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3 Reasons Why Your Peonies Didn’t Bloom & How to Fix It

Every spring, I’m amazed by my peonies. It still blows my mind that such a massive, frilly blossom comes from a bud roughly the size of a large marble. Aren’t plants amazing?

But this past spring, one of my peonies was all buds and no blooms. Luckily, figuring out why peonies don’t bloom is pretty easy. And while there are quite a few reasons why it can happen, there are three major causes that are almost always the culprit.

If you found yourself in the No Peony Pity Party as well this spring, let’s see if we can make sure it’s a one-time event and get those buds a bloomin’ next year.

Peonies – the Old Faithful of Perennials

Pink peonies

Peonies are one of those perennials that, once established, can be counted on to show up decade after decade with their big, blousy blossoms. Because they don’t need to be divided frequently (if ever), it’s not uncommon for them to last a lifetime or more. So, when they don’t bloom, it’s frustrating. Not to mention confusing. What happened?

Well, while peonies are certainly the Old Faithful of Perennials, they also happen to be a bit particular.

(A trait I share with them.)

Yes, they will bloom for a lifetime, but only if they’re content. The nice thing is that if they aren’t blooming, it’s usually one of three easy-to-fix issues.  

1. You Planted Them Too Deep

This is by far the most common reason why peonies don’t bloom or stop blooming. Most of you are going to read this and, boom, your problem will be solved, and you won’t need to read any further. It really is that common.

Red peony eyes

You’ve likely noticed that when they aren’t bushed out and blooming, peonies have little “eyes.” They look like little bright red buds at the top of the crown. It’s important to make sure these are no more than 1 to 2 inches below the soil surface. If they are buried any deeper, you’re basically smothering them, and they won’t bloom. They will continue to produce foliage, but not flowers.

Even if they have been fine in the past, there are several reasons they might be buried this year.

  • You mulched heavily recently or the prior fall.
  • Over the years, the plants have shifted deeper in the soil with annual freeze-thaw cycles.
  • Maybe you moved and inherited peonies at your new place, and the previous owners didn’t plant them at the correct depth.
  • Perhaps you planted them and mistakenly buried them too deeply.

Regardless of the why, fall is the time to lift and reset them if needed. Aim for just under the soil surface and you’ll be rewarded with blooms next season.

2. They’re Not Getting Enough Sun

If it’s not number one, then it’s more than likely number two. You won’t find peonies on lists of perennials to grow in the shade. While they can survive in shade, you won’t get blooms, and they will be more susceptible to common diseases that trouble peonies.

They need between six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day to produce enough energy to bloom.

Keep in mind that this doesn’t always mean it’s where you planted them. If your peonies used to bloom profusely and have slowly stopped blooming over the past few seasons, they could be getting shaded out by nearby trees and shrubs that have grown up over the years. (This ended up being the case for my peonies. I’ll be moving them in the fall.)

3. They’re Too Young

Finally, we’ve reached the last common reason peonies don’t bloom. I hate to say it, but much like asparagus and rhubarb, peonies play the long game. If you planted a bare-root peony or divided a mature clump recently, it might take a few years to settle in before it starts blooming reliably.

There’s an old saying about peonies to keep in mind: first year they sleep, second year they creep, third year they leap.

It’s frustrating for those of us who are impatient (hello, friends), yes, but also totally normal. If your plant is in a good location and otherwise looks healthy, give it time.

Nine times out of ten, these first three are the answer to your peony problems. However, if you’re sure that none of these apply, there are a few more reasons why your peonies might not have bloomed.

White peonies

Let’s take a look and see if we can’t get you sorted out.

4. Watering Woes

Peonies like consistent moisture, especially in spring when buds are forming. But they hate soggy feet. Too much water, or heavy clay soils that stay wet, can cause buds to rot or fail to form. An especially wet spring can lead to fewer or no blossoms.

Not enough water during bud development can also cause what’s known as “bud blast,” where buds form, then dry out and die.

If your buds are brown or shriveled before they open, you might be dealing with inconsistent watering or poor drainage. Mulching can help retain moisture, but make sure you’re not piling mulch right over the crown (again, we don’t want to bury those eyes). And if drainage is the problem, consider amending the soil or raising the bed slightly.

5. Frost Got Them

peony buds

With changing weather patterns over the last few years, late spring frosts are more prevalent, and they can ruin your spring before it’s started. Peony buds are tender. All it takes is one sudden dip below freezing at the wrong time to zap them. The worst part is, you may not even notice it until you see blackened tips or buds that turn mushy and never open.

It’s always a good idea to have frost fabric on hand for those spring frosts.

