Q: Can I plant herbaceous peonies in a shady location? A: It depends on your local climate and the type of shade. In areas that are prone to late spring frost, some early morning shade is helpful in reducing frost damage to flower buds. Frosted buds seem to survive the experience better if they warm up slowly. When discussing shade tolerance it is very important to note that all shade is not alike. If you are considering planting peonies in an area that does not receive at least 6 hours of full sun, you experiment with a couple of plants before investing too much money in plants that may not flourish. Shade certainly has its advantages. Light shade maintains flower colour better than full sun and pale flowers always seem to look more luminous when grown in shade. The trick is to find just the right balance between sun and shade!

>> close <<