Garden Flower Gardens How to Grow and Care for Peonies to Ensure Beautiful Blooms Year After Year Get a beautiful show from your peonies with this complete care guide. By Wendy Rose Gould Wendy Rose Gould Wendy Rose Gould is a veteran freelance lifestyle reporter based in Phoenix, Ariz. with over 10 years of experience. She covers home, wellness, beauty, and travel for outlets such as Martha Stewart, Real Simple, Insider, TODAY, Bustle, TripSavvy, The Zoe Report, and others. Whether ruminating about interior design with the influential leaders in the industry, on the ground at NYFW talking trends with beauty and fashion pros, or venturing to a new corner of the world, she’s always eager to report on the latest and greatest. Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 22, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Types of Peonies How to Plant Peonies Growing Peonies From Seed How to Transplant Peonies Care Requirement How to Prune Peonies Common Problems Season-by-Season Care Chart Every flower is beautiful in its own right, but there's something especially alluring about the peony's voluminous, ruffled blooms. Produced in a rainbow of colors ranging from delicate pastel pink to creamy white to rich red, they're inherently romantic and a true hallmark of spring and summer. While learning how to grow and care for peonies requires some attention to detail, you'll be rewarded kindly. In fact, this perennial is known to produce increasingly gorgeous blossoms year after year. Types of Peonies There are over 6,500 varieties of peonies. Of those varieties, each falls into one of three categories: Herbaceous: This cold-hardy type of peony is the most common and grows on stemsTree: Tree peonies are stemmed shrubs Itoh: These are a cross between herbaceous and tree peonies TorriPhoto / GETTY IMAGES How to Plant Peonies Peonies are typically planted in early fall. If planted in the spring, they may not bloom until the following year or later. They should be planted in an area that gets at least six hours of full sun and has well-draining soil. From Divisions Peonies are often sold as divisions with three to four eyes. Make sure the divisions are free from rot when they are planted and trim away any soft spots with a sharp knife. Dig a hole 12 to 18 inches deep and 18 inches wide. Space the holes 3 to 4 feet apart.Add 10-10-10 fertilizer to the hole according to the packages instructions.Fill the whole about half full of amended soil.Place the root division with the eyes facing upward in the hole.Backfill the hole, making sure the eyes are not more than 2 inches below the soil surface.Water well. From Containers Planting mature peonies straight from the container is the simplest way to grow the perennial. "Peonies need a lot of space to grow, so if you're purchasing multiple plants, be sure you have enough room in your garden," says Rebecca Sears, gardening expert and chief marketing officer for Ferry-Morse. Once planted, it'll take about three years for an abundant show of flowers. Dig a hole large enough to fit the plant's roots. Space the holes 3 to 4 feet apart.Gently remove the plant from its container.Place the peony in the hole you dug. Backfill the hole with soil, making sure the eyes are not more than 2 inches below the soil surface.Water well. 8 Types of Peonies, Plus How to Care for Them Before and After They Bloom Mkovalevskaya / GETTY IMAGES Growing Peonies From Seed Peonies can be grown from seed, but it's not the best method. "It can take anywhere from five to seven years for a peony to produce flowers from seed, so your best bet is to instead purchase a potted plant from a root propagation," says Bart Miller, a peony farmer based in Hyrum, Utah. That said, if you already have peonies in your garden and want to try planting from seeds produced by your plant, you can do so. But keep in mind that unless the parent plant is an open-pollinated variety, the seeds won't grow true—meaning the resulting plants will likely look different than the parent, says Sears. Start by collecting the seed pods in the late summer or early fall once they've browned and split open. Once collected, place the seeds in lukewarm water and discard any seeds that float, as these likely won't sprout. Plant your seeds right away in an area that gets at least six hours of sun per day and has well-draining soil. Water the seeds well after planting. How and When to Transplant Peonies So They Thrive for Years to Come How to Transplant Peonies Once settled, peonies don't take very kindly to transplanting. Doing so typically requires a long recovery process and can stall blooms for up to three years. In cases of poor transfer, it can cause severe damage and result in a lengthy recovery. "Peonies have deep and extensive root systems, and they establish strong connections with the soil over time," says Michael O'Brien, founder and owner of Hommes + Gardens. "Young peony plants may produce smaller flowers initially, but as they mature and develop a stronger root system, the blooms tend to increase in size and quality. By transplanting, you are interrupting this process." If you must transplant, he says to do so during fall or early spring following these steps. Dig carefully around the plant, making sure to avoid damage to the root system.Gently remove the peony from its current location.Select a well-draining location with sunlight or partial shade. Dig