6. Botrytis Blight

This fungal disease shows up in cool, wet conditions and can make a mess of your peonies. One day, you’re admiring tight buds, anticipating the first big bloom. The next day, you’ve got brown, soft buds falling apart. Botrytis loves damp environments and poor air circulation. (Another reason why peonies need to be in a sunny location.)

rotting peony bushes

Remove and dispose of infected buds or stems (don’t compost them), and clean up all plant debris in the fall. You can also thin out some of the stems in spring to improve airflow through the plant. If it’s a recurring problem, you might consider using a fungicide, but in most cases, good hygiene, plenty of sunlight, and spacing are enough to prevent reoccurrence.

7. Bud Balling

Whenever I hear Bud Balling, it makes me think it’s a stupid drinking game that the college kids are playing these days.

Peony opening

Bud balling occurs in continuously wet weather and usually affects double-flowered varieties. The outer petals of the bud get stuck together and never open. It’s a bit like trying to take off a sports bra when you’re already sweaty. (If you know, you know.)

If you catch it early, you can gently peel open stuck buds by hand. But be gentle and only attempt it on dry days.

8. Poorly Draining Soil

Peonies are pretty tough, but they draw the line at soggy, poorly drained soil. If water sits where they’re planted, it can lead to root rot, which stunts growth and prevents flowering.

If you suspect drainage is the issue, dig around a bit and inspect the roots. They should be firm and white or cream-colored, not soft, brown, and smelly. If they’re mushy, it’s time to improve the site—add compost, sand, or even consider moving them to a different location this fall.

9. Too Much Nitrogen

Here’s the thing: most of us know better than to dump a high-nitrogen fertilizer on a plant we want to flower. However, we rarely consider how lawn fertilizer might impact nearby flowering plants.

Peony bushes

Lawn fertilizers are quite high in nitrogen, and if overused, can significantly impact neighboring flowering plants, such as your peonies that didn’t bloom this year.

Fertilizer is a double-edged sword. Give peonies too much nitrogen (especially from lawn fertilizers that drift over), and they’ll go all in on leaves at the expense of flowers.

Mickey has a great article on fertilizing peonies in spring for big, bold blooms. You can read that here.

10. Crowded Peonies

Mature peonies rarely need to be divided. (You’ll notice this is the last item on this list.) Most go decades without it. But if everything else has been tended to and you have a large, crowded clump that refused to bloom, it might be time.

Peony shrubs

When dividing, always do it in the fall and aim to give each division a minimum of five eyes and a healthy chunk of root. Then plant it shallowly (yes, we’re coming back to that again) and give it time to get settled.

In most cases, peonies that aren’t blooming are just mad about something. They likely need a little attention, and by next year, all will be forgiven, and they will start blooming again. Kind of like some family members I know.


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Tracey Besemer

Hey there, my name is Tracey. I’m the editor-in-chief here at Rural Sprout.

Many of our readers already know me from our popular Sunday newsletters. (You are signed up for our newsletters, right?) Each Sunday, I send a friendly missive from my neck of the woods in Pennsylvania. It’s a bit like sitting on the front porch with a friend, discussing our gardens over a cup of tea.

Originally from upstate NY, I’m now an honorary Pennsylvanian, having lived here for the past 18 years.

I grew up spending weekends on my dad’s off-the-grid homestead, where I spent much of my childhood roaming the woods and getting my hands dirty.

I learned how to do things most little kids haven’t done in over a century.

Whether it was pressing apples in the fall for homemade cider, trudging through the early spring snows of upstate NY to tap trees for maple syrup, or canning everything that grew in the garden in the summer - there were always new adventures with each season.

As an adult, I continue to draw on the skills I learned as a kid. I love my Wi-Fi and knowing pizza is only a phone call away. And I’m okay with never revisiting the adventure that is using an outhouse in the middle of January.

These days, I tend to be almost a homesteader.

I take an eclectic approach to homesteading, utilizing modern convenience where I want and choosing the rustic ways of my childhood as they suit me.

I’m a firm believer in self-sufficiency, no matter where you live, and the power and pride that comes from doing something for yourself.

I’ve always had a garden, even when the only space available was the roof of my apartment building. I’ve been knitting since age seven, and I spin and dye my own wool as well. If you can ferment it, it’s probably in my pantry or on my kitchen counter. And I can’t go more than a few days without a trip into the woods looking for mushrooms, edible plants, or the sound of the wind in the trees.

You can follow my personal (crazy) homesteading adventures on Almost a Homesteader and Instagram as @aahomesteader.

Peace, love, and dirt under your nails,

Tracey