Peonies Flopping Over, Even w/Cage - Help!

9 years ago

Hello! We have lived in our house for almost 5 years now. With the house came a nice peony bush. It is in the front of the house, which faces north. It gets plenty of morning sun, and again later in the evening. For years, I kept telling myself that I needed to buy a cage to help prop up the heavy flowers. I finally bought one this year, and while it's helped to contain the branches, the flowers are still heavy and flopping to the side. I feel like mine bloom a little later than most (only one is fully bloomed right now, it's June 9). Every time I drive by a certain home in the neighborhood, I am perplexed how the woman keeps her peony bushes upright. Her flowers seem to grow straight up towards the sky (her bushes also get sun most of the day, though).

I'm just wondering if I set the cage too low? (I should mention it's a loop-type cage, with three stakes that go in the ground) Are some types of peonies just too heavy and basically hopeless? I'm considering transferring it to the backyard, because while it looks great otherwise, the blossoms always look sloppy to me. I love cutting them for bouquets, though.

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Comments (6)

AlexUnder
9 years ago
Some of the peonies will flop because of heavy flowers regardless of whatever you do. Consider them for cutting only and you are right thinking about moving them to the back yard. Itohs and some herbaceous landscaping peonies do not flop, so make sure to investigate whether they need staking before purchasing. Look for APS Landscaping Merit Award or Itohs.
AlexUnder
9 years ago
Just be aware that generally Itohs have a short life span in vase.
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User
9 years ago
You can always leave a note asking if the neighbor does anything to keep them upright. AlexUnder is correct there are many that do not flop.
Kylie
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you for the replies! I think I've just decided to move it once fall comes. It's in an odd/random spot, anyway. I just bought a gorgeous hydrangea that I think will do better in that spot. It also just dawned on me that my sister has a TON of peony bushes in her backyard (full sun) and they look great and the blooms stand up straight. Maybe once mine is in full sun, the blooms won't try to bend toward the sunlight.
lizbest1
9 years ago
There are some varieties that are always going to flop, no matter how you stake them or how much sun they get--a lot of the older doubles are like that. If yours are that type using one with a grid system across the circle (or adding a grid yourself with garden twine or wire) can help, also your idea of raising the level of the grid as they grow through will help as well. They will get big enough though that all of the stems won't fit through the hoop.
P TW
9 years ago
If moving it doesn't help and you want to keep that particular peony, you could also try plant stakes to hold up individual flowers, though you might need a lot of them! The Peony ring should work though you may need to hoop it up a bit higher to help prevent some flopping. There are also these half-ring kinds of supports that are available to give you a bit more flexibility than the single ring.

If you are not as intent on keeping that particular pony then I would recommend an Itoh Peony. It's a bit costly, but it doesn't have big flopping problems (though they can droop a bit sideways making the shrub get wider than it would be otherwise.)