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.
Where can I find peony in Alabama?
Peony plants should be regarded as a permanent addition to your landscape, similar to planting a tree, because they thrive for decades. Flowers will last for years if they are planted properly.
Herbaceous peonies should be planted as bare-root plants in the fall or the earliest spring. These plants have compact rhizomes with thick, fleshy roots and several “eyes” (growth buds). Almost all tree peonies are grafted onto herbaceous peony roots, although they can also be bought bare-root and planted in the fall or spring. Many producers do provide container-grown tree peony too, which may be planted outside whenever the ground isn’t frozen.
Select a location that is sunny, well-drained, and clear of competing tree and shrub roots. Dig a space 1122 feet broad for each rhizome, turning the soil to a depth of at least 1 foot while loosening it. Work in a ton of organic material, such as yard compost, manure that has been composted, or chopped leaves to which you have added a cup of superphosphate.
Roots of herbaceous peonies should be planted such that their eyes are exactly one inch below the soil’s surface; otherwise, flowering may be hampered. A minimum of three eyes should be present on each rhizome; those with fewer eyes bloom more slowly. Tree peony should be planted with the graft line 34 inches below the soil’s surface (the object is to get the shrubby top to root on its own). Mulch peonies in the spring to keep the soil moist and to cool the roots. Be patient because plants typically don’t bloom their first year.
After their initial season, peonies should bloom every year if fertilized twice a year. Use a low-nitrogen fertilizer, such as 5-10-10, to feed plants. In the spring, when the shoots are starting to sprout, sprinkle about 1/2 cup around mature plants. Around new, immature plants, cut back to 1/4 cup. repeat in autumn. As an alternative, before mulching in the spring, top dress with an inch of compost; repeat in the fall.
It’s good to know that deer don’t often eat peonies. Botrytis, a fungus-related illness, does, however, occasionally manifest itself in cool, moist conditions. Stems wilt and collapse, flower buds turn black, and they fail to open. Make sure there is enough airflow around the plants, tidy up the garden in the fall, and get rid of any old mulch and fallen peony leaves to avoid the issue. Spread fresh mulch and apply a copper fungicide to it as soon as new growth appears in the spring.
Use branches left over from trimming to support stems as buds start to swell and become top heavy. To support the heavy blooms, especially during spring rains, plant them in the soil.
Peony flowers should be cut just as the buds start to open if you want to use them for bouquets. Don’t cut more than half the blossoms from each clump, and leave at least three leaves on each stem you cut. By doing this, enough leaf surface is preserved to create food stores for the following year. Future blossoming is also aided by promptly removing wasted flowers before they set seed.
Poor flowering can be caused by a variety of factors, such as the following: the plant is too young (wait awhile); the planting depth is incorrect (lift during the dormant season and plant at the proper depth); the flower buds were killed by a late freeze (wait until the following year); the location is too shady (move to a sunnier spot during dormancy); the weather was too hot too soon (plant early-flowering types); the plant has a nutrient defic (leave it alone).
Where may peony be grown?
Now that you are aware of the distinctions between the two primary Peonies, let’s approach your choice based solely on the available information.
Location & Climate: If you reside in the extreme south or north, temperature and humidity may have a significant impact on your choice of peony.
Garden peonies will thrive if you are in a northern region with a shorter, cooler growing season. Garden Peonies are especially popular in Zones 3 through 8, where they may require a little more care.
- A tip for getting them to behave perfectly if you live in the deep south is to select an early-blooming type that will go into flower before the summer heat arrives.
- In the same way, a late-blooming Garden Peony is likely to succeed better in zone 3’s northernmost regions, where temperatures will have warmed up enough for it to flourish during their peak bloom period.
Available Sunlight: Unlike Itohs, which love dappled light and can even take part-sun, Garden Peonies require full sunlight. As a general rule, your garden will be exposed to more sun and humidity the further south you live. You should give your peony more room in hotter, brighter climates so they may receive more air circulation and perhaps a little less sun than usual.
How much of the south can peony grow?
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, blossom, and flourish, they typically require a few years. They eventually leave home on their own, fully grown and 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.
- Avoid covering 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
Can peony thrive in warm weather?
Slideshow of 20 stunning peonies
What’s fresh: Herbaceous and tree peonies are crossed to create itoh hybrids, also known as intersectional hybrids. They can reach a height of 3 1/2 feet, produce flowers in lavender, pink, copper, yellow, or cream, and bloom for a longer period of time than typical herbaceous varieties.
Since their stems are more thicker and more sturdy than those of herbaceous species, they are effective in supporting large cups of petals.
Where to grow: Peonies do best in cooler regions (Sunset zones 111; A1A3), where the winters are particularly chilly. However, some will thrive in warmer environments (see list below). Under zones 1420, all are worthwhile attempts in dappled shade. There, give the plants plenty of water and midday shade.
When to plant: In late April in warmer climates, plant container-grown plants; in May or June in colder climates. In 5-gallon containers, 3-year-old peonies should bloom more.
Spring or fall, from containers used for nurseries: Place the plant in the ground with the top of its rootball level with the dirt after loosening the soil and adding copious amounts of compost, being careful not to disturb the plant’s delicate feeder roots. Or move it into a sizable (18 to 24-inch diameter) container that is deeper on the outside than the inside.
Plant herbaceous peony roots with eyes 2 inches deep in cold climates and 1 inch deep in warmer climates in the fall. In cold climates, itoh hybrids should be planted 3 inches deep; in warmer climates, 2 inches deep.
How to feed and water: Water frequently. When the first leaves emerge in the spring, fertilize with a low-nitrogen fertilizer (such 5-10-10) and then once more when the final flower has faded.
When to pick: Cut stems just as flower buds start to open to harvest blossoms for bouquets; leave at least three leaves on the plant to feed it for the following year. Blooms will keep for up to a week in vases. Although Itoh hybrids generate more flowers per stem as the plants become older, the majority of cultivars only produce one bloom per stem.
After flowering, prune down herbaceous and Itoh hybrid peonies in the fall; fresh growth will appear in the spring.
Grab a peony.
For cold climates, pick: There are three new Itoh hybrids—crosses between tree peony and herbaceous peonies—called “Bartzella,” “Pink Double Dandy,” and “Yellow Doodle Dandy.” Bartzella has unusually enormous, bright yellow blooms.
Four herbaceous favorites for cool or warm climates include “Blaze,” a vivid red single, “Festiva Maxima,” a white double with crimson flecks in the middle, “Sarah Bernhardt,” or “Sea Shell” (satiny pink single).
Shop: Purchase plants (itoh hybrids can cost up to $100 at nurseries, while ordinary herbaceous can cost $40), beginning in late April in warm climates and May in chilly ones. Plants that are three years old and are housed in five-gallon containers will reliably blossom.
Visit and purchase: The 200 or so varieties of herbaceous and tree peonies at Chateau CharMarron Peony Gardens (5335 Sierra Rd., San Jose; 408/251-7048) begin flowering in late March and last through June. Visit Adelman Peony Gardens next month (May 1–Jun 15; 5690 Brooklake Rd. N.E., Salem, OR; 503/393-6185) to see 300 varieties spread across 10 acres.