Mid- to late spring is when peonies produce their huge, beautiful blossoms. There are several flower varieties and colors. Peonies frequently do poorly in the lower South because they need a winter chilling period to go into dormancy. Early flowering, solitary, or Japanese cultivars typically outperform other varieties in South Carolina.
Where do peony grow in SC?
Every spring, I find myself incredibly tempted to purchase herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora) plants due to their potential for stunning flower displays. But I usually decline—not because I’m a tightwad, mind you, but rather because I am aware that if summer weather cranks up the heat and shuts off the rain, such plants with their still-forming roots may struggle to survive their first year in the garden.
I decide to wait until September. In our state, this is the ideal time to sow peony tubers. They may not have the immediate eye-candy of bloom-festooned plants—it may take years for them to bear their first flowers—but, as is often the case in gardening, patience pays off. When tubers are planted now, they will have the complete fall and winter seasons to develop robust root systems that can support a young peony through its first growing season and beyond without having to support emerging leaves and limbs.
Local garden centers now carry peony tubers. Of course, they are also available online, but choosing your own allows you to pick the chubby tubers with at least four to five pinkish “eyes.” This is crucial if you want mature, blossoming showoff peonies in a short amount of time.
Plant peonies in an area that receives morning sun but receives some afternoon shade for better blossom production. Make a hole at least a foot deep and broad for each tuber, then fill it with lots of compost or premium garden soil. The tubers’ tops shouldn’t protrude from the ground more than 1 inch.
Which lovely peony should you choose then? In the South, it is preferable to use varieties that require less “chill hours,” as professional growers refer to extended periods of cold weather.
Consider tried-and-true choices for Southern gardens like Nymphe (1913), with fragrant, blushing pink blossoms; Sarah Bernhardt (introduced in 1906), with pleasing, double-pink flowers; Monsieur Jules Elie (1888), with light pink, double blooms; Festiva Maxima (1851), a double-white charmer; or the raspberry-dazzling Felix Crousse (1881).
As for more recent varieties, Garden Lace (pale pink petals around soft yellow hearts), Miss America (frilly white with golden centers), Blaze (simmering single red flowers encircling luminous yellow cores), and Prairie Moon are good performers in this area (buttery-hued blooms complemented by bright yellow middles).
- There is still lots of growing to be done in the vegetable plot, even though the summer garden is quickly becoming a memory. Planting cool-season crunchy foods like carrots, chard, beets, kale, turnips, spinach, lettuce, broccoli, collards, and radishes is a wonderful idea this month.
- Find and clear a nice spot to manufacture a large batch of this organic soil conditioner for the garden next spring. Falling leaves will soon supply plenty of organic fuel for the building of a compost pile.
- Stop using high-nitrogen fertilizers on plants in your outdoor gardens right now. Ornamentals need to “toughen up” as they get ready for the next winter, therefore September is not the time to promote fragile, fresh growth.
- It is now possible to divide perennial plants including mint, parsley, chives, and lemon balm. While you’re at it, consider preparing a couple pots of these practical herbs for a wintertime indoor kitchen garden. The pots should be placed in a window that faces south for optimal results.
Garden centers will begin to sell their annual selections of fall-planted, spring-blooming bulbs at the beginning of September. While purchasing early will give you the best selection, planting early may lead to a subpar flower display the following year. Allow the soil to cool down to prevent premature growth of dormant bulbs. The best planting seasons are often late October through November (and possibly December near the coast). Store your newly purchased bulbs in a cool location till then. As long as the bulbs are kept away from ripening fruits, which release ethylene gas that could harm the bulbous sleeping beauty, the refrigerator makes an excellent “chiller.
How far south can you grow peonies?
You’ve probably heard that peonies can’t be grown in the South because of the heat. You have misheard. As long as you know how to properly care for them, these prominent perennials can thrive here. Thankfully, you can ask the Grump for advice. Shakespeare said, “‘Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished,” in his play Hamlet.
People adore peonies because they produce large, magnificent flowers that are available in a variety of hues and forms in the spring and early summer. They produce the best cut blooms, and many of them are fragrant. Deer won’t consume these plants, which could survive for several generations. Let’s talk about how to cultivate them in the regions south of the Mason-Dixon Line.
What are the basic requirements for peonies here?
