Peonies are easy to grow and can live for decades, often 50 years+ in a garden. Peonies are very low maintenance and if you stick to some simple rules for growing them we are sure you will be able to grow your own healthy peonies with no trouble at all.
There are 3 simple rules to planting herbaceous peonies:
• Plant in full sun or part shade in a sheltered position
• Any fertile soil will do, as long as it is free draining
• Plant herbaceous peonies with the crown (top of the root) no more than 5cm below the ground. With container grown plants, simply plant them at the same level they are in the pot they arrive in.
Most peonies will benefit from a general, balanced feed once a year in either the Spring or the Autumn.
You can feed a new peony when you are planting, mix the feed through your compost and add to the bottom of the hole to encourage root growth. When feeding your peony after it has been planted, you would loosen the soil around the peony and sprinkle the feed, mix lightly into the loose soil with your hands and then water the area so the feed can be absorbed into the soil to be most effective.
Once your peony is well-established in your garden you may wish to divide it. Some peonies can grow to about 90cm in diameter. It is a popular myth that peonies cannot be moved; if done properly then your peony will respond well to being divided and/or moved.
Once your peony has flowered you may wish to dead-head the blooms. Dead-heading your peony is not essential but it will keep the plant looking tidy and encourage further root growth.
Visit the FAQ page where we answer all of the most common questions and queries received from our customers. If you can’t find an answer, contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
Alec White and his dedicated team of nurserymen and women have spent years cultivating a diverse collections of peonies for sale in the UK. At Primrose Hall Peonies, our aim is to share our passion for these extraordinary plants with fellow peony enthusiasts and those just beginning their journey into peony gardening.
We are proud to offer a wide selection of peonies—from rare and unusual varieties you may not have encountered before to the timeless classics that have long been cherished in British gardens. There is a peony variety to inspire every gardener.
If you don’t see a particular variety listed on our website, we encourage you to get in touch. It’s possible we already have it growing and can add you to our waiting list. We also have the ability to source peonies internationally, so if you’re expanding your collection and searching for a specific variety, our team will do their best to help.
Professional peony slow-release fertiliser for use in the Spring when shoots are just emergingUse our own-brand professional peony fertiliser to ensure that your peony is in tip-top condition and flowers beautiful Continue reading
Use our own-brand professional peony rejuvenating fertiliser to reward your tiring peony plant after it’s summer flowering.Use as part of an annual two-step fertilisation to get the very best out of your gorgeous peony plants.
Analysis: 11-5-12 (+1%MgO + 3%SO3)
Typical contents weight 250g Continue reading
Order your copy of Alec White’s beautifully illustrated 2024 Peony Calendar
“A Love Affair with Peonies” 2024 Calendar
After the launch of Alec White’s book “A Love Affair with Peonies” we are delighted to release the 2024 Calendar. This is a must for any Peony lovers or gardeners.
This calendar highlights twelve superb examples of Peonies from Primrose Hall Peonies and master grower Alec White. Each page also has insightful captions on each variety presented with space for notes each day. This will inspire you to each month to reflect on how stunning peonies are and just how many varieties you can grow easily in your garden.
12 Full Colour images
Space for notes each day
Punched hole for display
Supplied board-backed in a cello-bag and with a hang tab
NB: Why not buy together with Alec White’s 208 page book “A Love Affair with Peonies” also sold on this site. Written from Alec’s perspective as a professional peony grower and enthusiast, the book is accessible to both gardeners and non-gardeners and is more than just another gardening title – it conveys the inspiring story of how Alec pursued his passion to achieve the first RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medal for peonies in eight years. Continue reading
FAQ’s About Peonies Why has my peony not flowered? This could be for a number of reasons and should be simple to solve although some solutions may require a little more patience than others: Herbaceous and intersectional peonies only reliably … Continue reading
Order your copy of Alec White’s Brand NEW Book now in stock.
A Love Affair with Peonies
Author Alec White
Format Hardback, 250 x 250mm
Pages 208
Publication 4 April 2023
Price £30.00
ISBN 9781913733957
Driven by a passion for horticulture from a young age, Alec shares his extensive expertise and personal experience in this illustrated celebration of the peony. Written from Alec’s perspective as a professional peony grower and enthusiast, the book is accessible to both gardeners and non-gardeners and is more than just another gardening title – it conveys the inspiring story of how Alec pursued his passion to achieve the first RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medal for peonies in eight years. Varied chapters introduce each of the qualities that make this remarkable flower stand out: their many varieties, scents and colours, how to care for and cultivate your plants, the historical and cultural significance of the peony and the hard work and commitment needed to exhibit at the UK’s leading flower shows. Each is superbly illustrated, with the photography showcasing the range of colours and changing shades of peony blooms to their cultivation on the nursery and art works featuring or inspired by peonies. A Love Affair with Peonies is a book to be returned to again and again, whether to appreciate the excellent quality of the images and illustrations, for entertaining insight or for expert practical advice. This is Alec’s story of a dedicated career combined with all of the essential information needed to appreciate peonies to the full and keep them thriving in your own garden. Continue reading
Even though it’s still chilly we’re excitedly waiting for spring to begin! If you’re also getting into spring mode, now can be a good time to start thinking about the ways you can care for your post-winter peonies. We are … Continue reading
What about a bit of red to spice your Spring garden up a bit? It’s not every day you come across a red as true as the one worn by ‘Red Charm’. Like that Little Red Riding Hood in the … Continue reading
During these interesting times many of us might be feeling like potted plants, waiting for the day we can stretch out our roots again. Although we may think our peonies feel the same in pots – container-bound and cramped – … Continue reading
Autumn. What does it conjure up in your mind? I’m thinking snuggling with the dog by the fire with a good book and hot choccie. Wrapping up warmly for brisk walks in the crisp morning air. Guilt-free lie-ins on weekends. … Continue reading
PLEASE READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS SITE WHAT’S IN THESE TERMS? These terms tell you the rules for using our websites www.primrosehallpeonies.co.uk and www.lovepeonies.co.uk (our sites). WHO WE ARE AND HOW TO CONTACT US www.primrosehallpeonies.co.uk and … Continue reading
