Peony Garden Placement

Peonies earn their keep well beyond the bloom — few perennials hold such rich, full foliage all season after their May and June flowers fade.

Where They Work Best

Peony foliage forms a bold green backdrop for later-blooming flowers in a mixed border, which is why peonies are often treated as backbone plants for the hardy flower bed. A large planting reads as a genuine panorama of color, and peonies also make an effective hedge or a vegetable garden border. Their handsome summer foliage is a big part of why they're a popular choice for foundation plantings around a house.

Planting for the Long Haul

September and October are the best months to plant new peonies or divide established ones; spring-planted roots (dug and stored over winter) can work too, but are less likely to bloom their first year. Give peonies full sun, or a little shade at most, and plenty of room — they can live undisturbed for years and eventually spread three to four feet. They want rich, loamy, slightly alkaline soil; since the plant stays in place for years, it's worth preparing a deep hole with ground limestone, wood ashes, bone meal, and well-rotted manure before planting.