First, at least six hours a day of direct sunlight with some light shade during the sweltering afternoons. Second, plant only in moist, healthy, well-drained soil—unless you want complete futility—never in clay or sand. Space is the third. Peonies eventually spread to a width of 3 feet or more, and they dislike having their roots impeded by those of surrounding trees and bushes. Fourth, make the right choice. Choose early-blooming, heat-tolerant plants. The chill of winter has arrived. (In winter, sprinkle a large bag of ice on top of each plant in USDA Zone 9 once a week. Although I’ve heard it works, your neighbors will believe your house is a party hotspot.)
Are there different kinds of peonies?
Yep. The most popular peony are herbaceous ones. In the winter, their foliage withers to the ground. Their southernmost boundary is USDA Zone 8 (which encompasses cities such as Dallas, Texas; Jackson, Mississippi; Montgomery, Alabama; and Charlotte, North Carolina). The woody trunks of tree peony never die away. They grow as far south as northern Florida and have blossoms the size of dinner plates. Herbaceous and tree kinds have crossed to create intersectional peonies. They can withstand the heat much as tree peonies and boast enormous blossoms for a long season. In the winter, their greenery withers away.
How are peony plants sold?
both ways. First, they’re in pots. When purchasing them at specific times of the year, that is your only choice. Potted peonies can be pricey, but it’s convenient to know the roots are buried at the proper depth. As a cheaper and more flexible alternative, dormant roots are the second choice. Dormant roots must be planted straight away and at the proper depth after being sent by mail-order specialists like Peony’s Envy in the fall and spring. Herbaceous and intersectional roots should be positioned so that the rounded pink or white buds at the top are half an inch below the soil line. The graft union (the slot where the roots meet the trunk) should be 4 to 6 inches below the soil’s surface when planting tree peony roots.
When should I cut back the foliage of peonies?
If you want to see flowers the next year, wait until September. To prevent the spread of disease spores, bag the trimmed foliage and dispose of it with the trash. Pay attention to Grumpy and wait until only after they have finished blooming—and then only if it is absolutely necessary—before pruning any woody parts of tree peony.
What states produce peonies?
Peonies are vibrantly colored flowering plants that make wonderful additions to gardens. They are simple to cultivate and don’t need much maintenance to prosper.
These resilient perennial plants can withstand harsh winters, and some of them may even outlive people.
North of South Carolina and Texas is where the majority of peony are grown in the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) adds that while certain kinds can grow further south, they rarely blossom because the winter temperatures are not cold enough for flower buds to properly mature.
Peonies come in many different types, but the two that are most frequently planted are garden (herbaceous) and tree peonies.
The typical garden peony can be found in many home gardens and comes in a range of bloom shapes.
Garden peonies come in five different varieties, each with a distinctive petal shape. Single, semi-double, double, Japanese, and anemone are among them.
On woody stems with sparse branches, tree peonies can reach eye height. The buds for the upcoming year’s growth are found on the stems, and they are maintained all year long.
Can peony be grown in the South?
The peony has the fattest, most delicious petals and rich green foliage, making it outrageously attractive when it is in bloom. From spring to summer, savor stunning floral displays. Learn how to care for, grow, and plant peony.
About Peonies
Peonies are a perennial that will steal your breath away every year. The plants may even outlive you—some have been reported to survive for at least a century.
When Is Peony Season? When Do Peonies Bloom?
Depending on your location and the kind you are planting, peonies bloom from late spring to early summer.
You may extend the peony season across several weeks and take use of those magnificent blossoms for as long as possible thanks to the abundance of nurseries that provide early, midseason, and late blooming types.
Peonies may thrive as far south as Zones 7 and 8, and they are hardy to Zone 3. The key to success in the majority of the United States is to provide full light and well-drained soil. Peonies even enjoy the winter’s coldness because it helps their buds grow.
Types of Peony Flowers
You can pick from six different varieties of peony flowers: anemone, single, Japanese, semi-double, double, and bomb. The odors of different plants also differ; some, like “Festiva Maxima” and “Duchesse de Nemours,” have seductive rose-like aromas, while others have a lemony scent or none at all.
Where to Plant Peonies
When planted as a low hedge or along sidewalks, peonies make excellent sentinels. As majestic and dignified as any flowering shrub, the peony’s bushy cluster of attractive glossy green leaves lasts all summer before turning purplish-red or gold in the fall.
