Peony

Sun

Full sun, ideally at least 6 hours daily. Light afternoon shade helps in hot districts, but too much shade reduces flowering.

Water

Moderate; keep newly planted roots evenly moist and water established plants deeply during prolonged dry spells. Avoid waterlogged ground.

Soil

Fertile, well-drained loam, preferably neutral to slightly alkaline. Improve very sandy soil with compost and avoid sites that stay wet in winter.

Height

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Flowers

Late spring to early summer, usually May-June in the Northern Hemisphere and November-December in southern Australia. The species has white or pale pink flowers; cultivated varieties include white, pink and deep red, in single to densely double forms.

Foliage

Divided, dark green leaves on upright annual stems; new shoots often emerge reddish. Foliage dies back in autumn.

Growth

Moderate once established; allow 2-3 years for a new plant to settle and flower freely.

Care needed

Medium

• Plant dormant bare roots in autumn with the upper buds only 1-2 in (2.5-5 cm) below the finished soil surface; use the shallower depth in milder districts.
• Water deeply during dry spells, especially during establishment and bud development.
• Apply a modest amount of balanced fertiliser in spring if growth is weak; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Mulch around the clump with compost, keeping the crown and emerging shoots uncovered.
• Fit peony rings or discreet stakes early in spring for heavy, double-flowered varieties.
• Leave established clumps undisturbed unless you need to divide or relocate them; they flower best where winters are reliably cold.

Pruning. Remove faded flowers just above a healthy leaf, leaving the foliage to feed the roots. In autumn, once leaves die back, cut stems to ground level and remove the debris, especially if diseased.

Early spring

Check that mulch has not buried the crown; add supports before stems become tall.

Spring

Feed lightly if needed and water during dry weather as buds develop.

Late spring to early summer

Cut flowers when buds feel soft and show colour, leaving plenty of leafy stems on the plant.

Early summer

Deadhead after flowering and check for mouldy buds or collapsing stems.

Summer

Keep healthy foliage intact and water deeply during prolonged drought.

Autumn

Cut down dead foliage; plant bare roots or divide established clumps if necessary.

• Plant in repeated groups through a sunny mixed border for a strong late-spring display.
• Combine with hardy geraniums and catmint to soften the base and extend flowering nearby.
• Use beside roses, allowing enough room and airflow for both plants.
• Grow in a dedicated cutting bed with supports for long, usable stems.

Garden styles it suits: English country, Cottage garden, Romantic rose garden, Traditional, Formal and Sensory garden.

Plant it with: Hardy geraniums, Catmint, Salvias, Bearded irises, Roses and Lady's mantle.

Wildlife: Open, single flowers provide pollen for bees; densely double flowers offer much less accessible food. Ants commonly visit the sugary bud secretions, but they are not needed for flowers to open and usually require no control.

• Peony wilt or Botrytis blight: buds blacken and stems collapse, especially in damp weather. Remove affected growth promptly, clear autumn debris and improve airflow.
• Poor flowering: common causes include planting too deeply, shade, recent disturbance or insufficient winter chilling. Expose buried crowns, improve light and allow new plants time to establish; avoid this species in frost-free climates.
• Flopping stems: heavy double flowers bend after rain. Install supports before growth becomes tall, or choose single and semi-double varieties.
• Powdery mildew: a white coating may develop on leaves late in the season. Improve spacing, avoid drought stress and remove affected foliage at autumn cleanup.

Toxic if eaten by cats, dogs and horses; all parts should be kept out of reach, especially the roots. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort. People may also develop stomach upset if plant parts are eaten; do not treat the flowers or roots as food. Seek veterinary or poison-service advice after ingestion.

• Tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa)

  Forms a woody shrub with stems that remain above ground through winter; Chinese herbaceous peony dies back completely.

• Fernleaf peony (Paeonia tenuifolia)

  Has finely divided, threadlike leaves and usually single red flowers earlier in spring, rather than broad leaflets and a later display.

Paeonia refers to Paeon, a healer in Greek mythology, while lactiflora means 'milk-flowered', referring to the species' pale flowers.

Propagation. Divide dormant clumps in autumn, keeping 3-5 healthy buds and substantial roots on each division, then replant shallowly. Divisions may take several years to flower well. Seed-grown plants are slow to mature and do not reliably reproduce named varieties.

Accepted botanical name

Paeonia lactiflora

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Amur, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Chita, Inner Mongolia, Khabarovsk, Manchuria, Mongolia and Primorye.

Measured

Soil pH 7 to 7.5.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.