Peony Plants

Peonies thrive in well-drained soil and prefer to be in a spot with full sun or partial shade (at least 6 hours of sunlight per day).

Peonies do best in fertile, well-drained soil, so if yours is a bit depleted or dried out, revamp it by mixing in some organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure to improve drainage and provide nutrients. Avoid anywhere that suffers from waterlogging.

Space your peony plants about 90 cm to 120 cm apart to allow for their mature size, prevent overcrowding and let the air circulate between them.

Once established, you won’t have to do much for your peonies, as they’re pretty low maintenance. Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during dry weather, but avoid overwatering as this can cause root rot. Give your plants a general purpose plant feed in spring before the new growth appears. For taller peony varieties, you might need to support them with stakes or hoops to stop them flopping over.

Peonies flower from late spring to early summer, usually in May and June in the UK, depending on the variety. The large buds are rather beautiful too, and create great anticipation before finally opening!

Deadheading faded flowers will encourage your peonies to put their energy into producing healthy growth rather than seed. Snip them off at the base of the flower as soon as they go over.

It’s a good idea to divide your peonies every five to ten years, to prevent overcrowding and give them an energy reboot. The best time to do this is in autumn, after they’ve finished flowering and the foliage begins to die back. Dig up the clump, carefully separate the rhizomes, and replant each segment with the ‘eyes’ (where the new growth will start) facing upwards.