Peony Jan van Leeuwen

In general, peonies are better suited for planting in garden beds, as they require sufficient space for their roots and stable conditions. If you must plant a peony in a pot, it should be sufficiently tall and voluminous. A container with a minimum volume of 30–50 liters is recommended. Sufficient drainage holes and a drainage layer are essential. Place the container so that the peony gets at least 6 hours of sun per day and is protected from the wind. Do not move the plant unnecessarily.

Peonies love the sun. Choose a sunny location for them where they will have at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. They can tolerate partial shade, but they will bloom most profusely in the sun. It is also important to give them space—count on an area of approximately 1 m² for one plant. They do not like the root competition of large shrubs or hedges in close proximity.

Peonies thrive best in loamy, humus-rich, and well-draining soil that is rich in nutrients. It is important that the soil retains a reasonable amount of moisture but is not permanently waterlogged. In heavy and wet soil, the roots can rot.

Yes, like most herbaceous peonies, this cultivar appreciates a circular support. Peony flowers are large and heavy, and especially after rain, the stems could sag to the ground under their weight. A support ensures the plant keeps a beautiful, compact shape and the stems remain upright.

Correct planting depth is absolutely crucial for peonies. If you plant them too deep, they will not bloom. Plant the roots so that the shoot buds are slightly visible above the surface, or at most 2–3 centimeters below the soil surface. Remember that the soil will settle a bit after watering, so it is better to plant them slightly shallower.

For abundant flowering, peonies need sufficient nutrients. The ideal is an organic fertilizer rich in potassium applied in the spring. In the autumn, you can mound a thin layer of mature compost around the plant.

What to avoid: Do not use fertilizers with a high nitrogen content. Over-fertilizing with nitrogen leads to lush leaf growth at the expense of flowers and increases susceptibility to fungal diseases.

Pruning a peony is simple:

1. After flowering: Regularly remove faded flowers so the plant does not exhaust itself producing seeds.
2. In autumn: At the end of autumn, when the above-ground part begins to die back, cut all leaves and stems just above the ground. This helps prevent diseases from overwintering.

Watering is most important after planting and during the first spring, when the plant is establishing itself. During this period, ensure the soil does not dry out completely, especially if the spring is dry. Once the peony has rooted and matured, it becomes quite hardy and only requires watering during periods of severe drought in the spring and early summer. After flowering, it handles summer droughts well.

The 'Jan van Leeuwen' peony is a fully hardy perennial (zone 4a, down to -34 °C). It will handle the winter without any problems. Just be careful of spring frosts that can occur after a warm winter when the plant is already sprouting. Sprouting buds can freeze at temperatures below -3 °C. In such cases, it is advisable to cover the plant with garden fleece. Before winter, you can preventively cover new plants with evergreen boughs.

Peonies do not like change and do not tolerate transplanting well. They can grow in one spot for decades. Therefore, think carefully about the choice of location beforehand. If transplanting is necessary (e.g., for very old plants), do so during September to October and divide the clump so that each part has 3 to 7 buds.

Yes, this variety is excellent for cutting. Its pure white flowers with yellow centers are very decorative in vases and have a beautiful fragrance. Cut them at the soft bud stage.

The most common problem is gray mold (Botrytis cinerea), which manifests as wilting buds or spots on the leaves. Prevention includes:

• Providing the plant with an airy location (sufficient spacing).
• Avoiding excessive nitrogen fertilization.
• Removing and disposing of infected parts (do not put them in the compost!).

Yes, peonies are classified as poisonous plants. Ingesting parts of the plant can cause nausea and digestive problems. We recommend growing them with caution in gardens where small children or animals that like to nibble on greenery are present.

Definitely yes. Thanks to its simple, open flowers, the 'Jan van Leeuwen' peony is easily accessible to pollinators and attracts bees and other beneficial insects to your garden.

Growing peonies requires a bit of patience. They are long-lived perennials that need time to take root. A flowering peony in the very first year after planting is the exception rather than the rule. It usually takes a few years (about 2 to 3 years) for the plant to reach its full beauty and begin to bloom profusely. In the first few years, we even recommend removing side buds so the plant invests its energy into strengthening its root system.

Do not worry, this is a common occurrence. We store the roots in moist conditions to prevent them from drying out, which is why a light surface mold may appear on them. This is purely a cosmetic issue that has no negative impact on the subsequent growth and health of the plant.