Flower growing guide
Peonies
Paeonia lactiflora
Sun
Full sun
Season
Cool
Maturity
2 to 3 years
Water
Moderate
Soil pH
6.5 to 7.0
Spacing
3 to 4 ft
Planting peonies
Plant bare-root divisions in fall with the pink eyes no more than 2 inches deep. Planting too deep is the classic reason peonies refuse to bloom.
Planting details
- Eyes must sit only 1 to 2 inches below the surface
- Spacing: 3 to 4 feet; clumps widen slowly over years
- Ants on the buds are normal and harmless
Growing requirements
Peonies want full sun, well-drained soil, and winter chill to set buds. Once planted, leave them alone; they resent being moved and can sulk for a season after transplanting.
Harvesting and care
Cut stems for the vase when the buds feel soft as marshmallows. After bloom, remove spent flowers but leave the foliage until frost, since it builds next year's buds.
Common mistakes
- Planting the eyes too deep, the usual cause of peonies that never bloom
- Cutting foliage early, which starves next year's flowers
- Moving established plants casually, since reset takes a full season
Companion plants
Peonies anchor the back of spring borders with iris and alliums, and their foliage stays tidy beside daylilies through summer.