Peonies are beautiful and fragrant flowers that can be grown in many climates. They’re generally considered to be hardy flowers, but how far do you have to push them before they start to suffer?
In this article, we’ll cover what temperatures will kill peonies and how you can protect them from frost.
Can Peonies Survive Frost?
Peonies are hardy plants and can survive light, moderate, or heavy frosts. They will even survive moderate snowfall (1-5 inches) with minimal damage.
However, if you live in an area that receives frequent and prolonged periods of freezing temperatures at night during the winter months (October through March), you’ll need to protect your peony plants from frost damage by covering them with burlap or sheets of old newspaper.
How Tolerant Are Peonies To Cold Weather
Peonies are hardy plants that can withstand cold weather. They can stand light frosts, and even a few inches of snow or ice will not kill them if it is not too prolonged.
Peonies also tolerate moderate rain, humidity, and wind well; they prefer conditions that are humid but not wet or cold.
How To Protect Your Peonies From Frost
Covering your peonies with a blanket or sheet. If you are planting your peonies close to the house, it is possible to cover them with a standard blanket or sheet. This method does not work as well for areas further away from the house because there may be too much snow accumulation on top of the plants and that could kill them.
Using plastic wrap. Another way you can protect your peonies from frost is by using plastic wrap as an insulator around each plant, especially if they are outside in an exposed area with no shelter available for protection against harsh weather conditions such as wind or snowfall (depending on what climate zone you live in).
Using frost cloth. Placing frost cloth over each plant individually before bedtime every night until spring comes back again will also help keep them alive during cold winter nights while they sleep through winter nights peacefully without any worries whatsoever!
Caring For Peonies During The Winter
When the temperature drops, you’ll want to protect your peonies from frost by bringing them inside. If that’s not an option, try covering them with a blanket or sheet to protect their delicate blooms from the worst of the cold.
The best place for these plants during the winter is a cool and dry area—not too warm, not too humid—where they can get good air circulation. Avoid rooms with radiators or fireplaces; instead, try placing your peonies on a north-facing windowsill in an unheated part of the house so they can benefit from natural light while still avoiding direct sunlight (which will burn leaves).
You may also want to set up a fan so that air circulates around their roots and helps prevent rot.
When spring returns (and if you have any hope of ever seeing flowers again), be sure to plant new peony bulbs as soon as possible! Peony plants need at least two years before producing flowers—so don’t wait until spring arrives!
What Temperatures Will Kill Peonies?
Peonies can survive temperatures as low as -10 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if you live in a climate where the temperature commonly drops below -5 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s best to keep your peonies indoors until spring. Temperatures below -10 degrees will kill all but the hardiest varieties of peony and those that have been winterized through cold treatment (see our section on how to do this).
Peonies should also be protected from temperatures below -15 degrees for long periods of time. If you live in an area with frequent sub-zero weather, it’s wise to keep your peonies in pots or greenhouses until spring arrives.
Can I Overwinter Peonies?
Yes, they can. In fact, there are many people who overwinter their peonies in a greenhouse or container. However, if you choose this option and live in an area where frost occurs regularly during the winter months (like many parts of the Northeast), it’s best to plant them directly into the ground after all danger of frost has passed. This way they won’t have their roots damaged by frost and will be ready for spring planting when temperatures warm up again!
When choosing which method works best for your garden space or yard design plan—whether you want them planted near an existing hedge or on top of a hillside—think about how much room there is around each individual plant before deciding whether or not planting is possible at all
Conclusion
In conclusion, it’s safe to say that peonies can withstand a few hours of frost. However, if your plant is exposed to freezing temperatures for an extended period of time it may not survive. If you want to keep your peony healthy and growing through the winter months it’s important that you take steps to protect them from frost damage such as applying mulch or even covering them with something like tarps which will help insulate the soil so they won’t freeze too quickly during those cold spells when there aren’t any leaves left on their stems anymore.
