Peonies are a fan favorite at Sweet Earth Co. — and we understand why! They’re big, beautiful blooms with an amazing scent that make the perfect focal flower in many types of arrangements.

Summer is a great time to order your tubers or bare roots to prepare for planting your peonies in the fall. Today we’re covering our best tips for growing peonies — along with a couple common mistakes to avoid — so you can be prepared to plant later this year.

The Different Kinds of Peonies

Before we dive in, it’s worth mentioning that there are many different kinds of peonies in a palette of colors ranging from white to various shades of pink, coral, red and yellow. The varieties are sorted into four types: Woodland, Tree, Herbaceous, and Intersectional based on their growth habit.

Herbaceous types are soft-stemmed perennial plants that die down to the ground at the end of the growing season. Instead of dying to the ground, Tree types drop their leaves and the woody stems remain bare and in place all winter. Intersectional peonies, also known as “Itoh” peonies, are a cross between woody and herbaceous species. The name honors Japanese breeder Toichi Itoh, who was the first to make this cross breed.

There are also various peony bloom types. The American Peony Society’s official standard includes six forms – Single, Japanese, Anemone, Semi-double, Bomb and Full double.

Tip #1: Sun & Soil Conditions

When selecting the site for your peonies, ensure that it gets 6-8 hours of sun per day. While some peonies can grow with less sun, most varieties do best with full sun. If you want your plant to give the most blooms possible, grow it in full sun.

When selecting your site, you’ll also want to make sure the soil is well-draining. Peonies won’t like any standing water.

Tip #2: Space the Plants

When planting your peonies, space them about 3-4 feet apart — and 3-4 feet away from other plants. This ensures the plants won’t be competing for resources. Adequate spacing also allows for maximum air circulation and prevents the spread of disease if one plant becomes unhealthy.

Tip #3: Support the Peonies

Because peonies are a heavier plant, you may need to stake them to provide support as they grow.

At Sweet Earth, we harvest our blooms before they are fully open, so we do not need to stake them to support them.

Mistake #1: Planting Too Deeply

A mistake to avoid when planting peonies is planting them too deeply. Peonies grow from tubers, so you’ll want to plant them a couple inches below the soil surface. Any deeper than that and the tuber may not bloom properly.

Mistake #2: Planting in Spring

It’s easy to think spring is the time for planting, but you’ll actually want to plant the tubers in the fall. This allows the plant to establish roots before winter and produce blooms in the spring. Aim to plant your tubers in September or October. Fall is also a great time to divide your older plants to increase stock.

Additionally, it will take about three years for your peony plants to reach full maturity, and it’s advisable to limit cutting the blooms for bouquets until the plant is mature.

Want to learn more about peonies? Check out our YouTube video all about harvesting them and storing them for up to 2 months!