Peonies grow best in the ground. Prepare a suitable hole and loosen the soil thoroughly. Improve poor garden soil by mixing in some compost and granulated cow manure. Plant the root ball at the right depth in the planting hole. The top of the root ball should be just one cm below ground level. Be careful not to plant too deep! Fill the hole with soil, press firmly and water immediately after planting. Peonies blossom and grow well in an area with complete sunshine in loose nutritious soil.

Peonies look great in the border

Peonies will add a special touch to your border. These large, double flowers are even more beautiful next to other flowers. You can combine your peonies in early summer with delphiniums (Delphinium 'Magic Fountains', lupine (Lupinus 'The Governor') or even with wisteria.

Peonies are easy-to-grow plants that require minimal maintenance. Be sure to prevent the soil around the roots from drying out. Cut off its faded flower stems in order to encourage a good growth and re-flowering. In the autumn, the stems above the ground can weaken and dieback so cover the plants in winter with a layer of fallen leaves. In spring, cut off all of their leaves, soon you will see some new shoots growing above the ground. Since peonies have long, fleshy roots, we recommend moving this perennial around as little as possible.

Peonies also make excellent, long-lasting cut flowers in a vase. Therefore, a group of Peonies should definitely not be missing from your cut flower garden. It is best to pick the flowers early in the morning. Remove its bottom leaves and place the stems directly into a vase full of lukewarm water with flower food. Because of the long stems, Peonies are very suitable for putting in oasis.