Sarah B can be tricky. Make sure that, although you have good drainage and a sunny spot, she isn't also going short of water. Buds not opening tends to suggest that. Some good nutrition in the form of extra food might be helpful too.
Frost thawing can also cause buds to fail, as Frank mentions, but peonies are usually a good bit later here so I've never had that problem. Cold wind can also be damaging to many plants.
Jaqi says she hasn't planted too deep, which can be an issue with any peony, but possibly not the issue here.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
jacqui says her peony is in a sunny spot with good drainage - to me that suggests that the buds aren't getting enough moisture to swell - I'd give it a bucketful of water as soon as you see the buds forming, and another bucketful a few days later.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Posts
Like Frank says, also check you haven't planted it too deep - as this will cause more foliage and less flowers, as well as risking rotting the crown.
Sarah B can be tricky. Make sure that, although you have good drainage and a sunny spot, she isn't also going short of water. Buds not opening tends to suggest that. Some good nutrition in the form of extra food might be helpful too.
Frost thawing can also cause buds to fail, as Frank mentions, but peonies are usually a good bit later here so I've never had that problem. Cold wind can also be damaging to many plants.
Jaqi says she hasn't planted too deep, which can be an issue with any peony, but possibly not the issue here.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
jacqui says her peony is in a sunny spot with good drainage - to me that suggests that the buds aren't getting enough moisture to swell - I'd give it a bucketful of water as soon as you see the buds forming, and another bucketful a few days later.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Verdun
Perhaps an annual mulching (around the plant - not over the crown) with organic matter would improve the moisture retention in that area too?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.