When Do Peonies Bloom? (Plus Tips On A Longer Season)

In early spring you may find yourself peering through the rain and wondering when your peonies will bloom.

These much adored and widely sought after spring flowers feature billowy blooms, and a sweet fragrance. They are well loved by florists and home gardeners.

Overflowing with beauty, peonies are a popular and romantic choice for wedding bouquets and decor.

So, when exactly do peonies bloom? And when can you expect to see your peony plant burst forth with vibrant petals in your specific zone?

You can read more about extending the life of cut peony flowers in this article.

The Short Answer On When Peonies Bloom

In short, peonies bloom in late spring to early summer. The months of late May and early June are when most of the flowers unfurl.

Like many gardening topics, there is a brief answer and a long answer to this question.

We are going to dive into all the details that effect peony bloom time and how you can extend the bloom time in your peony garden.

What Factors Effect Bloom Time?

In addition to blooming in late spring to early summer, there are several factors that affect when the flower buds develop and open:

• Type of Peony
• Zone (location and climate where peony is planted)
• Weather (local climate and variations in typical weather patterns)

Type Of Peony

The Latin name for Peonies is Paeonia, and within this species are different types of peonies: tree peonies, herbaceous peonies, and intersectional peonies. The type of peony plant and variety will effect the bloom time.

Herbaceous

Herbaceous Peonies: Herbaceous peonies are the most well known of all peonies. They bloom from late spring until early summer. The bloom time of herbaceous peonies is anywhere from 7 to 10 days.

Herbaceous peonies are often used for floral vase arrangement, wedding bouquets and decor.

You can stretch out the bloom time of herbaceous peony plants to several weeks by planting varieties that bloom at different times.

Tree

Tree Peonies are a deciduous shrub that boast beautiful blooms each year. They are not as common as herbaceous peonies and take longer to establish blooms.

Tree peonies bloom in early spring, before herbaceous peonies.

If you want early peony blooms and can wait for the plants be established, tree peonies are a good option for extending your peony bloom season.

Intersectional

Intersectional Peonies (also known as Itoh) are a hybrid combination of herbaceous peonies and tree peonies.

Itoh peonies bloom at the same time as herbaceous peonies, in late spring to early summer. They have a longer bloom time however, from 3 to 4 weeks, and can be an awesome addition to a backyard peony garden.

How Weather And Zone Effects Bloom Time

Growing Zone: The growing zone that you live in will affect the bloom time of your peonies. Gardening “zones” refer to geographical areas that experience certain weather and climate patterns.

For example, a gardener living South Carolina will have an earlier peony bloom time (late March) than that of a gardener in Northwest Washington State (mid May).

Weather Impact: Additionally, the current weather you are experiencing in your zone may impact the bloom time of your peonies.

Our flower garden is located in Oregon, and in the past years we have had weather extremes. Last year our plants experienced abnormal, early heat and sunshine, resulting in an early May bloom of many peonies.

This year, we had late snow and frost that delayed bloom time of many plants by several weeks, including peonies.

Plant Strategically

In our previous home, my husband and I eagerly planted a dozen herbaceous peonies. We were excited for the plethora of gorgeous blooms that would soon grace our flower beds.

Unfortunately, we neglected to plant a variety of peonies and were regularly harvesting an abundance of peony blossoms all in the same week. While I never complained about the gorgeous pink billows waving at me from my back yard, I did wish we had been more strategic in our planting approach.

As avid peony lovers, we are now planting a variety of peony types in order to enjoy a longer blooming season.

Gardener’s Tip: Study different peony varieties and plant a range of early, mid, and late blooming flowers.

Do Peonies Bloom All Summer?

Peonies do not bloom all summer. The best way to prolong the bloom time of peonies in your backyard is to plant a variety of peony bushes that bloom at different times throughout the season.

You can also purchase rose bushes that look like peonies. Julia Child Rose, Eden Rose, and Peony roses all of have a similar look to peonies, with a full, billowy bloom and multiple layers of petals.

Roses make a fantastic accent to a peony rich flower garden, and many bloom all summer with proper pruning.

Do Peonies Grow Back Every Year?

Thankfully, peonies are a perennial, which means they do grow back year after year! When planted in a sunny spot, peonies will happily send up there shoots every year. Over time they get fuller and more bountiful in blooms.

How Long Do Peony Plants Live?

Peony plants can live for decades, even up to 100 years! With proper sunlight and nutrients, peonies can thrive for a century or longer.

Thank you so much for reading. Enjoy your garden season this year, and don’t forget to stop and smell the roses!