Native to China, Japan, Europe and North America, peonies have long been popular for centuries. Peonies were first used for their medicinal properties before becoming popular in ornamental gardens. Peonies were thought to relieve pain, cool the blood, cure gall stones, control epileptic seizures and have antibacterial properties.

There are three types of peonies – tree peonies, herbaceous peonies and intersectional peonies.

Tree peonies have woody above ground stems that remain throughout the year, much like a small shrub. The leaves however are deciduous and fall each autumn.

Herbaceous peonies die back to the ground each autumn. They are grouped into five types according to flower shape: single, semidouble, double, Japanese, and anemone.

Intersectional peonies are the result of crossing herbaceous and tree peonies. Like herbaceous peonies they die back to the ground each year. Their foliage and flowers however are reminiscent of tree peonies.

Peonies grow best in cool climates, however peonies are generally considered to grow well into USDA Hardiness Zone 8. The cold weather allows them to set their buds and flower. To encourage flowering, plant on a northern exposure and do not mulch in the winter. Peonies grow best in full sun, but will tolerate light shade. Flower size will decrease due to root competition from nearby trees and shrubs. The planting site should have protection from strong winds, but be well aerated to reduce diseases problems. Peonies prefer a well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Roots will quickly rot in poorly drained soil; consider planting in a raised bed.

The best time to plant peonies is in early fall — September and October are ideal. If planted in the spring, they may not bloom for a year or two. Follow the directions from the grower and make sure to amend the soil before planting.

To produce larger flowers, a practice known as disbudding is recommended. The terminal bud on each stem tip is left and all side buds are removed. This should be done as soon as the buds are visible. To prevent the large flowers from breaking or bending over during a strong wind or rain, plants should be staked.

Remove flowers as soon as they fade to prevent seed development, which uses up needed food reserves. The faded flower should be removed just below the flower, leaving as much foliage as possible. Cutting flowers for enjoyment in the home can also reduce the flowering in future years. Do not cut more than one-third to one-half of the flowers for cut flowers and leave as much foliage on the plant as possible.

In the fall, after a heavy frost, remove and destroy the stems of garden peonies down to 3 inches from the soil surface to eliminate the possibility of the fungal diseases overwintering. Tree peonies should not be cut back in the fall.

Peonies don’t like to be moved. It can take years for a peony to recover from the shock of being moved. If your peony was planted or re-plants in the past four years, it just may be feeling sullen. It will flower eventually, so be patient.

Although peonies can be a bit difficult to grow, once you find a spot that makes them happy they are long lived and are affected by few pests and diseases. You will enjoy the large, showy flowers for years to come.