Best Peonies for Georgia

A peony in full flower is a spring show many Georgia gardeners want, and plenty of them wonder whether the state’s warm winters will allow it. The answer depends on where the yard sits and which type goes in the ground. North Georgia gives peonies a fair chance, and a few types cope with the heat better than the rest.

Best Peonies to Grow in Georgia

Early-blooming, single and Japanese types do best in Georgia, and they do best in the northern part of the state. Peonies need a cold winter rest to flower, so they may flower poorly in mild-winter climates. Peonies are marginal in central Georgia and not generally recommended for South Georgia.

Early-Blooming Cultivars

Early-blooming varieties reportedly perform better in Georgia. They open before hot weather settles in, and they are also less prone to botrytis blight, the gray mold that thrives in warm, humid springs.

When you shop, look for the word early on the plant tag or in the catalog description.

Single Bloom Types

Single peonies have an open ring of petals around a center of golden stamens. In the South they usually perform much better than the doubles do, which is a real advantage in a Georgia spring.

Japanese Bloom Types

Japanese peonies sit between single and double, with a tuft of narrow, petal-like stamens at the center. Like the singles, they are among the types that reliably flower in Southern gardens.

If you want something fuller than a plain single, this is a sensible step up.

Kansas

‘Kansas’ is a double for gardeners who want the full, ruffled look. It has large, early flowers in watermelon red that hold their color through bloom time, and it is a double that does well in the South.

Its early habit is what makes it work here. Most other doubles struggle more.

Tree Peonies in North Georgia

Tree peonies (Paeonia suffruticosa) are not recommended except in northern Georgia. That is where winters are cold enough to give them the rest they need.

A tree peony keeps its woody stems and is never cut back, so plan for a permanent shrub and give it room.

How to Choose a Peony for a Georgia Garden

Start with where your yard sits and how much heat and humidity it gets in late spring. Those conditions narrow the choice faster than any catalog photo does.

After that, think about how much care you want to give. Peonies ask for little once they are settled in a good spot.

Gardeners in South Georgia will find little support for peonies in the guidance, so spend that bed space on perennials that enjoy the warmth.

Which Peonies Suit Different Parts of Georgia

Winter cold is the dividing line across the state, and USDA hardiness zones run from 6a to 9b. The farther north and higher up you garden, the better the odds.

• North Georgia and the mountains: This is where peonies make the most sense. Herbaceous types do well, and tree peonies are recommended only here.
• Central Georgia: Peonies are marginal. If you try one, choose an early-blooming single or Japanese type and keep your expectations modest.
• South Georgia and the coastal plain: Peonies are not generally recommended. The winters are too mild to give the plant the rest it needs.

Conditions vary around Metro Atlanta, so neighborhood and elevation can matter.

Peony Buying Mistakes to Avoid in Georgia

Choosing a Tree Peony Outside the North

Tree peonies look spectacular in catalogs, but they are not recommended outside northern Georgia. Planted farther south, they tend to be a costly disappointment, with weak flowering and little payoff.

Below that line, choose an early-blooming herbaceous peony or put the money into other perennials.

Buying a Double That Wants More Cold

Most doubles perform worse in the South than singles and Japanese types. A heavy double in a mild-winter yard can flower poorly.

If you want a double, choose Kansas, which is known for its early flowers, and leave the late, heavy doubles to colder states.

Planting a Potted Peony in the Wrong Spot

It rarely needs division and has brittle roots that do not forgive being moved, so a bad first spot is a long-term problem. Choose full sun and good drainage.

Plant in late September or October, and keep the eyes near the soil surface. Planted too deep, a peony may bloom poorly or not come up at all. A new plant may not bloom the first spring.

Where to Get Peony Advice in Georgia

The state’s land-grant university publishes guidance written for Georgia conditions, which is useful because peonies sit near their limit here. University of Georgia Extension and your county office can answer questions about your own yard.

• The university’s publications cover flowering perennials for Georgia gardens, and they are worth reading before you order plants.
• Your county extension office can tell you how peonies have fared in your part of the state, so call before the planting window opens in late September.

Common Questions

When Do Peonies Bloom in Georgia?

Most flower in April and May. Depending on the cultivar and the weather, some open as early as March, and early-blooming types come first.

When Should You Cut Back Peonies in Georgia?

Cut herbaceous peonies back in November, after frost, down to the soil surface. October or December also works if the weather has not cooperated. A tree peony keeps its woody stems and is never cut back.

Can You Divide a Peony in Georgia?

You can, but most never need it. Divide only when you want to share a piece with another gardener or increase your stock. The best time is late September or October, and handle the brittle roots gently.