What would the spring perennial border be like without the massive blooms of the peony?
Staples in many landscape peonies have been known to flourish in the same location for more than 100 years. Even with this longevity we receive many questions regarding why peonies have stopped blooming or bloom weakly at best.
Two main reasons are usually the cause for this lack of flower:
• The main cause is usually lack of sunlight. As peonies mature so do the plants around them. As trees grow and shrubs flourish areas once bathed in sunlight become shaded depriving the long-lived peony of the sunlight it needs to produce its annual spring flower show.
The plants survive but flowers become smaller and more infrequent. If this is the case either the plant producing the shade must be removed or pruned or the peony transplanted.
• If the plants produce abundant buds, which dry, turn brown and sometimes rot before opening the problem is a fungus called Botrytis. Botrytis is a common fungus affecting many of our landscape plants. It survives in our soils and infected plant debris left on the ground.
If your peonies show a history of Botrytis infection treat them with a labeled fungicide multiple times throughout the spring. Fungicides such as Maneb and Bordeaux are effective against Botryris.
If you’ve never grown peonies, give them a try. Nothing provides more color and cut flowers for the home and garden each spring.
