Every garden has a plant that makes you hold your breath a little as the season builds and the buds begin to swell. For most gardeners, that plant is the Peony. Peonies are a long-term investment in beauty. They are slow to establish but astonishingly long-lived, with some plants remaining in the same spot for fifty years or more, blooming more prolifically with each passing season. Hardy in zones 3–8, Peonies produce flowers of extraordinary size and fragrance in shades of white, cream, blush, pink, rose, coral, and deep crimson, making her one of the most treasured perennials in the entire garden.
A Bloom That Earns Its Place for a Lifetime
Peonies have a romance to them that is hard to explain to anyone who hasn’t experienced it firsthand. There is something deeply satisfying about a plant that asks so little of you: plant her well once, and she will thank you with enormous, bowl-like blooms and an intoxicating fragrance every spring for decades to come. She is the kind of plant that becomes a garden heirloom, passed down through cuttings and divisions from one generation of gardeners to the next.
In the garden, Peonies make excellent anchor plants in the perennial border. Their bold, glossy foliage remains attractive all season long after bloom time has passed, and in fall many varieties take on beautiful red and bronze tones before dying back for the winter. They partner beautifully with Iris, Allium, Salvia, and of course roses, creating a late spring to early summer garden that is nothing short of spectacular. Give her plenty of space; mature Peony clumps can reach 3–4 feet wide, and she will reward you with a display that far exceeds that of almost any other plant in the garden.
Peonies also make extraordinary cut flowers. Their blooms are large, fragrant, and absolutely stunning in arrangements. Harvest stems when the buds are at the “soft marshmallow” stage, just slightly soft to the touch but not yet open, and they will open beautifully in the vase over several days. Cut Peony buds can even be stored in the refrigerator (wrapped in plastic) for several weeks, which is a wonderful trick for timing blooms for special events.
Planting and Care
Watch our step-by-step planting tutorial below, then follow along with the written guide for all the details.
Peonies are sold as a root, typically with three to five eyes (pink buds) visible. Fall is the ideal planting time in most climates, as it allows the roots to settle in and begin establishing before winter. Plant as soon as your roots arrive; in colder climates, aim to get them in the ground before the soil freezes.
Choose a sunny location, as Peonies need at least 6 hours of direct sun to bloom well. Good drainage is essential, as they will not tolerate wet roots. Dig a generous hole 12–18 inches deep and mix a teaspoon of our Heirloom™ Bone Meal into the loosened soil. This is the most important planting step for long-term success: place the root so that the pink eyes sit 2–3 inches below the soil surface. This shallow planting depth is crucial — plant too deep and she may grow beautifully but never bloom. Water thoroughly after planting.
New Peony plants are patient bloomers. It is normal to see little or no flower in the first year or two as the plant focuses its energy on establishing a strong root system. By year three, most plants begin to bloom, and from year four onward you can expect a full, glorious display. Fertilize in early spring with Founders Fish Fertilizer™; its naturally low-nitrogen formula feeds the plant without encouraging excess foliage, and its soil-nourishing fish base supports the kind of deep, healthy root system that Peonies reward you for building. Apply again lightly after blooming to support the plant through the rest of the growing season. Stake large-flowered varieties before bloom time, as the enormous blooms can weigh down the stems after rain. Deadhead spent flowers, and in fall cut the foliage down to the ground to prevent overwintering of disease.
Unlike most perennials, Peonies strongly dislike being disturbed and do not need regular division; in fact, dividing too often can set a plant back years. Leave them undisturbed and simply enjoy the increasing bounty each season brings.
Three of our favorites this season are: Coral Charm, a Gold Medal-winning semi-double in luminous coral-pink that opens to show golden stamens; Sarah Bernhardt, the timeless shell-pink classic that has graced cutting gardens for over a century; and Lemon Chiffon, a soft and unusual lemon-yellow that adds unexpected lightness to the border.