i bought a sarah bernhardt peony root lasrt summer and it came up but the stem snapped as i didn't support it, and geraniums shaded it out totally, what can i do with it to ensure it flowers next year?it ended up just a stem about 6 inches long
Rose mummy I have a peony in a crowded bed surrounded by geraniums as well, it has flowered repeatedly. Last year I cut it down far too early and panicked it wouldn't give me flowers this year. It did give me 3 stunners.... Not as many as last year but lesson learnt!! Peony are actually quite tough plants but you do need to support them. Buy yourself an excellent plant support to give it a chance next year. When the shoots appear next year feed it and love it lol. My peony is also in a shaded border and does do well !
Is that the pale pinky one? Ive had trouble getting that to flower too, although the darker one grows and flowers like a weed! I have read they can be sensitive to soil depth which can stop them flowering
Might just be one of those awkward ones that makes us wait! Will probably flower just as your littleones discover football!
got loads of inherited established peoniesbut this one v young only 1 stem so not robust or large enough to compete, will replace geraniums as it gets bigger, i've got enough of them!
I planted 3 Sarah Bernhardts last Spring. They were quite tall plants (about 15"), each with 3 leafy stems but no flowers. They are planted in a semi shaded border and this year produced 15 lovely flowers, so hopefully you will get blooms next year rosemummy Pic of mine below.
Don't worry rosemummy, we all have our successes and our failures P'raps it's time to cut your losses and go out and buy a big, healthy plant which already has 3 or 4 leafy stems. It will cost you more but you should get a good display of flowers next June.
It was just a bit of root in a box, but I was pleased as it grew, staking and supporting is my weak point, must put that in the "what have you learnt this yesr in the garden " thread!all the peonies I inherited do ok, I just really wish the previous owner had liked pale ones!!
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It may take a while to produce any amount of flowers rosemummy, I have the same peony and it's yet to flower properly.
shall i just move the geraniums out of it's way and leave it then?
Rose mummy I have a peony in a crowded bed surrounded by geraniums as well, it has flowered repeatedly. Last year I cut it down far too early and panicked it wouldn't give me flowers this year. It did give me 3 stunners.... Not as many as last year but lesson learnt!! Peony are actually quite tough plants but you do need to support them. Buy yourself an excellent plant support to give it a chance next year. When the shoots appear next year feed it and love it lol. My peony is also in a shaded border and does do well !
Might just be one of those awkward ones that makes us wait! Will probably flower just as your littleones discover football!
got loads of inherited established peoniesbut this one v young only 1 stem so not robust or large enough to compete, will replace geraniums as it gets bigger, i've got enough of them!
sorry bekkie yes it's pale pink, all my inherited ones red, at least they're a pinkish toned red but i really want only blues pinks and whites
I planted 3 Sarah Bernhardts last Spring. They were quite tall plants (about 15"), each with 3 leafy stems but no flowers. They are planted in a semi shaded border and this year produced 15 lovely flowers, so hopefully you will get blooms next year rosemummy
Pic of mine below.
beautiful, went out to check mine yesterday, it's a dead twig 3 inches high
Don't worry rosemummy, we all have our successes and our failures
P'raps it's time to cut your losses and go out and buy a big, healthy plant which already has 3 or 4 leafy stems. It will cost you more but you should get a good display of flowers next June. 
It was just a bit of root in a box, but I was pleased as it grew, staking and supporting is my weak point, must put that in the "what have you learnt this yesr in the garden " thread!all the peonies I inherited do ok, I just really wish the previous owner had liked pale ones!!