Paeonia officinalis red

Bare-root peonies are best planted in autumn, while they are dormant. Potted peonies can be planted at other times of year if the ground is not frozen, waterlogged or very dry, but autumn gives the roots the best chance to establish.

Plant the root horizontally with the buds, often called eyes, facing upwards. The eyes should sit no more than 2.5cm below the soil surface. Planting too deeply is one of the main reasons peonies produce leaves but no flowers.

A newly planted peony may need 1 to 3 years to settle and flower well. If an established plant has plenty of leaves but no blooms, check that it is in full sun, has not been planted too deeply and is not being overfed with high-nitrogen fertiliser.

Yes. Herbaceous peonies die back to ground level in autumn and produce fresh shoots each spring. Once established in a suitable position, they can flower reliably for many years with very little disturbance.

Peonies have deep roots and are usually better planted in the ground than kept in containers. They also dislike being moved, so choose their position carefully. If you need to lift one, do it in autumn and replant it straight away at the correct shallow depth.