Best Peonies for Saskatchewan

A peony in full bloom brings ruffled flowers to a Saskatchewan yard after the winter cold. Peonies grow well here because they want that cold.

Best Peonies to Grow in Saskatchewan

Garden peonies (the herbaceous kind) and intersectional peonies, often sold as Itoh, tolerate Saskatchewan winters well. Saskatoon sits in Canadian plant hardiness zone 3a (a Canadian rating that does not convert to a USDA zone), and peonies need a cold winter rest to flower. Tree peonies can also be grown here, but they need more help getting through the cold.

Herbaceous Garden Peonies

The garden peony (Paeonia hybrids) is the classic choice. Each fall it dies back to the ground, and new growth pushes up in spring, so no woody stem is left exposed through winter.

Plant bare roots from September to early October, so the roots settle before the ground freezes. Keep the buds, called eyes, near the soil surface. Flowers open from June into early July.

Intersectional Peonies

Intersectional peonies, also called Itoh, are hybrids of the garden peony and the tree peony. They follow the same yearly rhythm as garden peonies, dying back in fall and regrowing in spring, which is why they are among the easiest to grow.

If you want something a little different from the standard garden peony, this is the natural step. Give it the same planting depth and the same fall timing as a herbaceous peony.

Tree Peonies

Tree peonies (including Paeonia suffruticosa) keep woody stems above ground all year. Those stems are generally less hardy than a garden peony’s roots, so they need a protected site, or a mulch laid over them for the winter.

A spot sheltered from open wind, such as beside a wall or fence, helps a great deal on the prairies. Treat a tree peony as a project plant, and start with the garden or intersectional types if you want flowers with the least fuss.

How to Choose a Peony for a Saskatchewan Garden

Saskatchewan has plenty of winter cold, and peonies reward it. The real choice is between the plants that handle that cold on their own and the ones that need your help.

Match the type to how much attention you want to give the plant through the cold months. The table lays out the common situations.

Peonies that rest through a mild winter flower poorly, so that is a problem for gardeners in other climates rather than here. Whichever type you pick, plant it from September to early October.

Which Peonies Suit Different Parts of Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan is not one climate, and the choice among peonies shifts a little with where you garden.

• Saskatoon: Garden and intersectional peonies are the safe core of a planting here. The last spring frost falls on May 18 on average, which is only the midpoint, so in one year out of two it comes later.
• Prince Albert and the northern districts: Seasons run behind Saskatoon, so lean on herbaceous and intersectional peonies and treat a tree peony as a gamble that needs shelter.
• Cypress Hills: Upland ground also runs behind the Saskatoon pattern. Plant where the site is sheltered, and expect flowers a little later than in the city.

Wherever you garden, a protected corner makes a tree peony far more realistic.

Peony Buying Mistakes to Avoid in Saskatchewan

Leaving a Tree Peony Exposed

Tree peonies keep their woody stems through winter, and those stems are generally less hardy than the rest of the peony family. Planted in an open bed with no cover, they risk losing the stems that carry the flower buds.

Choose a protected site before you buy, and plan to mulch over the plant for the winter. If you cannot offer shelter, buy a garden or intersectional peony instead.

Planting Too Deep

A peony set too deep may bloom poorly or not come up at all. It is an easy error to make with a bare root in fall, when the hole feels like it should be generous.

Keep the eyes near the soil surface and firm the soil gently around them. A shallow, correct planting avoids the problems caused by setting the eyes too deep.

Buying a Pot Without Knowing Its Size

Peonies are often sold as potted plants in spring, and a small pot says little about how large the plant will grow. A crowded spot leads to cramped stems, damp foliage and disappointing flowers.

Read the label for mature height and spread, then give the plant that room from the start. Peonies are happiest left alone, so the spot you choose is the spot they will keep.

Where to Get Peony Advice in Saskatchewan

Canada has no county extension office, so local help comes from the province and from nearby gardeners. Planting and bloom months follow the nearest comparable climate on the northern plains; confirm local timing with a garden centre or a gardening group.

• The Government of Saskatchewan agriculture pages are the place to start for provincial growing information, any time of year.
• A local garden centre can tell you which peony varieties it stocks and when bare roots arrive, which is usually in time for fall planting.
• A local garden society or provincial gardening group knows what survives in your district, so ask before you plant.

Common Questions

When Do Peonies Bloom in Saskatchewan?

Flowers open in June and can carry into early July. The exact week depends on the variety and on how late spring runs in your district.

When Should You Cut Back Peonies in Saskatchewan?

Cut herbaceous peonies back in October or November, after a hard freeze has killed the foliage, and leave only a couple of inches of stem. Tree peonies keep their woody stems and are never cut back to the ground.

Will a New Peony Bloom the First Spring?

A newly planted or transplanted peony may not bloom the first spring. Give it time to settle in, and do not move it again just because the flowers are slow to appear.