Why are my peony flowers turning brown? (2023)

Why are my peony flowers turning brown?

The brown areas you are seeing on your flowers are most likely the result of a fungus. The most common fungal disease on peonies, especially herbaceous peonies like Coral Charm, is botrytis blight (Botrytis cinerea). Botrytis blight can cause flowers to become discolored.

When the buds are still small, they turn brown or black and wither. Experts used to say that this condition, termed bud blast of peonies, was caused by botrytis blight, a fungal disease. Now it is recognized that these problems with peonies are often caused by improper cultural care.

Botrytis blight, also called gray mold, is a common fungal disease of many plants including peonies. It commonly affects the new shoots and foliage of peonies (see Botrytis Blight of Peony herein) but can also affect young flower buds. The young buds turn brown and fail to open.

'You should not cut back peonies after they bloom, since the leaves do a lot of work over the growing season gathering energy for the plant. However, you should deadhead peonies after they bloom,' says Pangborn. Always use clean, sharp pruners to remove spent flower blooms, to avoid the risk of disease transference.

Peonies are drought tolerant for short periods after establishment but best growth and healthier roots stem from consistent watering. On average, plants need 1 inch (2.5 cm.) of water per week.

As if by magic, Peonies can bloom for over 100 years. Each individual bloom lasts around 7-10 days, and each plant will give multiple blooms! The simple secret to extending Peony blooming in your garden is to plant varieties that flower at different times within the roughly 6-week period of proficient blooming.

Choose peonies that will grow well in your garden conditions. Plant peonies in full sun in the fall or spring. Prepare the soil by adding Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Flowers. Water plants thoroughly, then occasionally through the season.

Peonies need full sun to produce blooms. It could be that the plant got enough sun in early spring to generate the buds but a nearby tree grew back its leaves and the sun is now blocked. The buds die because the plants no longer get enough sun to support the blossoms.

Avoid watering the peonies during the winter months since peonies must go dormant to bloom in spring. Preparing your peonies to survive winter is a simple task whether the plants are freshly placed in the bed or have been thriving there for years.

Do peonies need full sun?

Peonies like full sun, and though they can manage with half a day, they bloom best in a sunny spot that gets 6 to 8 hours of sunlight each day. Provide shelter from strong winds, as peonies' large blooms can make them top heavy.

Planting peonies in pots/containers requires a very large container with adequate drainage. Be sure the eyes are covered with only one inch to two inches of soil. Water the potted peonies; keep moist - but, let them almost dry out between waterings. Keep potted peonies protected from deep winter freezing.

Peonies like full sun, and though they can manage with half a day, they bloom best in a sunny spot that gets 6 to 8 hours of sunlight each day. Provide shelter from strong winds, as peonies' large blooms can make them top heavy. (Use stakes to hold them up, if necessary.)

Peonies should be fed twice a year, once after they emerge in the spring (after the new shoots reach 2 to 3 inches tall but before the flower buds become pea-sized), then again midway through the growing season (about 3 months after the first feeding) to build strong roots before winter comes.

Botrytis and phyphthora blights can cause purple-black spots on the stems and leaves of peonies. Sanitation is often enough to keep this disease in check. Remove and dispose of infested plant debris in the fall. Add a 2 inch layer of mulch over the soil surface to keep soil borne fungi away from the plant.