Do Peonies Need Full Sun? Plus Other Care Questions

There's no denying peonies are the IT flower of late. They're on every magazine, all over Pinterest, and we're willing to bet, a feature of every spring shower—baby, bridal, or otherwise. But for their ubiquity in garden shops every spring, they're actually quite the feat to grow every year. They're the goldilocks of the cut-flower world, wanting conditions that are juuuust right, and you may have questions about what they really need. Do peonies need full sun? Can they handle heat? Here are a few planting pointers so your garden is peony paradise—for you and them.

Where Can Peonies Grow?

Peonies like cold winters, and that's hard to recreate in the South. (They like USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 7, but can grow in Zone 8.) But that doesn't mean you're out of luck. Tough selections like the 'Festiva Maxima' and 'Sarah Bernhardt' can handle the warmer winters and are great options for Southern gardens. Or grow a tree peony, a larger shrub with woody stems and enormous flowers.

Do Peonies Bloom the First Year?

Peonies need time both to settle in and then to bloom. Plant in moist, fertile, well-drained soil in the fall, as they grow better that first year if they have the benefit of being in the soil during winter. Then don't expect blooms for two to three years after planting. Establishing peonies may take time, but you’ll be rewarded with blooms for years to come. After that, you could have flowers for decades with the proper care. Some plants can live up to 100 years.

Do Peonies Need Space?

When planting, allow no less than 4 feet between plants, even though they will start small and grow slowly before reaching a mature size of 3 feet wide (tree peonies grow to 5 feet wide). Planting them too close together can lead to "leggy" plants. Plus, plenty of airflow helps with disease prevention.

Do Peonies Need Sun?

Though they desperately need the cold, they do need to be planted in full sun down South. Oftentimes, shade in the Southern zones will just result in leggy plants, which means weaker plants. In hotter areas, you can provide some light shade in the afternoon hours. Tree peonies will tolerate partial shade.

Do I Have to Start With Bulbs?

If you want the look of well-established peonies but don't want to wait 10 years, it is possible to buy mature plants. Sites like Terra Ceia Farms will sell you a mature plant, which they have raised for the first 10 or so years.

How Long Do Peonies Bloom?

Peonies aren’t in bloom for long, so enjoy every flower while it lasts. They bloom in late spring, and each blossom lasts for seven to 10 days. Enjoy them indoors by including them in a spring arrangement or filling a vase with a grouping of buds so you can watch the blooming process unfold.

When Should I Prune Peonies?

While many other plants can be pruned after blooming, the peony cannot. The leaves soak up summer sun to make food reserves for the next blooming season. Get rid of damaged foliage anytime. Don’t prune until the leaves begin to yellow in the fall, in October or November. Cut the plant down to the ground, leaving the crown intact, after a hard frost or once the plant starts to yellow.