How to Deadhead Peonies Without Losing Flowers

To deadhead peonies, cut each faded flower back to the first strong leaf below it and leave everything else alone. That’s it. The leaves stay on until autumn, because they feed the crown and next year’s flower buds.

The common slip is tidying peonies down to the ground as soon as the flowers go over. It looks neat, but it starves the plant. This guide covers where to cut each peony type, when the leaves can finally come off, and what to do if you have already cut too hard. For planting depth, varieties and general care, see the full guide to growing peonies.

Where to cut when deadheading a peony

Cut just above the first strong leaf below the faded flower. Use clean, sharp bypass secateurs so the stem isn’t crushed. Most herbaceous peonies flower from late May to June, so this is a June and early July job.

Deadhead as each flower browns. Side buds on the same stem often open a little later, so cut just the faded bloom and leave those buds to open.

Here’s how the main cuts compare:

Cut back to a strong leaf and leave the rest of the stem standing. Those leaves keep working all summer.

Why peony leaves need to stay on all summer

The leaves are the plant’s food factory. Through summer they make sugars that are stored in the crown, the knobbly base of the plant at soil level. That store is what powers next spring’s shoots and flowers.

The crown also carries the pink buds, called eyes, that become next year’s stems. Take the leaves away early and the plant has less to give them. Peonies are tough, so one bad year rarely kills them, but repeated early cutting weakens a clump over time.

So once flowering is over, simply leave the plant be. The dark green leaves make a good backdrop for later flowers. Water in long dry spells, especially in the first couple of years.

These red shoots in March are the eyes that summer’s leaves fed. Leave the foliage on and you get more of them.

Deadheading herbaceous peonies

Herbaceous peonies (Paeonia lactiflora and its hybrids) die down to the ground every winter. This is the familiar border peony, including Sarah Bernhardt, Bowl of Beauty, Karl Rosenfield, Festiva Maxima and Coral Charm.

• Deadhead: cut each faded flower back to the first strong leaf.
• Cutting for the vase: pick in the soft “marshmallow” bud stage and leave a couple of leaves on each stem you cut. Don’t strip a young plant of all its stems.
• Autumn: cut the stems to just above ground level once the leaves have yellowed, usually October or November.

Heavy double flowers often flop in rain. A ring of support put in early spring helps, and the guide to staking tall perennials shows how.

Deadheading tree peonies

Tree peonies (Paeonia suffruticosa and its relatives) are woody shrubs that keep their stems all winter. Next year’s buds form on that wood, so treat it with care.

• Deadhead: remove just the faded flower, cutting or snapping it off below the bloom. Leave the woody stems and leaves alone.
• Never cut a tree peony to the ground in autumn like a border peony. It can take years to recover.
• Pruning: they need very little. Cut out dead or damaged wood in spring, once you can see which buds are alive.

Varieties you’ll often see in the UK include the yellow High Noon and the pale pink Mrs William Kelway.

On a tree peony, only the flower comes off. The woody stems carry next year’s buds.

Deadheading Itoh (intersectional) peonies

Itoh peonies are crosses between herbaceous and tree peonies. They die down in winter like border peonies but have the big flowers and sturdy stems of tree types. Bartzella (soft yellow), Cora Louise (white with a dark centre) and Julia Rose are popular.

They often flower over a longer spell, with buds opening in turn. Deadhead them exactly like herbaceous peonies, back to a strong leaf. In autumn, cut the stems down once the leaves have yellowed. Short woody stubs sometimes remain at the base: leave those.

Bartzella keeps opening new buds over several weeks, so deadhead a little and often.

When and how to cut peonies down in autumn

Wait until the leaves turn yellow or brown, usually in October or November. Then cut herbaceous and Itoh stems to just above the ground.

Clear away all the old leaves and stems, and put them in the bin or council green-waste bin rather than your compost heap. Peony leaves can carry peony wilt, a grey mould (Botrytis) that browns stems and buds. Clearing debris is the simplest way to cut down next year’s infection. Wet springs also make buds rot before they open, which the guide to flower balling in roses and peonies explains.

If wilt does appear in summer, cut affected stems out straight away and bin them. Water at the base rather than over the leaves, and give clumps space for air to move.

Autumn tidy-up: once the leaves yellow, cut the stems down and bin them to keep peony wilt at bay.

Common peony deadheading mistakes

Cutting to the ground in early summer. This is the big one. Leave the leaves until autumn. If you’ve already done it, see the FAQ below.

Cut to stubs in July, this peony has lost the leaves that would have fed next year’s flowers.

Taking long stems for the vase from a young plant. Picking every stem with all its leaves does the same harm as cutting it down. Pick a few and leave leaves behind.

Pruning a tree peony like a border peony. Its woody stems carry next year’s flowers. Only the faded flowers come off.

Composting the autumn leaves. They can carry peony wilt. Bin them instead.

Blaming deadheading for no flowers. A peony that won’t flower is more often planted too deep, too shaded or recently moved. The guide to plants you should never deadhead also covers when leaving seed heads is the better choice.

Peony deadheading and cut-back calendar

For the rest of the summer border, the June garden jobs checklist covers what else needs deadheading.

Frequently asked questions

How do I deadhead a peony correctly?

Cut the faded flower back to the first strong leaf below it. Use clean, sharp secateurs. Leave the rest of the stem and all the other leaves on the plant, as they keep feeding the crown until autumn.

Should I cut peonies to the ground after flowering?

No, wait until the leaves yellow in autumn. The leaves spend the summer feeding the crown and next year’s buds. Cutting them off in early summer leaves the plant weaker and can mean fewer flowers next year.

Do I need to deadhead peonies at all?

It isn’t essential, but it helps. Removing faded flowers keeps the plant tidy and stops it putting energy into seed. Some gardeners leave a few seed pods for autumn interest, which does no harm.

When should I cut peony foliage down?

Cut it down in October or November, once the leaves yellow. Take herbaceous and Itoh stems to just above the ground. Bin or burn the old leaves rather than composting them, as they can carry peony wilt.

Do tree peonies and Itoh peonies deadhead differently?

Tree peonies differ, Itoh peonies don’t. On a tree peony, remove just the faded flower and leave the woody stems alone. Itoh peonies are deadheaded like herbaceous peonies, back to a strong leaf, and cut down in autumn.

I cut my peony to the ground in June. Will it recover?

Usually, yes, but expect fewer flowers next year. Leave any regrowth alone, water in dry spells and give a balanced feed the following spring. Established plants usually pick up again once they have had a full summer of leaves.

Now your peonies are sorted, read the guide to deadheading other summer flowers to keep the rest of the border blooming, or browse more plant guides.