The Well-Tended Perennial Garden The Essential Guide to Planting and Pruning Techniques, Third Edition

Paeonia hybrids

peony

p aeoniaceae

Pink, coral, white, or red flowers; coarse,

lobed, dark green leaves

3 ft. high; 3 ft. wide

Full sun

Blooms May–June

Zones 3–8

pruning Deadheading peonies will

not prolong bloom, but it will greatly

enhance the appearance of the plant,

since in most cases, particularly on

double forms, the old flowers are so

unattractive. Red-flowered peonies are

particularly susceptible to disease and

should be deadheaded immediately as

flowers fade, to reduce the chance of

disease affecting the decaying flower

and entering the stem. The foliage on

many forms becomes unsightly with

the heat of August as plants are

starting to form eyes at that time and

don’t have much strength for the bush.

It is best for the health of the plant to

leave the foliage on the plant as long as

possible, even if it’s unattractive, so

that the foliage can continue to

perform photosynthesis and provide

food reserves. Peony experts recom-

mend leaving foliage unpruned until

after the first of September in zones 3,

4, and upper zone 5; leave until the end

of September in the rest of zone 5.

Gardeners in zones 6, 7, and warmer

areas should try to leave the foliage

until early October.

Peonies are subject to a host of

diseases, particularly botrytis. Remove

any infected leaves or buds. Plants that

were not cut back in the late summer

or autumn should be cut down for the

winter to remove possible sources of

infection for the following spring.

Clean up any debris from around the

base of the plant. Any time plants are

cut down or dead leaves are removed,

Paeonia ‘Nymphe’