a whole big enough to accomodate its roots. Place the peony in the hole with buds facing upward. Backfill with soil, making sure the eyes are not more than 2 inches below the soil surface.Water thoroughly and apply organic mulch to retain moisture and deter weeds. SbytovaMN / GETTY IMAGES How to Care for Peonies Peonies need adequate care in order for their beautiful blooms to flourish. Light Peonies need at least six hours of full sunlight to achieve an abundance of large, healthy flowers, says Sears. Soil Well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH is essential, along with a good, organic compost. Water Water peonies on a regular basis during their first fall and spring. Once established, water well when the soil is dry. Peonies don't need a lot of supplemental irrigation. Temperature Peonies like plenty of sun during their growing season and need a solid winter freeze to store energy in their roots to form the buds for the following spring. "Therefore, peonies are not a good prospect for warm zones like Southern California, Florida, and some southern states," Miller says. Fertilizer Once the plants have bloomed, apply a mix of compost and a bit of 10-10-10 fertilizer to the base of the plant every year, Sears says. How to Prune Peonies Prune peonies in late fall or early spring by cutting them back to ground level before new growth emerges, says O'Brien. "While pruning, do a quick health check. If you see any dead or damaged stems, remove them at that time to maintain plant health," he says. During the growing season, deadhead spent blooms, leaving the foliage to allow the plant to store energy for next year's growth, says Miller. GrishaL / GETTY IMAGES Common Problems With Peonies Once established, peonies are a hardy shrub that requires minimal maintenance. However, like other plants, they're susceptible to their own set of issues. Leggy Stems If your peonies aren't getting enough sun, you'll notice that the plant is producing leggy stems and very few flowers. "You can dig up your plant and move it to a sunnier spot, but it will take a few seasons for it to start blooming again," says Sears. "Alternatively, you could also trim away any trees or shrubs that are giving your peonies extra shade." Crispy Leaves Conversely, if you notice singed or burnt leaves, this is a sign your peonies are getting too much sun. They're particularly prone to this issue in the middle of summer when days are long and hot. Sears recommends adding structures or other plants around your peonies to provide them with extra shade, rather than moving them to a shadier spot. No Blooms You may notice that your peony produce ample greenery, but that the blooms are lacking. While it does take anywhere from three to seven years for abundant blossoms, this could be a sign that your peonies were planted too deep into the soil. "Too much soil around the crown of the plant can prevent them from blooming," says Sears. "You will have to dig your peonies up and replant them to fix this, but they should start to bloom in the seasons to come." Powdery Mildew One common issue with peonies is powdery mildew, which can leave their leaves looking less than beautiful. "A simple solution is to ensure proper air circulation around the plants, avoid overhead watering, and to treat them with a neem oil or a homemade baking soda spray," O'Brien says. "With a little TLC, those peonies will be blooming splendidly in no time." Season-by-Season Peony Care Chart This handy season-by-season peony care chart will help you give these bushes the attention they require at any point in the year, says Kaylyn Hewitt, the lead floral designer at The Bouqs Company. Spring In late winter or early spring, add a thin layer of compost around your peony bushes; once they have established a new foot of growth (by mid-spring), apply a slow-release fertilizer to boost the plant's nutrient uptake, says Hewitt. Install a support structure around any top-heavy established plants; old tomato cages can be trimmed down to ensure that your blooms remain upright. Summer Prune your peony throughout its summer growing season—but avoid cutting it back. Peonies do not need much pruning other than to maintain their shape and to control insects, Hewitt says. Be careful as you cut: Ensure you're not trimming back the stems that contain the large round bulbs, which will produce the fluffy blooms these stunners are known for. Fall After fall's first frost has passed, usually in October or November, do a deep prune. Cut peony bushes down to the soil level to promote new, healthy growth in the spring, says Hewitt. This is also a good time to move your plants or take a cutting for propagation; do so after you have cut them back. Dig up your roots and leave them untouched for a couple of days so that they soften and are easier to cut, Hewitt suggests. Transplant peonies sparingly, since they don't like to be moved much. Winter Because their bulbs remain underground in cold weather, peonies do not require care during this season. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Martha Stewart is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources—including peer-reviewed studies—to support the facts in our articles. Read about our editorial policies and standards to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. Peonies for the Home Landscape. 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