When to plant and prune Peony (Herbaceous)
Paeonia lactiflora hybrids
Do not plant peony crowns more than 2.5cm (1in) deep — deep planting is the single most common cause of a peony that grows leaves but never flowers.
Planting, flowering and pruning by region
Pruning is driven by dormancy rather than frost, so it is not shifted by region — the same cut is right in Inverness and in Penzance. Planting windows do move.
| Where you are | Plant | In flower | Prune |
|---|---|---|---|
| South West Coast and Cornwall | mid May to late May | late May to mid June | late October to late November |
| South Coast and Channel | mid May to late May | late May to mid June | late October to late November |
| Greater London (Urban Heat Island) | mid May to late May | late May to mid June | late October to late November |
| South East and Home Counties | mid May to late May | late May to mid June | late October to late November |
| East Anglia | mid May to late May | late May to mid June | late October to late November |
| Midlands and Lowland Wales | mid May to late May | late May to mid June | late October to late November |
| Wales and West Coast | mid May to late May | late May to mid June | late October to late November |
| Northern England | mid May to late May | late May to mid June | late October to late November |
| Scotland Lowlands and Central Belt | mid May to late May | late May to mid June | late October to late November |
| Scotland Highlands and Islands | mid May to late May | late May to mid June | late October to late November |
| Northern Ireland | mid May to late May | late May to mid June | late October to late November |
| Channel Islands and Isle of Man | mid May to late May | late May to mid June | late October to late November |
How to prune it
Cut all top growth to ground level in autumn once foliage dies back.
Severity: moderate.
Bare-root season
Bare-root stock is available and best planted late October to late November. It is cheaper than container-grown and establishes faster.
Feeding
General-purpose fertiliser (e.g. Growmore) each spring, plus a mulch of well-rotted manure kept clear of the crown.
At a glance
- Type
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- H7
- Eventual height
- 0.9 m
- Eventual spread
- 0.9 m
- Years to maturity
- 3
- Spacing
- 100 cm
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil
- Fertile soil improved with well-rotted manure; tolerates clay if not waterlogged in winter
- Evergreen
- No
- Fragrance
- Scented
- Pollinator value
- 3 out of 5
- Grows in a container
- Yes, 30 litres or more
- Difficulty
- Easy
Growing notes
Long-lived and resents disturbance — choose a permanent spot, as plants moved after poor flowering can take a year or two to settle and flower again.
What usually goes wrong
- peony wilt (grey mould)
- peony blotch (leaf spot)
- failure to flower from deep planting or shade
Related guides
Cross-checked against RHS guidance.