People who want to make their yard or garden look more beautiful and classy often choose peonies as one of their favorite perennial flowers. Peony care in spring is essential for the best results come blooming season. Here are some tips on how to take care of your peony plants during the early growing season.
I’ve found that most of my favorite flowers to plant are perennials, which mean they keep growing year after year.
I wrote a whole guide on how to grow peonies last year because they are one of those plants.
Another flower that has stolen my heart is the English rose. I have written on planting bare root roses and how to buy bare root roses for your garden.
It only needs a little care in late fall, which you can read about in my post on how to prepare your landscaping for winter.
It’s always important to determine the history of a plant and how it thrives in different climates.
Peonies are in the genus Paeonia. You can find about 33 different kinds of peonies at your local garden center.
Peonies come from Asia, Europe, and Western North America. They are herbaceous plants, which are also called woody shrubs.
They usually come in white, pink, or red, but you can also find them in yellow or cream to make your garden look more colorful.
Peonies typically bloom in late spring or early summer. They have a relatively short blooming season, which makes them all the more special.
Peonies have a sweet smell that is almost too good to resist. They come in many colors, sizes, and shapes.
Peonies are beloved spring bloomers, erupting in a profusion of lush flowers that add breathtaking beauty to gardens. Their captivating journey from dormant roots to flowering beauties unfolds in several fascinating growth stages.
Understanding these stages helps us provide peonies with the right care at each phase for optimal growth and abundant blooms Let’s explore the mesmerizing transformation peonies undergo in spring.
Overview of Peony Growth Cycle
The growth cycle of herbaceous peonies spans 120-150 days from spring emergence to the end of blooming, It consists of the following key stages
Stage 1: Shoot Development
As soil temperatures rise above freezing in early spring, peony roots are stimulated to produce shoots This preparatory stage lasts 7-10 days.
Stage 2: Shoot Emergence
The newly developed shoots push through the soil and emerge above ground. The shoot tips unfurl their first few leaves over 5-7 days.
Stage 3: Leaf Opening
The furled leaves rapidly unroll and expand to catch spring sunlight. This leaf opening phase lasts 4-6 days.
Stage 4: Leaf Extension
Mature leaves extend outward from stems, creating lush foliage backdrops for emerging blooms over 3-5 days.
Stage 5: Bloom Bud Expansion
Flower buds on stems swell dramatically, reaching golf ball sizes in 4-6 days as blooms get ready to open.
Stage 6: Bud Coloring
Flower buds begin revealing their vivid colors 2-4 days prior to opening as excitement builds.
Stage 7: Flower Opening
Buds burst open into fully unfurled, glorious blooms for 1-3 days of peak beauty.
Spring Care Tips at Each Growth Stage
Matching care to growth stages optimizes peony health and flowering. Here are useful tips:
Shoot Development
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Keep soil moist but not saturated to aid underground shoot growth.
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Mulch beds to conserve moisture and regulate soil temperatures.
Shoot Emergence
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Protect tender new shoots from late frosts with coverings.
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Give adequate space between plants for good air circulation.
Leaf Opening
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Water at soil level to avoid fungal leaf diseases from moisture.
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Remove weeds/debris competing for nutrients.
Leaf Extension
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Stake taller plants for support against flopping from the weight of leaves.
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Monitor for early pests like aphids attracted to new growth.
Bud Expansion
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Avoid overhead watering that could cause bud rot on open flowers.
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Support blooms with rings or stakes to prevent drooping.
Bud Coloring
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Stop deadheading spent blooms to direct energy into setting seed pods.
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Make the last fertilizer application to boost vibrant colors.
Flower Opening
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Showcase blooms in bouquets and flower arrangements indoors.
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Prune fertilized flowers to prolong the bloom period.
Peony Growth Stages Explained
Let’s look at what happens during each of the 7 spring growth phases that transform peony roots into magnificent blooms.
Stage 1: Underground Shoot Development
The first stirrings of peony growth begin underground in early spring when soil temperatures rise above freezing. This signals the dormant roots to send up new white shoots.
The shoots grow slowly at first, then rapidly elongate over 7-10 days, often reaching 2-3 inches in length before emerging. Providing ample moisture during this stage nourishes the developing shoots.
Stage 2: Shoot Emergence Above Ground
The white shoots developed underground now push up through the soil and emerge into daylight. Initially, only the tips are visible. They unfurl the immature leaves wrapped around their ends.
Over 5-7 days, more of the shoots become visible above ground as the leaves unfurl further. The shoots lengthen to 2-5 inches above soil level during this phase.
Stage 3: Rapid Leaf Opening
With shoots firmly anchored above ground, the furled leaves rapidly unroll and expand to begin photosynthesis. Their leaflets open from the base upward over 4-6 days.
The lower mature leaves provide energy for the plant while the upper leaves open. Flower buds become noticeable where leaves attach to shoots. Leaves can reach 2 feet long during this stage.
