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Peony
Paeonia
Peony blooms from May through June.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Peony
Plant it in full sun. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 3–8. Expect it to reach about 3 ft tall and 3 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 3 years.
When to plant Peony
Peony is planted in fall: set bare roots out August or September across zones 3 to 8, well before the ground freezes. It blooms from May to June.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 5 in August.
Comes in 15 varieties across 5 colors
Same plant, same care - pick the color you are growing.
Good to know about Peony
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Safety
Mildly toxic to dogs, cats and horses: the compound paeonol causes vomiting, diarrhea and depression if eaten. Most cases are mild; call ASPCA Poison Control. per ASPCA
Worth knowing
A myth says peonies need ants to open. The ants only come for sugary nectar the buds secrete; cut buds open fine with no ants. per University of Illinois
How much sun to give
Sources split on sun. Full sun (6 to 8 hours) gives best bloom, but it still flowers on 4 to 6. Heavier shade risks no blooms. per Wisconsin and Iowa State
Plant the eyes shallow
Set the buds only 2.5 to 5 cm (1 to 2 in) deep. Planting too deep is the top reason a healthy peony grows leaves but never flowers. per Iowa State
Long-lived; hates being moved
Peonies thrive undisturbed for decades and resent division. A moved or divided plant barely blooms the next spring and takes 2 to 3 years to recover. per Iowa State
Double flowers need support
The big double and triple blooms outweigh their stems and flop, especially in rain. Set grow-through grids, hoops or stakes as the shoots emerge in spring. per NC State and Iowa State
Deer resistant
NC State rates peonies as shunned by deer. Very hungry deer may still sample them, but they are reliably passed over. per NC State
What pairs well with Peony
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Joe Pye Weed
Shares full sun and moderate to high water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 5.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Sneezeweed
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
False Sunflower
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 3.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Sunflower
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 6.6 ft, for the layer behind it.
Feather Reed Grass
Shares full sun and moderate water; overlaps, then carries the display into late summer; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 4.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Fountain Grass
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in late summer, extending the bed's season; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Switchgrass
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in late summer, extending the bed's season; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 4.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Arborvitae
Shares full sun and moderate water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; stands well above at 20 ft, a canopy to plant beneath.
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