Hello,
This is my first spring in my new home and I am getting a lot of surprises! Can anyone tell me what this is? And how to care for it?
Thank you!
-Jess

Reminds me of a peony. how cool to be getting surprises like this!

I looked up peony sprouts and they look like those!

Hi & welcome! Agree, looks like Peony. They are definitely not annuals. Enjoy!

Good to know! I just did some research. I was not aware of what annuals and perennials were lol. Do I need to do anything to maintain these or will they just continue to come back every year?

Sounds like you're getting off to a good gardening start! For those familiar enough with cultivating peonies, not just looking @ them like me, they will be most specifically able to answer your question if you include your general location in the discussion. Best luck!

I don't do anything with mine as far as fertilizer, but I'm sure others do. I do think that a lot of peonies need support, so I keep a two foot fence around mine to hold up the blooms.

Okay, I will do that! Should I clear out all the sticks/ dead branches sticking up around it? I am not sure what that is from? I don't want it to interfere with the growth of my peonies :).
Thank You!

I use pruning shears to cut off the dead stalks from the previous year. I am always afraid that if I get to pull them out that I might damage the peony tubers.

Here is a link to the peony page on this site. It has a little more info.
The Peonies Database

Hi Jess
Yes, what a nice surprise! Post a photo when your peony blooms!
You'll learn a lot and find lots of help exploring this group of gardeners' posts, forums, and photos.

How are my peonies looking? I am nervous my support isn't correct.

The stems do look a little bunched up, but I wouldn't do anything with it now since it has buds. I don't use a peony ring, I just use the folding fence that is arched like Menard's sells in the link below. That way I can make it the size I want.

https://www.menards.com/main/o...

I would love to see a picture of it when it blooms!

I will try that next year. I will post a photo once they bloom!

They look good though. You should get a good show. It is a short show so don't be disappointed. They will come back again next year.

I took this photo 8 days ago but forgot to post it. How do they look? You weren't kidding about a short show! I think the show is already over lol.

Beautiful! Gardenia also blooms for a very short time, but worth the wait and anticipation - and time spent watering. The ephemeral nature of most flowers is what makes them special.

Your peony turned out gorgeous! You've got a winner there. That's just how it goes with most perennials. They bloom for a week or two and then we have to wait a whole year to see them again.

Thanks for following up and showing us a picture of it!

The foliage may be more subtle but it looks nice all season too.

Good point, Loretta! The foliage does look nice for a long time.

Thank you! Do I do anything to them or just cut the dead stalks in fall and wait for next year?