Q. I planted some peonies back six or seven years ago which still haven’t bloomed. They get plenty of sunlight – what could be the problem and can I fix it at this point. Rhonda Moore – Wynnewood, Oklahoma
A. Well first off we can rule out age as being a factor. Peonies grown under ideal conditions would have bloomed within the first couple or three years. I am assuming you haven’t moved these peonies since this could set them back and delay blooming. Second we can rule out sunlight as long as your idea of plenty of sunlight is the same as the peonies’ requirement for sunlight. Plants can get sufficient sunlight to sustain themselves but not enough to give them the extra energy required to bloom and set seeds. Be sure they are getting full sun for the majority of the day. Planting depth can also be an issue with peonies. The “eyes” of the plant (the overwintering below ground buds, think potato eyes) should have be around 2 inches below the soil line when you planted them. If they are too deep the plants won’t flower. If the plants settled or you put a lot of mulch on top of them this can also cause the eyes to sit lower. The reverse of this, planting to shallow, can mean that buds are damaged by winter cold destroying the flower buds that were formed. New vegetative buds can and do replace them but the result is lack of blooms. Now is a good time to carefully move some soil away from the crown and see how deep the eyes are. You can lift them and replant them to the proper depth once the soil can be worked. Excessive nitrogen fertilization has also been mentioned as a factor in lack of blooms. The theory is that the nitrogen promotes foliage and keeps the plant in a more juvenile state.