Peony
flower
Plant bare-root divisions in fall with eyes no deeper than 1–2 inches below the soil surface — planting too deep is the #1 reason for no blooms. Needs cold winters to bloom. Does not need dividing; clumps improve for decades. Use supports or cages to prevent heads from flopping.
At a glance
- USDA Zones
- 3–8
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hrs)
- Water
- Medium — water when top inch of soil is dry
- Soil
- Loam
- pH
- Neutral
- Spacing
- 36 in. between plants
- Space needed
- A 3×3 ft block of the bed
Planting & harvest windows
Northern Hemisphere timing. Adjust ±4–6 weeks based on your last/first frost dates.
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Harvest |
Plant Harvest
Good companions
Recommended varieties
- Sarah Bernhardtstart
Classic fragrant soft pink double — the most widely planted peony.
- Festiva Maximastart
White double with crimson flecks — old-fashioned and intensely fragrant.
- Karl Rosenfieldstart
Deep wine-red double — excellent cut flower.
- Coral Charmstart
Award-winning semi-double in warm coral-salmon — unique and stunning.
Add Peony to your raised bed — the planner handles spacing and companion warnings automatically.
Open the planner →