Peony Problems? 8 Reasons Why Your Peony Doesn’t Bloom (& How to Fix Them)
Growing peonies has long been a favorite for homeowners.
Their soft, lush, romantic blooms are a work of art that we wish we could admire and enjoy every day of the year.
The sad reality is that sometimes we plant peonies in hope of experiencing their beauty only to be greatly disappointed when the season comes and it simply doesn’t flower.
What went wrong?
Thankfully, I’ve been growing peonies for years, and I’m sharing some of my own expert insight below.
Read on to learn why your peony may not have bloomed this year so you can find the culprit, mend the issue, and experience the loveliness of peony blooms in the years to come.
How old is your peony?
Is your peony getting too much shade?
Is your peony planted too deep?
Has your peony recently been moved or replanted?
Was there a late season freeze?
Was the peony foliage cut back too soon?
Has your peony received too much fertilizer?
Did the peony buds turn brown or black?
How old is your peony?
Mature peony plants produce blooms. If you’ve planted your peony recently (in the past 1-3 years), your plant simply may be too young to produce flowers. As the plant ages and develops, it’ll grow larger and produce more blooms.
I know it’s hard to be patient, but they’re well worth the wait!
Is your peony getting too much shade?
Sure, peonies can survive in part-sun areas, but in order for them to produce the biggest, best blooms (or bloom at all), they need to be planted in an area that receives a full 6-8 hours of sun daily. If your peony has tall, leafy stems and no buds-check for proper sunlight exposure. I recommend moving the shrub to a sunnier location or trimming trees and shrubs to gain more light to your growing peonies.
Is your peony planted too deep?
Peonies are grown from root systems called tubers. The tubers have “eyes” (pointy areas on the tuber) from which the plant develops. The tubers should be planted so that they eyes are just below ground level (no more than two inches under the surface). If the peony tubers are planted too deep, it can cause your peony not to bloom.
Has your peony recently been moved or replanted?
If you recently moved your peony, this is likely why it isn’t blooming. It was nice and cozy in its home, then uprooted and moved to a new place. Peonies can take a while to adjust to their new environment and get over the shock of being moved; and while they’re adjusting, they may not produce those big, beautiful blooms you love.
Be patient, and trust that your peony will flower again once it settles in.
Was there a late season freeze?
Sometimes Mother Nature plays tricks with our seasonal timelines and gives us a freeze as our plants are getting ready to bud and bloom. For the most part, peonies are relatively hardy in cold temperatures and can tolerate frost. However, if there is a very long, late season freeze, peony buds can be damaged. The damage sustained from the cold weather can cause a peony not to bloom.
If there is a freeze in the forecast around the time your peony is developing blooms, use a sheet and a stake to create a “tent” for the peony to be protected from the cold. In my opinion, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Was the peony foliage cut back too soon?
After peonies are done blooming, their shiny green foliage stays intact until fall or frost. Resist the urge to cut the foliage down to the ground immediately, leaving the shrub foliage until at least early fall. The peony shrub will use the foliage to rebuild its energy supply to bloom again next year.
If you decide to cut the foliage back after bloom or in the summer, you risk the chance that your peony will not bloom the following spring.
Has your peony received too much fertilizer?
Peonies are slow eaters and don’t require much fertilizer to thrive. If a peony receives too much nitrogen, it can actually inhibit the production of peony blooms. Oftentimes, this problem occurs when the lawn next to the peony is fertilized too heavily.
Fertilize your peony with a more balanced fertilizer and avoid overdoing it on plants or the lawn next to your peony bushes.
Did the peony buds turn brown or black?
Peonies can contract a fungal disease, called Botrytis blight, that causes a peony bud to turn brown or black and shrivel up. This fungus is usually brought on by a cool, wet spring. If this happens, remove the peony foliage in the fall and dispose of it to prevent further spread. Your peony should recover and hopefully bloom the next season.
Hopefully by now you’ve been able to identify why your peony doesn’t bloom. While the above problems can make a peony sound high maintenance, I promise they don’t have to be! Most gardeners would agree that growing peonies are relatively easy to maintain, and they provide a beautiful reward in the springtime that keeps on giving, year after year.
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