These Peony Landscaping Ideas Are Blowing Up — How to Copy the Look in Your Yard

• There are three kinds of peonies—herbaceous, tree, and intersectional—that have different care needs and uses.
• Use peonies as in flower beds, mixed beds, along borders, or as statement pieces to add pizzaz to your yard.
• Give peonies decent waterings weekly, dappled to full sun, and fertilize biannually for best care.

There are few flowers with such a long breeding history as peonies, which were first cultivated in China during the Ming Dynasty 3900 years ago. Thanks to extensive breeding over the centuries, we now have thousands of peony varieties to choose from, and they are categorized as herbaceous peonies, Itoh peonies, or tree peonies.

Each type has its own landscape uses, and this guide will help you find the right type of peony for your yard, plus how to style it.

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How to Add Peonies to Your Landscaping 

The different types of peonies are:

• Herbaceous peonies, also called Chinese peonies, are the common garden peonies. Most of them are cultivars of the species Paeonia lactiflora. They are clump-forming perennials with large flowers in late spring and early summer and are hardy in USDA zones 3-8.
• Woodland peonies are a subgroup of herbaceous peonies that grow in deciduous woodlands and with the same hardiness (zones 3-8). These are the earliest peonies to bloom.
• Tree peonies (P. suffruticosa) are deciduous sub-shrubs. The flowers are similar to the ones on herbaceous peonies but larger. Tree peonies bloom for about a week to 10 days in mid- to late spring. They are hardy in USDA zones 4-9.
• Intersectional peonies, also called Itoh peonies (P. cvs.) are a hybrid of common herbaceous peonies and tree peonies. They have flowers up to 8 inches across and long, strong stems with dark green, lush, deeply lobed foliage. They bloom in late summer and are hardy in zones 3-8.

Here’s how you can use these different kinds in your landscaping for a gorgeous pop of color.

In Flower Beds

Chinese peonies are a mainstay in flower beds that get full sun for at least six hours, preferably eight hours, every day. With a mature height of two to three feet, they should be planted in a spot where they won’t obstruct the view of lower-growing flowers. Space Chinese peonies generously—about three feet apart—to allow for good air circulation and give their roots room to grow into clumps.

Especially after a rain, the heavy flower heads of peonies tend to flop. Use peony rings or stakes and twine for support if you don’t want the peonies to bury other plants in the bed.

In Mixed Beds

For a focal point, plant a tree peony as a specimen, ideally where it gets morning sun and afternoon shade. A tree peony needs ample space, at least 5 feet from the base all around. Itoh peonies are also a good choice as a specimen in mixed beds.

Chinese peonies, in groups or mass plantings, can be planted anywhere in a mixed bed where they get full sun.

If you have a mixed bed where a shrub or an evergreen creates dappled shade, you can plant some woodland peonies around it. 

On Borders and Hedges

Mass plantings or groups of Chinese peonies are an excellent addition to a border in full sun. Position them in the middle of the border to conceal their foliage as it gets a little unsightly later in the summer.

Due to their size, tree peonies and Itoh peonies are best planted toward the back of the border.

Both Chinese peonies and tree peonies can be used to create a peony hedge, such along a fence or a property line. Plant them in a row with proper spacing and make sure that there are no larger trees and shrubs nearby that compete for light, water, and nutrients. 

As a Standalone Statement

Peonies on their own make a gorgeous statement in a garden. Plant a few in a clump (consider providing some edging or structure to support the heavy stems and heads) and provide proper care. With time, these blooms will become the focal point of your yard. Consider adding a few around the area of different colored flowers for beautifully polka dotted yard.

Things to Consider When Choosing Peonies

• Color palette: If you want to plant peonies with different flower colors, group similar colors together to create the most appealing visual effect.
• Bloom period: For a succession of peony blooms for seven to eight weeks plant peonies with different bloom times: woodland peonies (early), tree and herbaceous (mid-season), and intersectional peonies (late).
• Height: Make sure that tall peonies (tree and Itoh peonies) don’t case shade on the shorter Chinese peony varieties that require full sun and follow the spacing recommendation for each type when planting peonies. For small spaces, consider planting dwarf peony varieties, also called patio peonies, that don’t exceed 2 feet in height.
• Companion plants: Other flowering plants that have similar growing conditions and that are attractive when coupled with peonies include salvia, bearded iris, and delphinium. 

Caring for Peonies

Peonies are generally easy to care for if you satisfy their basic growing conditions. 

Water

Regardless of their type, peonies need 1 to 2 inches of water per week. They are not drought-resistant. Water them at the base (not from overhead) to keep the soil moist.

Light

The light requirements vary. Chinese peonies need full sun, woodland peonies require partial or dappled shade, and tree and Itoh peonies grow in full sun to partial shade.

Fertilizing

The rule of thumb is to fertilize peonies twice a year—once in the early spring and again after the bloom. Fertilizer recommendations range from bulb fertilizer, bone meal, and balanced slow-release fertilizer to mushroom compost. 

Common Issues

Peonies are susceptible to fungal diseases such as Botrytis blight and powdery mildew. Good airflow and diligent garden hygiene (removing infected plant parts and a thorough fall cleanup) are key to controlling the spread of disease.