The Timing of Peony Bloom Across the Country

Peonies are a harbinger of spring with their massive and colorful flowers that stand out at a time when most of the other summer bloomers are still working on stems and leaves.

Zone by zone, peonies bloom begins first in the south and makes its way north over the course of a few months.

For Zones 7-8 (the warmest zones peonies can generally tolerate) bloom season starts in April and lasts into May. Some varieties in zone 7 can linger into early June.

Heading polward, zones 5-6 generally bloom May into early June.

Zones 3-4 can expect bloom time from very late May through late June.

And finally anyone growing peonies in zone 2 can plan for bloom time June into July.

Here on our farm we typically see the hybrid red and coral varieties peaking around Memorial Day into very early June. Woody (tree) peonies, fern peonies and other early varieties bloom as early as the first week in May!

The last of the pink and white doubles wait until closer to the middle of June. By Father’s Day there are still flowers in the fields but they are definitely starting to disappear.

Now of course there are some caveats. Peonies planted on a warm south exposure against a rock wall or house will bloom earlier. If you’re in a valley where cool air pools, bloom can come a little later. Microclimates like these, both warm and cool can affect bloom. A warm spring can also speed up bloom time.

And then there’s the matter of variety. Different varieties of peonies bloom at different times in the season. With the right collection peony season can last several weeks!

Look for the bloom date or bloom week when shopping for peonies. This can help pair peonies that bloom during the same week for more of a mass display. But planting peonies that bloom during different weeks will make for a longer peony season. The decision there is a hard one and up to you!

For more on growing zones and to find out which one you live in, click the button below!