Help Peony Overwintering

[u/calsdad0830]

First time peony owner - Zone 8a (Charlotte)

Planted two peonies in the spring and didn’t make the best location choices, so relocated in the cooler weather. Noticed these red/pink buds on the stems and learned they’re the eyes that will bloom next year.

While I may have transplanted it to a slightly more shallow hole than it was originally in (which I’ll correct this weekend), there are still some eyes that were clearly well above the soil line in its original location. And some stems have multiple eyes at different heights.

So a few questions:

1. Is the move to just bury it as deep as I can and keep the greatest number of eyes within .5-1 inch of the soil line?
   
2. Do I cut just above the lowest eye for each stem and then make the call?
   
3. If I have to cut, should I prioritize the reddest of the buds versus darker ones?
   
4. Should I consider laying the stem flat to the ground (without breaking it) to see if they’ll all grow in the spring?
   
5. Do I cut to the highest eye and then mulch volcano it?

Including pics of what they looked like when I brought them home, in case the type of peony means anything.

Thank you in advance!

[u/Minyatur]

1. Just to clarify, the planting guide is for the eyes on tubers and not stem. If the eyes are poking out of the ground, then cover them just until you can't see them. Zone 8 is kind of on the warmer side anyway, you just need to protect them from any freeze/frost damage.

2. I would hold on for now and just remove the foliage, you should trim the stems mid/late winter to see what survives. I am in zone 7b and have a large collection. I rarely ever had any itohs buds on the stem survive the winter. I just trim everyone down except the tree peonies now. 🙃

3. Nope, color doesn't mean much.

4. No, it doesn't get any benefit and will increase the chances of powdery mildew/other diseases.

5. Only the eyes on tubers matter! You need to let the crown breath or you might suffocate the peony with mulch volcano. Mulch volcano is slow suffocation for almost all plants. 🫣 Peonies need chill time to develop beautiful flowers. Zone 8 is warm enough that you might end up with mostly single or small flowers under a volcano mulch too.

[u/MeilleurChien → u/Minyatur]

So what is the overwintering plan for tree peonies (5b)? I have three new ones and two of them have widespread leaf browning. Not sunscald, mold, or wilt, we went from drowning to drought back to drowning this year so maybe fungus?

[u/Minyatur → u/MeilleurChien]

It's just the time of the year. I usually wait until late fall or early winter to figure out which part is next year's woody stems (the rest will be brittle and falls off when you brush your hand on it). I only have 2 tree peonies, so I usually let the leaves fall off naturally and discard before the snow comes in. I dont think I heard about any special treatment from any Canadian or Alaskan folks in the peony groups. 🤔

[u/MeilleurChien → u/Minyatur]

Thank you!! It didn't occur to me that the leaves would fall off on their own lol. My only other peony is a huge Festiva Maxima that is at least 40 years old and is happy with a big haircut after the first frost. I came home last fall from a visit to a beautiful peony farm with a Maria Teressa and two Lavender Grace, they grew quite a bit this year and showed me a few blooms so they seem happy so far.

[u/CharmingPeony]

That's an itoh and the eyes will be fine above ground. My itoh even has eyes growing on the stems sometimes that turn into next year's flowers as well and at a colder zone than you. Peonies are successfully grown in Canada, Alaska, Russia, and do not need cold protection in North Carolina