Growing Peonies

Among our new products for 2024, we're excited to offer you some sublime peonies to plant in your garden. To help guide you in growing these floral beauties, we thought we'd share some tips for successful flowering.

Soil Preparation

Soil preparation is the starting point for any planting. Sunlight and soil quality are key to success for optimal flowering viability.

• Location: Choose a sunny or partially shaded spot. Peonies prefer full sun but can tolerate a few hours of shade.
• Soil: Peonies require well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Avoid compacted and poorly drained soils.

Planting

The best time to plant peonies is in the fall, but they can also be planted in the spring, as soon as the soil can be worked.

• Root Preparation: If planting bare roots, make sure they have visible buds (also called “eyes”) and are healthy (firm and free of rot). The roots should be planted with the buds (eyes) facing upwards, about 2-3 inches below the soil surface. If a peony's root is planted too deeply, the plant will produce foliage but no flowers. If it is planted too shallow, the plant may pop out of the soil in winter, damaging the roots.
• Spacing: Plant peony roots about 3-4 feet apart to allow them to fully develop over the years. It is good to know that a peony plant reaches maturity around the 3rd year.
• Planting Method: Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the roots. Add compost or well-rotted manure to the bottom of the hole and mix it roughly into the soil to improve its texture. Place the roots in the hole and then cover them with soil, making sure to fill all root cavities. Water thoroughly after planting.

Interview

• Watering: Peonies require regular watering after planting, which occurs naturally in the fall and spring. The plants generally thrive on rain afterward.
• Mulch: It is highly recommended to add a layer of mulch to protect the soil, retain moisture, control weeds, and protect the roots from temperature fluctuations. This can be BRF, wood chips, or straw. Be careful not to add too much layer above the buds (eyes) of the plants! They should remain 2-3 inches below the soil, whether it is soil, straw, or wood chips!
• Fertilization: It is not mandatory to fertilize peonies but it is possible to do so at planting with a balanced fertilizer (5-3-2 or 4-3-9), then each spring when the stems are 2-3 inches high.
• Pruning: Cut stems back to the base in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins.

Winter protection

If you're planting your bulbs in the fall or want to protect your plants for the following year, it's important to consider winter protection. Although peonies are cold-hardy, additional mulch in the fall (such as fallen leaves or straw) can help protect the roots during harsh winters, for those that still have them!

Harvest

Peonies are usually ready to harvest at the “marshmallow” stage, meaning the bud is still closed but is colorful and has the texture of a marshmallow, so not completely hard, rather soft. Flowers harvested at this stage will later open in a vase.

Avoid harvesting flowers before the plant is fully established, that is, from its third year of growth.

After the Harvest

Making a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers last longer is always a challenge. Whether you're receiving a bouquet as a gift or harvesting your own, these two tips will help you enjoy these beauties for longer.

• Cut Flower Care: Immediately place cut stems in fresh water and perform regular water changes to prolong the life of the flowers.
• Storage: Peonies can be dried by hanging them upside down in a dry, well-ventilated place.

Finally, peonies are perennial plants that will last a lifetime if we provide them with the right conditions. In fact, they bloom year after year for decades and decades!

As for yield, each plant will easily produce around ten stems, and sometimes even more, once it reaches maturity (from the third year).

Which peonies will beautify your garden this spring? Discover our selection of peonies today!

Set the world on flower!