🌸 Peony
Paeonia lactiflora
Gorgeous, dramatic, and deeply unimpressed by Florida winters.
Sun
Full sun, 6+ hrs
Days to harvest
Perennial; blooms late spring (needs winter chill)
Spacing
3 feet apart; eyes 1–2 inches below soil
Soil pH
6.5–7.0
How to grow
Plant bare roots in fall with the pink eyes barely below the surface — buried too deep, they bloom never. Florida honesty: peonies need sustained winter chill most of the state can't offer, so treat them as a northern guest, not a resident. Panhandle gardeners have the best shot.
Water & feeding
Water deeply during spring growth and bloom; established plants tolerate dry spells but bloom better with consistent moisture.
Common problems
- Botrytis blight grays out buds in wet springs — space for airflow
- Ants on buds are harmless sugar-seekers, not a problem to solve
- No blooms usually means too-deep planting or too-warm winters
Harvest
Cut when buds feel like soft marshmallows; deadhead after flowering but leave foliage to feed the roots.
Nerdy fact: A peony plant can outlive its gardener — established clumps have bloomed for over a century, which makes their Florida chill demands feel a little entitled.