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Peony
Paeonia lactiflora
Care level: Easy
The herbaceous peony is a long-lived, clump-forming perennial that dies back to the ground each winter and returns in spring with red shoots, glossy divided leaves and, in early summer, large scented flowers in white, pink or red, from simple bowls to heavy, many-petalled doubles. The flowering season is short, two or three weeks, but a peony planted well can flower in the same spot for fifty years. It is fully hardy and asks for little except to be left where it is.
Eating it can cause vomiting and an upset stomach.
If your pet has eaten some, contact your vet.
Source: Pet Poison Helpline, RHS
Common mistake
Planting too deep is the main reason a peony refuses to flower. The pink buds on the crown should sit no more than about 5cm below the soil surface. Buried deeper, the plant grows healthy leaves year after year and no flowers at all.
Care by Season
Spring
Red shoots emerge. Put supports in place and mulch around the plant, not over the crown.
Summer
Flowering in early summer. Remove faded flowers and keep the foliage.
Autumn
Cut the stems to the ground once the foliage dies down. The time to plant, move or divide.
Winter
The plant is dormant and fully hardy. Winter cold helps it to flower.
Growing & Maintenance
Planting
Plant in autumn in deep, fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny, sheltered place, with the crown buds no more than about 5cm below the surface. Choose the spot carefully; the plant can stay there for decades.
Pruning
Remove faded flowers, then cut all stems to ground level in autumn when the foliage has died down.
Support
Place a ring or grid support over double-flowered varieties in spring, before the stems are tall.
Propagation
By division in autumn or early spring, cutting the crown into pieces with several buds each. Divisions take two or three years to flower well.
Pests & Diseases
Common problems
Leaves but no flowers
Most likely cause: A crown planted too deep, or too much shade.
What to do: Lift it in autumn and replant with the buds about 5cm deep, in more sun.
Buds that turn brown and never open
Most likely cause: Peony wilt, or a late frost.
What to do: Cut out affected stems and clear old foliage in autumn.
Flowers flat on the ground after rain
Most likely cause: Heavy double flowers without support.
What to do: Put a ring support in place in spring.
No flowers after moving the plant
Most likely cause: Root disturbance.
What to do: Wait two or three years and do not move it again.
Fewer flowers on an old clump
Most likely cause: Competition from nearby trees or shrubs, or a starved soil.
What to do: Mulch with compost in spring and clear competing roots.
Pests & Diseases
Peony wilt
Signs: Young shoots wilt and blacken at the base, buds turn brown and fail to open, and grey mould appears in damp weather.
Treatment: Cut affected stems out below soil level and dispose of them. Clear all old foliage in autumn and avoid crowding the plant.
Leaf blotch
Signs: Purple-brown blotches on the leaves after flowering.
Treatment: Cut down and remove all foliage in autumn. The plant's vigour is rarely affected.
Swift moth caterpillars
Signs: A plant that weakens for no clear reason, with white caterpillars feeding on the roots.
Treatment: Fork lightly around the crown and remove the caterpillars you find.
FAQ
Why is my peony not flowering?
The most common causes are planting too deep, too much shade, and a plant that was recently moved or divided. Check that the crown buds are no more than about 5cm below the surface, give it at least half a day of sun, and allow a new or moved plant two or three years to settle.
When should I plant or move a peony?
In autumn, when the plant is going dormant. Peonies resent disturbance, so choose a permanent place: deep, fertile soil in sun or light shade, sheltered from strong wind.
Are peonies toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. Eating a large amount of the plant causes vomiting and diarrhoea in cats and dogs. The sap can also irritate the skin.
Are the ants on the buds a problem?
No. Ants feed on the sugary liquid the buds give off and do no harm to the flowers. They leave once the flowers open.
Do peonies need staking?
Double-flowered varieties do. The flowers are heavy and collapse in rain. Put a ring support over the plant in spring, so that the stems grow up through it.
When do I cut a peony back?
In autumn, once the foliage has died down. Cut the stems to ground level and clear the debris away, which also removes any disease spores. Remove faded flowers earlier, but leave the leaves all summer.
