Why Aren't My Peonies Blooming? Gardening Experts Weigh In

Peonies are beloved for their blooms: Vibrant, lush, and textured beauties that come in a rainbow of hues and—on some varieties—can grow as wide as 10 inches in diameter. But if you planted peonies expecting an array of show-stopping flowers and instead find yourself with barely-blooming bushes or no blooms at all, you may be making one of these mistakes. To ensure your most beautiful blossoms yet, our experts explain when peonies bloom and the most common reasons yours aren't.

When Peonies Bloom

Peonies bloom in spring, revealing lush, textured flowers from about April until June. The exact bloom time depends largely on your climate. Typically, the flowers show up earlier in warmer regions and later in colder climates.

The type of peony you're growing will also dictate bloom time. "Peony bloom season is marked by weeks one to eight, with the earliest bloomers in week one and the very latest in week eight," says Laura Kubes of Hidden Springs Peony Farm. Tree peonies, fern peonies, and woodland peonies bloom first; hybrid varieties, like true reds and corals, bloom mid-season; and other peonies bloom in the latter half of spring. 

Week five bloomers are perhaps the biggest group of peonies. "White and blush double peonies are typically the last ones to bloom in weeks six and seven; Itoh peonies also tend to be later blooming. There are some varieties that break these rules, but most follow suit," says Kubes.

Reasons Your Peonies Aren't Blooming

If your peonies aren't blooming, you may be facing one of these common obstacles.

They Don't Have Enough Sunlight

Lack of light is one of the most common reasons peony blooms falter; in some gardens, neighboring plants outgrow their intended height and block essential sun exposure. “Large garden plants, trees, and shrubs grow, and shade can develop where full sun was, [which] can lead to reduced blooms for your peony," says Kubes. "If this is the case, either trim the tree or shrub to increase the sunshine or transplant your peony to a full sun location in the fall."

They Don't Have Enough Room to Grow

Peony plants have thick root systems, so planting them too close to each other—or to other plants—can impede their ability to stay productive. “We recommend spacing the plants at least 3 feet apart,” says Kady Adelman of Adelman Peony Gardens. “It’s important to allow enough room for the root system.” Surround the plants with well-draining soil. “Peonies do not like to be sitting in wet soil,” says Kubes. “Never plant a peony in a location that stays wet.”

They Are Overwatered

While it’s important to water peonies during their active spring growing season and while they are developing new roots in the fall, you don’t want to keep the soil too wet. “Once established, peonies are very drought-tolerant and much better able to handle dry conditions than soggy ones,” says Kubes.

They Are Planted Too Deep

Setting your peony's roots too far under the soil is another frequent mistake. “In the coldest zones of 3 and 4, peonies should be planted just 2 inches below the soil level and no deeper,” says Kubes. “Zones 5 to 7 should plant peonies about an inch deep. And in zone 8, which is the warmest zone, we recommend the roots should be just below the soil no more than ½ inch.”

To find out if your plant is buried properly, during fall, carefully dig down and check to see how deep the rhizomes's eyes are located from the top of the soil. "If they are too deep, reposition them by either removing some of the soil from the top or carefully using a shovel under the root ball and adding more soil under it," says Adelman.

They Are Diseased

Botrytis and powdery mildew are two common fungal diseases that can prevent your peonies from reaching their full potential. “Both can lead to buds that never fully form, dry up or rot before they bloom,” says Kubes, who recommends copper fungicide as a remedy. “Apply over the whole plant every one to two weeks as soon as you see the slightest symptom of a fungal disease. Be sure to spray the underside of leaves as well as the tops,” she says.

They Are Recent Transplants

Don’t expect every peonies to bloom the season after planting, says Kubes. “Although it sometimes happens, peonies often do not bloom their first year after being planted or transplanted,” she says. “It can take up to three years after a peony is moved for it to bloom. Be patient!”

Tips for Encouraging Your Peonies to Bloom

Avoiding the above pitfalls will encourage your peonies to flower, but there are other steps you can take to ensure beautiful blooms.

Prune Your Peonies

After your peonies lose their petals, trim the seed pods. “This allows the plant to put energy into the plant, storing up energy for next year's blooms,” says Adelman. “In the fall, herbaceous and intersectional peonies are cut completely down to the ground, whereas tree peonies’ woody stems are left, and the foliage is removed or fall off on their own.”

Fertilize Your Peonies

On Adelman’s farm, the peonies are fertilized twice annually, once in spring and once in fall. “We usually suggest thinking of Easter and Halloween as a guide,” she says. Use a fertilizer designed for bulbs, as many general fertilizers are too high in nitrogen. If you have poor or sandy soil use a bulb fertilizer in mid-summer—after the plant has dropped its petals—and in late August, says Kubes.

Provide Adequate Sunlight

Peonies require full-sun locations to produce their most stunning flowers. “You want your peony to get 10 hours of full sun every day as a minimum to get the biggest and best blooms—eight hours is the absolute bare minimum a peony needs to reliably reach its potential," says Kubes. "Woody peonies and Intersectional peonies are the exception and can tolerate more of a part-shade location than herbaceous peonies."