Peonies are among the most elegant and graceful flowering plants out there, yielding glorious flowers with relatively little effort. The gardening dream, right? These popular perennials are a mainstay of many Japanese gardens, their ruffled (often fragrant) blooms coming in a range of happy hues and forms.

Get your peony planting right and you’ll be laughing all the way to the bank as far as your plant’s longevity is concerned. In this guide, we’ll be giving you some planting tips as well as walking you through how to care for your peony in the months and years to come.

Jump to:

• How to plant peonies
• When to plant peonies
• Where to plant peonies
• Watering peonies
• Feeding peonies
• Pruning peonies
• Supporting peonies

How to plant peonies

So, you’ve decided you want a peony or two in your flowerbed. A good choice. Time to get planting. One of the most important things to remember when planting herbaceous peonies (also known as Chinese peonies) is that they don’t like to be planted too deep.

The crown of your plant(s) – which can be thought of as where the roots transition into above-ground growth – should be planted just a couple of centimetres or so below the soil surface. Much deeper than this, and you’ll get a plant that doesn’t flower very well, instead putting its energy into foliage production. This is true for both herbaceous and Itoh (intersectional) peonies.

When planting tree peonies, search for the graft union (the point at which the scion has been grafted onto the rootstock) and plant so that this is roughly 15cm below the soil surface. This aids better root development. Once you’ve planted your peony, firm it in the soil and give it a good watering.

When to plant peonies

For potted herbaceous and Itoh peonies, plant at the start of spring. For their bare root counterparts, plant these while the plant is dormant between October and March. As for tree peonies, autumn planting is preferable but they’ll still establish nicely enough if you plant in winter or towards the start of spring. As with all plants, it’s worth avoiding planting if the ground is either frozen or waterlogged.

Where to plant peonies

Depending on the variety, peonies should be planted in full sun (most herbaceous perennials) or partial shade (tree peonies), in soil that’s well-drained but that still retains a little bit of moisture. Fertile soil is helpful, so if your soil is naturally on the poorer side, consider working in some compost or well-rotted manure just to enrich it somewhat. If you’re growing your peony in a pot on the patio, then a loamy compost like John Innes No. 3 works perfectly.

Watering peonies

Once your peony is bedded in and establishing, you’ll want to water it regularly throughout the first growing season. After this, however, once your plant is established, you’ll only need to give it a watering during hot, dry spells. If you’re container-growing your peony, then it will need more regular watering than if you’re growing it in the open ground, as the compost in the pot will dry out quicker.

Feeding peonies

Peonies benefit from an annual feed at the start of spring; a balanced slow-release fertiliser is recommended as this will keep supporting your plant throughout the growing season. For potted peonies, apply either the slow-release fertiliser as above, or alternatively, a fortnightly liquid feed application in spring and summer. As for mulching, a layer of rotted compost can be beneficial, however it’s crucial that you avoid smothering the crown (apply in a ring around the crown, instead).

Pruning peonies

Tree peonies don’t need any pruning beyond the odd neatening up, as well as deadheading the seedheads in September or October. As for herbaceous and Itoh peonies, they need hard pruning in autumn, cutting them all the way back to ground level. This helps mitigate against issues like peony wilt. For younger plants, a thin layer of straw mulch – again, taking care to avoid the crown – can help with overwintering peonies successfully, so that when they kick into gear again come the following spring, they’re as healthy as can be.

Deadheading peonies

As and when your peony’s blooms begin to fade and shrivel, cut them off at their base. Not only does this contribute to a better-looking plant, but it also helps divert more of the plant’s energy into developing its root system, which can lead to even better blooms the following year.

Supporting peonies

Bigger, top-heavier peonies like ‘Bowl of Beauty’ and ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ might need some additional support to stop them from flopping over. From traditional peony rings to corralling your plants with garden twine and metal rods, there are plenty of options to consider.

Final thoughts

If you’re a peony lover, then you’re not alone. And hopefully, having read this, you’ll have a better understanding of how to properly care for your peonies so that they go on to live happy, healthy and floriferous lives.