Peonies Take Patience–And Are Worth the Wait

Van Staalduinen says that peonies typically prefer to be grown in USDA Zones 3 through 7. Earlier-blooming selections tend
to have lower chill requirements, so those are the best to try in the South.

Starting in autumn will give you a leg up. “We dig and ship peony plants in the fall because they’ll grow better in that first year if they have had the benefit of being in the soil during the winter,” says Van Staalduinen.

For the first winter, he suggests using a heavy mulch once the ground begins to freeze in areas that have a penetrating frost.

Planting in partial shade could cause peonies to become leggy and require staking to support their blooms.

Van Staalduinen advises beginning with a hole 30% larger than the actual plant. Fill the hole until the “eyes” (growth buds) are about 1 inch above soil level. Cover the plant with loose soil about 2 inches above that, and water thoroughly.

Allow for at least 4 feet between the plants. He compares a mature peony to a shrub, so it will need room to grow. Spacing them too densely can lead to leggy plants as well as disease.

“We always tell people to expect to wait two to three years before really starting to see good blooming,” Van Staalduinen says. Then after that, with proper management, your plant could flower for decades.

Know the features of the selection you are looking for, and buy from reputable vendors. ‘Festiva Maxima’ is so popular that similar but less reliable plants may accidentally be given that label.