Yes, peonies reliably return to the garden every year. These plants are true perennials, possessing a root structure that lives for more than two years and re-sprouts new growth annually. Once established, they are known for their exceptional hardiness and longevity, often thriving in the same spot for decades, with some specimens even living for over a century. This long-lived nature makes them a permanent feature in the landscape.
The Perennial Nature of Peonies
The two main types of garden peonies exhibit different seasonal habits. Herbaceous peonies are the most common type; their soft stems die completely back to the ground each autumn and winter. The plant survives this dormant period underground as a crown and tuberous root system, sending up entirely new shoots in the spring. Tree peonies are deciduous shrubs that develop woody stems which remain above the ground all year, maintaining a permanent framework of branches that shed their leaves and enter dormancy. Intersectional or Itoh peonies are a hybrid cross combining the large flowers of the tree peony with the annual die-back habit of the herbaceous type.
Critical Care Requirements for Annual Survival
Peonies require specific environmental conditions to ensure their annual return. The plant requires a period of cold dormancy, known as vernalization, to set the buds that will produce next season’s flowers and foliage. Most herbaceous peony varieties need between 500 and 1,000 hours of chilling temperatures (typically below 45°F) to successfully break dormancy and bloom; without this exposure, the plant may survive but will exhibit poor growth and fail to produce large flowers. The second element is planting depth, which directly affects the plant’s ability to receive cold exposure. The growth points, called “eyes,” on the root crown must be planted shallowly (one to two inches below the soil surface), as planting them too deep insulates the buds from the cold needed for vernalization.
What Stops Peonies From Returning
While peonies are exceptionally hardy, their annual return can be interrupted by a few common external issues. One significant threat is botrytis blight, a fungal disease that thrives in cool, wet spring conditions. This fungus can infect new shoots, causing them to wilt and blacken, or lead to buds turning brown and failing to open, which reduces the plant’s ability to create energy for the following year. Removing infected material in the fall is a key control to prevent the fungus from overwintering and spreading to the new shoots in spring. Newly planted or recently divided peonies may fail to return vigorously due to transplant shock or poor establishment; peonies have thick, fleshy roots sensitive to disturbance, and small divisions may take several years to recover and re-establish. Severe rodent activity (voles or gophers) feeding on the tuberous roots during the winter, or poor drainage leading to root rot, can also directly damage the crown and prevent future return.