Multiplying peonies: Turn one into many in six steps
Created: 07/15/2022Updated: 07/15/2022 07:47
By: Anna Katharina Kusters
Peonies enchant the garden from May to June with their large flowers.
Garden lovers should divide the flowers after a few years to rejuvenate and propagate.
Munich – The peony actually has its big appearance around Pentecost.
Then the large flower balls open and give the garden its very own charm.
In autumn, on the other hand, the time for care has come.
Gardeners can now transplant the flower and share it.
Every few years they use it to rejuvenate the plant and increase the number of peonies in the garden.
Little story about the peony
Peonies are hardy.
(Iconic image) © Stl/Imago
The peony belongs to the peony family.
According to the Salzburg Chamber of Agriculture, in the 16th century it grew mainly in monastery gardens, since the clergy used to believe that the flower would have healing powers against moods, coughs and fevers.
Nowadays, garden lovers mostly find the Chinese peony (Paeonia lactiflora hybrid) in gardens.
The perennial came to Europe via Asia at the beginning of the 19th century and has since been bred in many varieties.
Garden lovers can now find the peony in all colors from red to pink to white.
The flowers are mostly double, but there are also semi-doubles.
Around 300 years before the Chinese peony became known in Europe, the common country peony (Paeonia officinalis) was already very popular.
They have their origins in the Alps.
It reaches a height of about 80 centimeters and blooms from May to June.
Especially in a cottage garden, they underline the style of the garden planning.
The peasant peony bears partly pink, partly red flowers.
Multiply the peonies in six steps
In autumn it is time to give the otherwise very easy-care plant some attention.
Because if you divide your perennials, you can rejuvenate them on the one hand, transplant them on the other and multiply them at the same time.
Garden lovers must follow the following steps when dividing the perennial:
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Remove any dead leaves above the root system.
Take a spade and carefully dig out the roots of the perennial.
Once the root ball is loose, grab the stems and carefully pull them out of the ground.
Now you can divide the root ball.
With Chinese peonies you have to make sure that there are always two to three red buds per stem.
Put the divided perennials back into the ground and water the new perennials well.
As a rule, peonies need loose and nutrient-rich soil to thrive.
Depending on the variety, it tolerates sun or shade well.
Dividing the plant is not necessary every year, but rather every few years.
If you stick to it, you can live off the flowers in your garden for up to 50 years.