These giant, gorgeous flowers will come back yearly if you leave well enough alone — here’s what (not) to do
Ketsuda Phoutinane Spare Time Content Editor
06:06, 19 Apr 2026
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Peony bushes can live and flower for decades(Image: Getty)
The peony flowering season may be fleeting, but it’s utterly spectacular. These gloriously ruffled and fragrant blooms burst forth in spring in what feels like the blink of an eye.
However, peony bushes are remarkably resilient perennials that can thrive for decades. These plants seem unperturbed by Britain’s unpredictable weather, and as an added bonus, Alan Titchmarsh claims they’re ideal for those who prefer low-maintenance gardening.
In his book My Secret Garden, Alan waxed lyrical about the splendour of peonies and gave a rundown on the two things gardeners must understand to grow peonies.
“For me, they are prized treasures, not to be spurned, but to be anticipated eagerly, as although they may bloom only fleetingly, they are all the more appreciated,” he wrote. “These firework plants are the leavening of the loaf, a fleeting treat without which life would be all the poorer.”
How to grow peonies, according to Alan Titchmarsh
Growing peonies can be easy, Alan said, if you follow two requirements(Image: Getty)
1. Don’t bury peony plants too deeply
Cultivating peonies can be straightforward if you fulfill two requirements, Alan explained. The first concerns planting depth, which should be minimal.
“The most critical of these is planting depth.,” he began. “When committing a pot-grown peony to the earth, on no account bury it too deeply, for to do so will surely deprive you of flowers for many a year.
“The yam-like roots (massive, sweet-potato lookalikes) need to be only fractionally below the surface of the soil.”
2. Stop splitting them up
Excellent news for those who aren’t keen gardeners – Alan suggests it’s in their best interests to leave them undisturbed. Unlike other herbaceous perennials, he stated that peonies don’t require you to dig up and divide them every few years.
Simply give them time and you’ll be rewarded with naturally flourishing flower bushes.
According to Alan’s expert guidance: “Peonies love lazy gardeners who leave their clumps alone, to fatten and grow more generous with the years.”
Peony cultivation tips
“Peonies love lazy gardeners.”(Image: Getty)
These plants and their enormous blooms don’t demand much — just a place in the full sun amid well-drained soil.
As winter comes to an end, Alan suggested two steps in March to promote flowering: applying rose fertiliser and adding a mulch of well-rotted manure or garden compost.
“Then, in April, when their almost prehistoric-looking shoots of red and maroon start to push up from the soil, you can wait with bated breath to see how many flowers they will produce.”
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