How to grow peonies

Peonies offer voluptuous blooms to grace your garden from late spring until July. Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall and Claire Austin give tips on how to grow these alluring flowers

By Klaudia Mihalova

Published: Monday, 01 May 2023 at 12:00 am

A plant which heralds the coming of summer, peonies are some of the most loved of garden flowers. From herbaceous to tree peony, here’s our guide on how to care for and grow peonies, written by experts including Claire Austin and Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall. Don’t miss our piece on intersectional peonies. 

How to grow peonies

Soil

Peonies will grow in most soils with adequate drainage, and like slightly alkaline conditions. In acid soil, add a handful of lime when planting. In light soil add well-rotted organic matter to boost moisture retention. Organic matter will scorch the emerging peony buds in spring, so mulch as far away from the central crown as possible.

Prepare the ground

Dig a hole 30cm deep. Mix well-rotted manure or compost and a handful of bone meal or general fertiliser. If planting a group of peonies, place about 75cm apart. Plant too deep and the peonies may fail to flower – the buds, which will form the shoots, should be no more than 2.5cm below the soil surface and the planting hole wide enough to accommodate the roots comfortably.

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Aspect

In full sun peonies will flower and grow more prolifically but in light shade the flowers last longer and fade less. James Kelway thought single peonies did better in shade than double peonies.

 

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‘Buckeye Belle’. © Jason Ingram

On delivery

Most suppliers send out bare root peonies between October and March. Each peony root should have three or more buds. A white fungal bloom on peony roots is normal. Roots can be kept for a few weeks in a cold, dark place, in moist potting compost.

Prepare the ground

Dig a hole 30cm deep. Mix well-rotted manure or compost and a handful of bone meal or general fertiliser. If planting a group of peonies, place about 75cm apart. Plant too deep and the peonies may fail to flower – the buds, which will form the shoots, should be 2cm below the surface.

Staking

In flower peonies get top-heavy, especially in wet weather. In exposed areas, taller cultivars need staking. In average conditions, the following don’t need staking: ‘Buckeye Belle’, ‘Crimson Glory’, ‘Magic Orb’, ‘Shirley Temple’. Support taller cultivars when the stems are around 15cm high.

Here’s more on how to support peonies

 

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‘Coral Sunset’ © Jason Ingram

How to care for peonies

In autumn cut down dead peony foliage at ground level and clear it away. Feed every three years in spring, top dress with bone meal or general fertiliser. If on heavy or sandy soil, mulch lightly with well-rotted manure or compost, in a circle about 15-20cm around the peony, avoiding the crown.

Dividing peonies

Peonies do not mind being moved – especially if they are not divided. If you want to divide plants, do this when they are dormant, from late October to the end of January, and ensure that each division has at least three buds.

Pests and diseases

Botrytis – peony wilt – can cause peony stems to rot and collapse, usually just before or after flowering. Cladosporium can cause brown blotches that turn black on the leaves from July onwards. There are no recommended chemicals to control these fungal diseases, but they are not normally a problem if you maintain a good air flow around the peonies, not overcrowding them with other plants, particularly at ground level. If stems rot or leaves turn spotty, remove immediately to prevent infection spreading. Flower buds exude a sweet, sticky substance that attracts ants, but these don’t damage the flowers.

Remove old leaves to discourage diseases. Peony wilt is worse during damp weather. If it becomes a problem, dispose of infected parts away from the garden or spray with fungicide.

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‘Cheddar Gold’ © Jason Ingram

Where to buy

Where to see

There are several impressive National Collections of peonies, from pre-1900, early 20th century and pre-1940s cultivars of Paeonia lactiflora to species peonies and herbaceous hybrids. For more details call Plant Heritage on 01483 447540 or visit the website at www.nccpg.com