All About Growing Peonies in North Carolina - Carolina Country
Great Gardens
March 2017

All About Peonies

Adriana Feng, Raleigh, a member of Wake Electric

All About Peonies

My garden is all about peonies. In my Carolina Country garden, I grow over 200 varieties of peonies. My biggest joy each spring is seeing them come into bloom over an 8-week period each April and May. I love to spread the love of peonies, especially here in the South where many people think peonies will not grow. However not only do peonies grow here, they grow very well! Helpful tips for growing peonies as well as which varieties grow best here in the South can be found on my blog, Southern Peony. Some of the keys to getting peonies to bloom here are planting them in full sun and making sure to plant them shallow with the ‘eyes’ just below the soil surface. This particular peony is intersectional Peony ‘Keiko’ (aka ‘Pink Double Dandy’) and had 77 blooms on just one bush for me this spring!

Be sure to visit the website of the American Peony Society for more information on this charming bloom.

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Comments (25)

  • I have peony bulbs that I bought from Sam's club in May. My grandma said to plant them in late summer. I live in the piedmont triad of NC. Is it too late to plant them? Thank you!

    Cheyenne |
    September 01, 2017 |
    reply

  • Cheyenne,
    I hope you planted them! It definitely wasn't ideal, but they probably would still grow. If you haven't planted them yet, I might still give them a try. I once accidentally planted some 2 year old roots, and they still grew ( http://www.southernpeony.com/2015/10/2015-peony-experiment-planting-2-year.html)! It will take much longer for your roots to get to blooming size after not having any soil or moisture for so long, but they might still take. I would buy some fresh roots in the fall if possible or a buy a growing potted peony in the spring to get blooms sooner!

    Adriana |
    February 18, 2018 |
    reply

  • Adriana, I just read your article on peonies. I was wondering when do woodland peonies, tree peonies, herbaceous peonies, & intersectional peonies generally bloom in your area? Thank you for your time.
    Sincerely, Kimberly

    Kimberly |
    December 20, 2018 |
    reply

  • Kimberly,

    Tree peonies and very early herbaceous peonies starting blooming at the beginning of April in my area. By the end of April intersectional peonies and mid season herbaceous peonies are blooming. At the beginning of May, you may still have just a few late season herbaceous peonies coming into bloom. By mid May the season is usually done, although some years the peony bloom season can be a little later to start and end, even then everything is finished by the beginning of June. I hope this info helps!

    Adriana
    www.southernpeony.com

    Adriana |
    December 20, 2018 |
    reply

    • Thank you for your input. It is greatly appreciated.

      Kimberly |
      January 08, 2019 |
      reply

  • Hi Adriana,
    After growing peonies for many years, this spring is a disaster. I have what appears to be wilt and also black spot. Only one of my healthy peonies has blooms on it. Should I unearth and destroy the others or cut to the ground and hope for next years results. I have never had health issues with my plants and am just devastated. Thanks in advance.

    Janice McPherson |
    April 26, 2019 |
    reply

  • Adriana, I just received a Pink Hawaiian Coral Peony, a Black Beauty Peony and a Kirimaru Peony from Breck's. Do they need to be planted in full sun, moist soil in the fall or spring? Secondly, do you suggest I fertilize, and if so when?
    Thank you!

    Terri |
    October 28, 2019 |
    reply

  • I am visiting my daughter and son-in-law the last week of November, and wanted to buy and plant peonies along the full sun exposure spot along the fence in their back yard.
    First of all, is it too late in the year to do so?
    Would it be worth buying more sizeable peony plants/bushes, if not to late (assuming I can find them!!!)???

    Thank you in advance for your answers.
    If way too late....when would we plant next season?

    Karen Iuliano |
    November 07, 2019 |
    reply

    • No, Karen, it's not to late. You can plant them as long as the ground isn't frozen, which never happens here in NC.

