Peonies in need of major help, but not sure if I can save them!

14 years ago

Hi everyone!

I am in zone 5a. My husband and I just bought a house in January and I was extremely happy to see Peonies growing! However, they are in the strangest spot. In the middle of the side yard surrounded by shade and trees. It gets barely any sun, if any (maybe an hour or two in the late afternoon). I check the bush daily and almost every day there is a wilted stem that is starting to shrivel up or turning black. I pinch that part off. There are a few buds that look like they may bloom, but their are only three or four, if that and it is a fairly large bush.

So can anyone address the above issues? And can I move this plant? Problem is-we have a very wooded lot and get barely any sun. There are a few spots that get more sun than others so I am willing to relocate the plant to that area but do not want to bother if my plant is diseased. Thanks!

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Comments (8)

suel41452
14 years ago
I had a peony that got shaded so much from a growing maple it quite blooming altogether. I moved it in fall to a sunny spot and it bloomed the next spring. Peonies need as much sun as possible to bloom well. I'd just dig up the root in fall & plant in the sunniest spot possible and see if it begins to bloom. The root should only be 1-2 inches below the ground. The wilted stems may be a fungal disease. If you always make sure to remove all the old foliage & dispose of it (in fall after a hard frost) the disease is less likely to return. I'd give it a try, you wouldn't have anything to lose.
barb5
14 years ago
I am wondering about the possiblity of verticillium wilt. I have had trouble with this- when you cut off a wilted stem, check the cut part. If you see some browning in the stem where the channels are that transport water up the stem you may have the verticillium.

Verticillium is incurable and usually terminal, but sometimes plants just present with stunting. The most important thing is to not spread it, so wipe your pruners with alcohol.

Botrytis can also cause wilting, but moving the plant to a sunnier location and pruning off the affected parts might help the plant through. And as Sue said, good hygiene in the fall.

I have had to dig up several peonies and discard them because of verticillium.
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suel41452
14 years ago
Here's a link to a good article about peony diseases & their treatment:

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1153.html
ksviatko
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you everyone! I am sure they are diseased. I appreciate all of the feedback!
suel41452
14 years ago
One more thing - Botrytis on peonies is no worse than blackspot in roses. It's a common ailment that is usually just unsightly. If the stems & foliage are disposed of in fall you may have little if any botrytis the following spring.
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
14 years ago
Like all fungal diseases, they cannot be cured, only PREVENTED. Al
User
14 years ago
Also if the foliage is diseased it does not mean the roots are diseased. You can cut the top portion off and move the roots to a better location rather than tossing the plant.

You can toss the roots in a solution of 1 gallon water to 1 tablespoon bleach after digging to help clean.
ksviatko
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks everyone. I think I will do what maifleur suggested and move them. The buds have been there for weeks and are not opening. And the new ones that formed are black. So I'm sure it's a disease.

Peonies in need of major help, but not sure if I can save them!

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Peonies in need of major help, but not sure if I can save them!

Comments (8)

suel41452

barb5

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