Seeing that first glorious peony bloom is one of the best moments in a gardener's life. Peonies take the investment of time. Some varieties can take 1-3 years to bloom after planting. When that first bloom opens in the garden, it’s the incredible result of so much care and patience. It simply can’t be beat!
While the anticipation is exciting, the anxiety of messing something up can be paralyzing. Waiting 3 years only to discover a problem is agonizing. Trust me, I’ve lived at every point on this spectrum.
For all the mistakes we’ve made, we’re here to tell you, it’s not that complicated. Benefit from our successes (and failure) with the 10 simple steps for growing your peony:
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Check your growing zone: Peonies can’t grow everywhere. Go to the USDA Plant Hardness Zone map and input your zip code. That will tell you what zone you’re in so you can find peonies that will grow in your area. Peonies typically can be grown from Zone 4 (coldest) to Zone 8 (hottest).
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Buy at the right time of year: Fresh bare root peonies should be bought and planted in the fall. You can get roots in the spring, but the quality isn’t the same, and they struggle to get settled in during the warmer temperatures. However, you can buy potted peonies in the spring to plant from your local garden center, and that’s okay. But fall is the time for roots! Shop our fresh fall roots!
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Find some sunshine: Peonies need full sun, at least 6-8hrs of it per day. To get the best possible outcomes, you want lots of sun! In my garden, peonies in shady areas might get 5 blooms, while their friends in full sun get 35.
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Watch out for water: Peonies want well drained soil. In practical teams, that means don’t try to plant them somewhere that often holds puddles or stays muddy. Keep their feet dry!
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Give them space: Peonies should be planted at least 3 feet apart from each other. They also should have space from other plants and from structures, like walls or fences. Room to breathe helps fight future problems like outgrowning a space or getting crowded out.
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Dig a hole: The hole you plant in should be about double the size of a bare peony root, both in width and in depth. Break up the soil for easy growing, and optionally, mix in some compost at this stage for a little razzle dazzle.
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Find the eyes: Peonies have a tuber, and then they also have eyes. A premium root usually has 3-5 of them. The eyes are usually pink or white and shouldn’t be hard miss compared to the brown root. The eyes are what grows into stems and then flowers.
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Place and cover the peony root: Place the root in the hole so the eyes are facing up, and then bury it shallowly. The eyes should only be 1-3 inches underground. In practical terms, that means just below the surface. Planting too deeply is a very common misstep, and if buried too deep, your peony will never bloom. So, plant it shallow!
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Mulch: Mulching can be a bit controversial, but I’m a big fan. Mulch helps hold in moisture and helps keep down weeds. You can run into trouble if it’s piled too heavily on top of the root (thus the controversy). So spread it out around the area and only just lightly on the peony itself. In the spring, brush it away from the crown of the peony root.
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Watering: After planting give the base a good soak to help get any air bubbles out from the whole. Avoid over watering because peonies don’t love sitting in water for long. After that, you really only need to water a peony when the ground is very dry. For the most part, they take care of themselves.
The last step is to enjoy the satisfaction of doing good work! Your peony has been planted just right. Now you just have to struggle with the anticipation! Every peony is unique, but this one is yours, and you’re on a journey together.
