Planting Peonies In Spring: Tips For New Peony Flower Plants And Roots

1- Buying Peony Plants in Spring

Herbaceous peony plants are sold in two different forms in the springtime:

• Potted Peonies (potted plant with a few dark red stems growing up – see planting photo above this section)
• Bare Root Peonies (dormant tubers in bag with sawdust/peat – see video below)

Potted peonies are generally larger and more expensive than bare root peonies. Some specialty peonies may only be available in bare root form, in bags like this:

This spring I planted Sarah Bernhardt, Coral Charm, and some other lovely types of peony flowers in my garden. Here’s the types I planted:

• Sarah Bernhardt Peony (pink)
• Coral Charm Peony (orange)
• Festiva Maxima Peony (white)
• Karl Rosenfield Peony (deep pink)
• Bowl of Beauty Peony (pink & yellow)

2- Planting Peonies in Spring

Here are my top tips for planting peonies in spring:

• Shop and plant early: get them in the ground in March or April
• Bare root plants are generally cheaper than potted plants
• Potted plants have a better chance of flowering this season (but in general, the planting year is never great for flowers)
• Water the peony plant well before planting (bare roots can be soaked in water for a few hours)
• Dig a hole in the soil that is twice as wide as the plant, but no deeper. Ensure ground soil is moist.
• The soil line of potted peonies should line up with the existing soil level in your garden. Bare root peonies should be planted 1″-2″ below the soil surface. Planting peonies too deep can restrict blooming.
• Apply a quality organic mulch like homemade compost to the soil surface after planting.
• Keep the plant well-watered throughout the spring, summer, and fall.

3- Benefits of Planting Peonies in Spring

Here are some of the benefits of planting peonies in spring:

• You get to garden outside after a long winter with only houseplants and seedlings (YAY!!!)
• Wide variety of types at local nurseries and in catalogs/online
• Most types are in-stock and available for immediate purchase
• Instant garden gratification (or even pot them up if you don’t have a place for them right away….ahem….)

4- Drawbacks of Planting Peonies in Spring

Some gardeners will only plant peonies in the fall. Here are some of the drawbacks of planting peonies in spring:

• Potential for delayed growth due to non-dormant transplanting
• Need to be watered after transplant more than fall-planted peonies (I recommend installing drip irrigation for peonies)
• May not bloom in the first year (this year is more like growing year zero than growing year one)
• No end-of-season blowout sales offered by retailers yet

So, a peony planted in spring can certainly be expected to survive and thrive with dedicated TLC – it just may take a year or two for the flowers we all love.

5- Caring for Newly-Planted Peonies

Spring is perhaps not the ideal transplanting season in general because the heat of summer can be harsh, but the spring season certainly seems to be the best peony shopping season! Check out your local garden center, garden club sales, and even swap a few types with your gardening friends.

For care after planting, just be sure to keep your peony well mulched, watered, and generally cared-for throughout the year. Visit it every few days to make sure it isn't wilted or affected by pest insects.

6- ENJOY! 🌸