonies do grow best in full sun areas and prefer to be in the shade only during hot and bright summer hours. If you live in a colder region and plant your Peonies in the shade, doing so could result in weak stems and less flower production. If you start to notice these issues and your plant is in quite a bit of shade throughout the day, you should try to replant it in a better location for successful growth.

Water

Once established, herbaceous peonies are known to be drought tolerant. During the spring, they can survive on rainfall alone, but if your area is experiencing a gap of more than a week of rainfall, we recommend giving the plant some water to supplement.

Soil

Peonies thrive best in rich, fertile, well-draining soil conditions. These perennials like to have medium moist soil at all times, but it is critical not to let their soil get too wet and stay too wet. Make sure your plants are in well-draining soil so that they do not risk the chance of getting root rot disease. It is crucial to watch how often you water your Peony plants because too much water will oversoak their soil, but too little water won't keep them moist. It will take a bit of time to figure out the right balance for your new plant.

Food

Peonies are one of the few garden perennials that do not need fertilizer applications every year. Instead of planting them in regular soil and having to fertilize often, we recommend that you plant your Peonies with plenty of nutrients from the start. As mentioned above, your Peony plants will not bloom the first couple of years. However, once they have bloomed for a couple of years, you can apply compost, bonemeal, or well-rotted manure in early summer. Be sure not to fertilize your Peonies in the winter during their growth dormancy period. Doing so could cause their roots to burn and cause permanent damage to your plant.

Temperature

As mentioned, peonies are cold tolerant, generally hardy down to zone 3. However, it is the warmer temperatures that threaten this plant. It cannot survive above zones 8 or 9.

Toxicity

Unfortunately, peony flowers contain paenol which is known to be toxuc to animals. If eaten, it may cause an upset stomach or vomitting.

Mulch

Adding mulch around peony plants may be more damaging than it is helpful as it may smother the roots. If you live in one of the colder ends of the growing areas, it may be necessary to apply a thin, light layer of mulch around the plant to protect the roots from cold winds. Be sure to leave a space between the mulch and the base of the plant to prevent root rot.