Peonies work nicely with irises and roses in mixed borders and blossom alongside columbines, baptisias, and veronicas. Plant pink peonies with blue Nepeta or violets, then surround white peonies with yellow irises and a froth of forget-me-nots.
Peonies are not overly picky, but you should pick your place carefully because they dislike disruption and do not transplant well.
Although they can survive in partial shade, peonies like full sun, and they flower at their best in an area that receives 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day.
Because of its huge flowers, peonies can become top-heavy in severe winds. Therefore, provide shelter. (If necessary, stakes can be used to hold them up.) Planting too close to trees or bushes will cause peony to compete with them for nutrients, sunlight, and moisture.
Grow peony in rich, wet, humus-rich soil that is deep, fertile, and well-draining. pH in the soil should be neutral.
When to Plant Peonies
As long as they are planted correctly and become established, peony plants require minimal upkeep. However, keep in mind that they do not adapt well to transplanting, so you should consider this when choosing your planting location.
- Plant peony in the fall: in the majority of the United States, in late September or early October, and even later in the fall in Zones 7 and 8. Your planting zone can be found here.
- If you need to move an established plant, the fall is the ideal season because the plant will be dormant.
- About six weeks before the ground freezes, peonies should be planted.
- While planting peonies in the spring is absolutely a possibility, the results aren’t always favorable. They often trail behind plants planted in the fall by roughly a year, according to experts.
How to Plant Peonies
- Peonies are typically offered as divisions of a 3- or 4-year-old plant, bare-root tubers with 3 to 5 eyes (buds).
- Peonies should be placed 3 to 4 feet apart to allow for enough air circulation. The development of disease can be facilitated by stagnant, damp air.
- In a sunny area, dig a generously sized hole that is about 2 feet deep and 2 feet wide. The inclusion of organic matter in the planting hole will improve the soil. Add additional compost to the soil to improve it if it’s sandy or heavy. Add about a cup of bonemeal to the ground. Find out more about soil improvements and getting the soil ready for planting.
- The roots should be positioned in the hole just 2 inches below the soil’s surface, with the root’s eyes facing upward on top of a mound of soil. Avoid planting too deeply! Choose early-blooming species, put them approximately 1 inch deep, and provide some shade in southern states.
- Backfill the hole after that, being careful to prevent soil settlement and a 2-inch root burying. Gently tamp the ground.
- Plant a container-grown peony no deeper than it was when it was in the pot.
- When planting, give everything plenty of water.
How to Care for Peonies
Young peony take time to develop, just like children. In order to establish themselves, bloom, and grow, they typically require a few years. And soon enough, they venture out on their own, mature and well-adjusted… No, that’s just kids, I suppose.
Peonies benefit from gentle neglect. They don’t require digging and dividing every few years like the majority of perennials do.
- Don’t use any fertilizer. Before planting, till the soil thoroughly while adding compost and a small amount of fertilizer.
- Early summer, after the peonies have flowered and you have deadheaded the blooms, is the ideal time to apply fertilizer (such as bonemeal, compost, or well-rotted manure) to a soil that is deficient in nutrients. Keep fertilizing to a few years at most.
- assist the stems Peonies’ stems, which occasionally are not strong enough to hold their enormous blossoms, are the only part of their structure that may be considered weak. Think of structures that allow the plant to grow through the middle of the support, like three-legged metal peony rings or wire tomato cages.
- Peony blossoms should be deadheaded as soon as they start to fade, cutting to a sturdy leaf so that the stem doesn’t protrude through the foliage. To prevent any infections from overwintering, trim the foliage to the ground in the fall.
- Don’t smother peonies with mulch. For the first winter following planting, you can VERY LOOSELY mulch with pine needles or shredded bark when the winters are bitterly cold. In the spring, get rid of the mulch.
Peonies bloom between late spring and early summer, but by planting a variety of cultivars, you may arrange your garden for a succession of blooms from mid-May to late June. Here are a few options:
- ‘Early Scout’ has red solitary flowers that open incredibly early.
- “Firelight”: very early-blooming, single, pale-pink flowers
- ‘Karl Rosenfield’: double, midseason bloomer with substantial crimson blooms