Peonies are long-lived perennials, admired for their full, fragrant spring flowers that can last for decades. Successfully growing these blooms begins with understanding the structure of the bare root you purchase and the precise method needed for planting. The number of flowers you eventually see is directly tied to the initial quality of the root division and specific planting requirements.
Defining the Peony Root Division
When a peony is propagated, the mature plant is dug up and split into smaller sections, known as root divisions. This division is what gardeners plant, and it consists of three main parts: the crown, the tuberous roots, and the eyes. The crown is the thick, woody structure where the roots and the future stems originate.
The tuberous roots are the fleshy, downward-growing parts that store the energy and nutrients the plant needs to survive dormancy and fuel new growth. The most important structures are the “eyes,” which are small buds found clustered around the crown. Each dormant bud holds the potential to grow into a stem and produce a flower.
Initial Yield Based on Eye Count
The potential flower count in the first few years is directly determined by the number of eyes on the root division you plant. Commercially sold divisions are typically cut to contain between three and five eyes, as this size balances initial performance with propagation efficiency. A division with three to five eyes is generally considered the optimal size for establishing a healthy, productive plant.
In the first year after planting, the root division focuses its energy on developing a robust root system, so it is common to see little to no bloom production. By the second year, a healthy, well-planted division will usually produce a few stems, often yielding three to five blooms. Full flowering potential from this initial division is generally reached by the third to fifth year, with the plant producing a reliable, increasing number of flowers. Smaller divisions with only one or two eyes can take significantly longer before they produce their first flowers.
Critical Role of Planting Depth
Achieving the potential yield promised by the eye count relies almost entirely on planting the root division at the correct depth. This is the single most important factor for ensuring the plant transitions from vegetative growth to reproductive (flowering) growth. The eyes must be positioned just below the soil surface, covered by no more than one to two inches of soil.
Planting the eyes too deeply is the most frequent reason a healthy peony plant fails to bloom, a condition often called being “blind.” Peonies require sufficient winter chill to reliably set flower buds for the following year. When the crown is buried beneath too much soil, the ground acts as an insulator, preventing the buds from receiving the necessary cold exposure to trigger flowering.
Long-Term Multiplication of Peonies
While a newly planted root division starts with a modest potential, a peony is an exceptionally long-lived perennial that multiplies over time. Once established, the plant naturally generates a greater number of eyes annually around the crown. This natural increase in dormant buds leads directly to a corresponding increase in the number of stems and blooms each spring.
The initial small division will gradually expand into a large, dense clump over the course of five to ten years. After this establishment period, the mature plant can produce dozens of blooms each season, reflecting the multiplication of the original root stock. This clump can continue to bloom profusely for decades before a gardener might consider dividing the root mass to create new plants.