      Ted Van Essenedleft |
      December 02, 2019 |
      reply

  • I am new to NC. I was wondering what month do you plant peony’s? And I am looking to find the best ones to plant in zone 8 NC.

    Michelle Taylor |
    January 19, 2020 |
    reply

  • I'm in Leicester, NC and I just bought three peonies from Lowe's. When should I plant them?

    Jenna Douglass |
    March 11, 2020 |
    reply

  • The best time to plant peonies is in the fall. It will take longer for them to be established planted now. You need to be more diligent and keep them watered. They will do fine though as long as you care for them. Make sure crown of plant is no more than 2 inches below surface. Closer is better.

    Ted Van Essendelft |
    March 12, 2020 |
    reply

  • Can you grow peonies in the NC mountains. I live in Highlands NC altitude is 4118.

    Dani |
    April 10, 2020 |
    reply

  • Yes you can. They would do very well there. Full sun as much as possible. Don’t plant to deep. The crown one inch below surface at most.

    Ted Van Essendelft |
    April 11, 2020 |
    reply

  • Hi. I am new to peonies. I planted the Itoh keiko in a very sunny spot. I’m afraid it’s in transplant shock, or perhaps it’s not liking it’s very sunny spot. Any ideas?

    Crystal |
    May 04, 2020 |
    reply

  • Chrystal what are they doing that you think they are in transplant shock?
    Thus winter wasnt good for southern peonies as it was to warm. Peonies are coming out of dormancy erratically instead of at once as they are used too.. Full sun and an adequate amount of water without wet feet and they will be fine.

    Ted |
    May 04, 2020 |
    reply

  • Hi! My daughter loves peonies (as do I) and is newly engaged. Of course she wants peonies in her bridal bouquet. She wants a spring wedding and I think it makes sense to plan it around the peony season. I know it can vary by a couple of weeks from year to year but give me your best guess as far as peony blooming times here in Greensboro. I think she is going to try to plan her wedding date around the peony blooming time frame. Thank you so much for any insight you can give!


    What dates do you think would be safe to plan a wedding here in Greensboro, NC? Would love to be able to pick them fresh out of the garden!

    Michelle |
    November 08, 2020 |
    reply

    • Around Greensboro, N.C you can figure on the last week in April and the first week in May. There are only a very few times when they are not blooming at that time. Recently they have been coming a little earlier, you may run into onl having the later varieties, but they will be plentiful. I’m hoping for a cold winter this coming year so they will be on schedule.

      Ted |
      December 05, 2020 |
      reply

  • Can I grow peonies in surf city nc

    Lily |
    December 04, 2020 |
    reply

    • They grow them in Wilmington so if you can find a good sunny spot with some black dirt you should be able to grow them. They may be shorter than you are use to if you have grown them or seen them growing before as peonies need cold and you may not get it there like you should. If that happens you will get foliage but no buds, there are other things that sauce this as well like planting to deep so keep the crown the main part of the root no more the 1/2 inch below the ground in Surf City. Happy growing and good luck.

      Ted |
      December 05, 2020 |
      reply

  • Where would you suggest I buy peonies? I live north of Charlotte.

    Thank you!

    Elizabeth |
    June 15, 2021 |
    reply

  • Beechridge Peonies if you are looking for small quantities. Klehms if you are looking for larger quantities. Beechridge are already acclimated to NC climate and are varieties that do well here.

    Ted |
    June 16, 2021 |
    reply

  • Hi, we have a slope behind our house and the land is sandy. I am looking to plant a flowering plant that takes full sun and is drought resistant and thrives in poor soil. Will peonies thrive in sandy soil? Thank you

    Judy |
    June 26, 2021 |
    reply

  • Peonies do better in clayish soil but will do okay in sandy as well. Just make sure you don’t plant them too deep. As long as you have good root stock they can take drought conditions pretty well. They enjoy drought better than too wet. They do not like “wet feet”.

    Ted |
    June 27, 2021 |
    reply

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