Where do I order peony bulbs for fall planting?
Anne Asked
Where do I order peony bulbs for fall planting, and which kind grows best in the Lyndon area of Louisville?
The Gardener’s Answer
Peonies may appear like a delicate plant while in bloom, but they actually need cold winters to produce flowers. Here in Kentucky we are on the warmer end of their preferred climate. Peonies are hardy from zones 3-8; you’re gardening in zone 7.
There are thousands of cultivated varieties that vary in flower color, form, and bloom time. Peonies are available in a rainbow of color options. The flowers can be single, double, or semi-double and they are grouped into early, midseason, or late bloomers.
Container-grown peonies are available at the garden centers now and some carry tubers in the fall. The tubers establish better when planted in the fall, and it still gives them enough time to settle in before winter arrives.
Peonies thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Once established they do not like to be moved so keep this in mind when choosing their home. There are many mail order sources for bare root peonies. Plant Delights Nursery is a reliable source.
