Herbaceous Peony

Choose the right location

Peonies that are sited well can survive and bloom generously for decades with minimal care. When planting your herbaceous peony, choose a location in full sun, with at least six hours of direct sun (not just sunny, the sun must be visible in the sky from the site) each day, to ensure vigorous blooms. Have your soil tested for pH by your county's cooperative extension office to see if amendments are needed to raise the pH to the 6.5 to 7 target zone.

Plant in the fall

Plant bare root herbaceous peonies in fall, not spring, as the falling temperatures of autumn trigger the initiation of root growth. Spring planting for bare root plants has a low likelihood of success but container-grown plants can be introduced to the garden in spring with care taken that the roots are not damaged.

Allow generous space

In a few years, your peony will become a large, green, perennial bush. Most diseases affecting peonies, both fungal and viral, are encouraged by poor air flow around the plant and leaves that dry slowly, so allow a space of about 3 - 4 feet for good air circulation between your peony and other permanent plantings and structures.

Prepare the soil

Keep the peony roots shaded and slightly moist until planting. Herbaceous peonies prefer a humus-rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5 - 7.0. Organic compost and calcitic lime are two amendments that are useful to most soils, to increase fertility, improve texture, raise pH and add calcium.

Don't plant too deeply

Herbaceous peonies have fleshy tuberous roots with buds (sometimes called eyes) that are planted "buds up", with those buds no more than 2 inches below ground level. Check that the plant does not sink as you water it in.