Stage 4: Outward Leaf Extension
Once leaf opening finishes, the foliage changes from erect to extending outward from shoots. This leaf extension phase lasts 3-5 days as leaves spread out to maximize light capture.
Mature leaves can reach up to a foot across during this stage. Their full expansion allows buds clustered at shoot tips to receive optimal sunlight and air circulation.
Stage 5: Dramatic Bud Expansion
Over 4-6 days, flower buds progressively swell from the size of peas to plump spheres the width of golf balls. Extra energy from the leaves fuels this rapid bud enlargement phase.
As the floral structures within the buds grow and mature, the buds become plump and round. Prominent buds form at shoot tips during this stage, foretelling the coming blooms.
Stage 6: Bud Coloring
In the 2-4 days before opening, flower buds begin revealing their inner colors as excitement builds towards full bloom. Buds take on the distinct hues of their varieties.
For example, red buds blush a deeper crimson while white buds glow with an inner radiance. This sneak peek heightens anticipation of the buds bursting into bloom.
Stage 7: Glorious Flower Opening
The moment all have been waiting for arrives as buds pop open into fully expanded blooms 1-3 days after coloring. Flowers unfurl their ruffled, silky petals in breathtaking layers.
Varieties exhibit diverse colors and forms – frilly doubles, bomb-like spheres, wispy singles in white, pink, red, and yellow for 1-2 weeks of peak beauty.
Caring for Peonies in Spring
Aligning care with growth stages keeps peonies thriving through their spring transformation into flowering beauty. Here are some tips:
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In early spring, avoid heavily amending and digging around roots to prevent shoot damage.
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Water deeply if rainfall is insufficient during shoot emergence and leaf opening.
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Switch to weekly, shallower watering as flower buds swell to keep them dry and disease-free.
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Stop deadheading plants once seed pods start forming to allow energy to flow into root storage.
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Monitor for early pests like botrytis, thrips, and peony weevils that target tender new growth.
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Stake tall, floppy plants before buds open fully since cut stems don’t stay upright.
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Display peony bouquets and arrangements indoors to enjoy their fleeting blooms.
Significance of Peony Growth Stages
Understanding peony growth stages allows us to revel in nature’s wonder as dormant roots transform into botanical masterpieces. It also helps provide proper care tailored to each phase.
Tracking peony development heightens anticipation of seeing shoots emerge, leaves unfurl, buds swell, and flowers unfurl their resplendent petals after a long winter. We can then fulfill their seasonal care needs for health and an abundance of blooms.
Peonies serve as inspirations to patiently nurture our own growth through life’s seasons until we can bloom into our full potential. Their seven spring growth phases remain fascinating transitions to observe.
The Takeaway
Peonies undergo a fascinating journey in spring as they progress through seven distinct growth stages in their 120-150 day transformation from bare roots to opulent blooms.
Recognizing the shoot development, shoot emergence, leaf opening, leaf extension, bud expansion, bud coloring, and flower opening phases allows us to provide tailored care to the plants at each stage.
Patiently nurturing peonies through their complete spring growth cycle results in a grand floral display that graces our gardens in late spring. Understanding and aligning with nature’s rhythms as revealed by peony growth stages creates a beautiful balance.
Which Peonies are the Best for You?
The different types of peonies include tree peonies, herbaceous peonies, and Itoh Peonies. Each type has different needs when it comes to soil, sun, and water.
Bare root peonies are the most cost-effective way to plant a lot of peonies.
- Tree Peonies are characterized by their strong, woody stems.
- Herbaceous Peonies die back to the ground each year.
- The large flowers and strong stems of Itoh Peonies make them stand out. They are a cross between tree and herbaceous peonies.
- Tree Peonies: Tree Peonies do well with little care in bright, shady spots with well-drained soil. They will tolerate full sun, however. Tree peonies can handle drought better than any other type of peony. Their woody stems allow the plants to retain more water.
- Herbaceous Peonies: These plants do best in full sun, but they can handle some shade. They like soil that is rich, drains well, and has a lot of organic matter in it. Herbaceous Peonies don’t handle drought as well as tree peonies do because they lose water more quickly.
- Itoh Peonies: These plants do best in full sun but can handle some shade. Also, they like soil that drains well and has a lot of organic matter in it. Itoh peonies don’t handle drought as well as tree peonies do.
How do you care for Peonies in Spring?
In early spring, check your peony plants for any signs of fungal disease. Peonies are susceptible to a few different types of fungi, including botrytis and crown rot. These diseases can be fatal to your plant, so it is important to catch them early.
In late spring, as the weather begins to warm up, keep an eye out for strong winds. Peonies have large, heavy flowers, and strong winds can damage them. If you live somewhere that gets a lot of wind, you might want to use stakes to hold up your plant.
In early summer, as the flowers start to bloom, be sure to deadhead them. Deadheading is the process of removing spent flowers from the plant.
This will encourage new growth and prevent the plant from going into seed.
Peony Growing Guide!!! How to Plant, Grow, Harvest, Divide, & Transplant Peonies
FAQ
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