How to Grow Perfect Peonies: Varieties, Planting & Care

Few flowers inspire such devotion as peonies. Their lush, cupped blooms in shades of white, pink, coral, and crimson—many deliciously fragrant—make them garden royalty. While they ask for a little more attention than petunias, peonies reward you with decades of spectacular spring flowers and superb cut stems.

Peony Basics

• Types: Herbaceous (bush) peonies are most common and easiest; tree peonies are woody-stemmed and larger.
• Longevity: A well-sited peony can thrive for 50+ years—treat it as a permanent investment.
• Zones & Size: Zones 3–8; 3–4 feet tall and wide.
• Bloom Time: May to June, depending on variety.
• Sun: Full sun (6+ hours) for best flowering.

Planting for Success

Fall is the ideal time to plant bare-root crowns. Choose a crown with at least three plump “eyes” (buds). Plant eyes facing up, no deeper than 2 inches below the soil surface—planting too deep is the #1 reason peonies fail to bloom.

Prepare a deep, fertile planting hole enriched with plenty of organic matter. Peonies resent transplanting, so pick their forever home carefully.

Support & Maintenance

• Stake early. Place a peony ring or cage over the emerging shoots in early spring; the plant will grow through it, hiding the support.
• Fall cleanup: After frost kills the foliage, cut stems to the ground and discard (do not compost) to prevent disease carryover.
• Fertilize lightly in early spring with a balanced organic fertilizer.

Outstanding Varieties to Grow

Variety	Color / Form	Height	Notes
Sarah Bernhardt	Soft pink, double	36″	Heirloom (early 1900s), lightly fragrant, June bloom
Festiva Maxima	White flecked with crimson	36″	Classic heirloom, strong stems, very fragrant
Raspberry Sundae	Two-tone pink & cream	32″	Rounded, cupped form, mid-season
Bartzella	Buttery yellow (Itoh hybrid)	30″	Rare yellow tree-peony flower on herbaceous habit
Gay Paree	Bi-color pink & white	34″	Strong stems, mid-season
Big Ben	Deep red, double	36″	Vigorous, fragrant, great for beginners
America	Bright scarlet, single	30″	Early bloomer, strong upright habit

Plant a peony this fall, and you’ll enjoy a lifetime of breathtaking May bouquets.