Hi everyone,

I sill consider myself a peony newbie even though my peonies are in their third season. Yes, it's my first "leap" year! All four have beautiful buds and I can't wait to see them open.

My first ever peony, Bowl of Beauty, has a number of tiny side buds which you can easily see in this picture. I'm wondering if it's best to pinch them off? If I don't, will they grow and bloom?



Thanks for replying.

Hi, Joanna, it is personal preference - some keep sidebuds as it extends the blooming season and some want bigger ones with a single flower on one stem. Both ways probably wise to stake.

AlexUnder said:Hi, Joanna, it is personal preference - some keep sidebuds as it extends the blooming season and some want bigger ones with a single flower on one stem. Both ways probably wise to stake.

Thanks Alex, so they will grow and bloom?

And staking, I'm concerned it might harm the roots...is there a way to avoid that?

Sure, if there enough strength in peony and weather is good - it could stop growing if it is new planted one or it is too dry though. I got rid of mine in the first year after planting, but yours is in 3rd season... IMHO If the bush is strong you can do both, if it is not established - better to get rid of them.
There are plenty threads about how better to stake peonies on this forum, one is simply use a a thinner rope around the bush. Now then yours is almost fully grown you have limited options.

I always cut off the side buds very early. Makes for larger blossoms plus the small side buds are usually of poorer quality. Helps make more healthy roots for the next year by conserving plant energy. I also deadhead the blossoms as quickly as they begin to deteriorate to prevent wasted energy in making fake seed pods. My Kansas had measured 7 inch blossoms this year. Others were almost as large from leaving just one bud per stem.

Is Bowl of Beauty normally a flopper? Maybe if you pinch down to a main bud and 2 side buds max per stem you can get away with not staking. You really have to remove the side buds super early to maximize the main bud size so you could end up with a nice, upright plant and extended bloom season from leaving a few sidebuds. I don't think I have a blooming size BoB so someone else who grows it would have to confirm whether it can hold up or not.

Guess who's going to remove the side buds tomorrow morning?