They’re the perfect plant for beginners, and the secret is all in the planting, according to Alec White from Primrose Hall Peonies, who shared his knowledge with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
Plant your peony correctly and you’ll be rewarded with “decades of glorious flowers” on a very-low-maintenance plant. Plus, they’re rarely troubled by pests such as slugs, snails, rabbits or deer.
There are thousands of varieties of peonies, flowering from mid-April until early July, and in the widest colour range possible.
The first challenge is to choose which peony to grow, deciding whether you want them in containers or in the border.
Whichever one you choose, it’s important to buy a well-established one to ensure you get off to the best possible start.
Peonies will thrive in full sun or part shade, but if possible, plant in a sheltered position.
Although not too fussy about soil type, it must be free-draining for peonies to thrive.
If your soil is poor, you can add organic matter such as compost or manure to your border before planting.
The expert said: “The most important thing to remember when planting herbaceous and intersectional peonies is not to plant them too deep in the soil.
“The crown should be planted no more than 2.5-5cm below the surface.
“If planted too deeply, your peony will have marvellous foliage but will not flower.”
According to the pro, this flower will also benefit from feeding once a year, and a slow-release, well-balanced feed is perfect.
Peonies are luckily very low maintenance and don’t require much care once planted.
That said, they will benefit from pruning in the autumn to prepare the plant to shoot the following year.
