Peonies flop, ants march, the West Hills smell like a wedding.
Peony care in Portland reaches its make or break moment in late May, when waterlogged buds the size of baseballs threaten to face plant after every Willamette Valley shower. Zone 8b's combination of warm afternoons and lingering spring rain produces some of the most generous peony displays on the West Coast — but only if you stake, cut, and groom on time. This week is the one to be in the garden with twine in your pocket.
This Week's Action List
- Stake floppy varieties now with a grow through grid set 18 to 24 inches above the crown; 'Sarah Bernhardt', 'Festiva Maxima', and other double pinks will topple in the first thunderstorm without support.
- Cut stems for the vase in the soft marshmallow stage — buds that feel like a firm cotton ball but show color. Cut early morning, leave at least two sets of leaves on the plant, and they will open beautifully indoors over three to five days.
- Do not panic about ants. They are eating nectar, not damaging buds. Swish cut stems in a bucket of cool water for 30 seconds before bringing them inside and the ants will leave on their own.
- Deadhead spent blooms back to the first strong leaf node, but leave the foliage completely intact through August. Peonies set next year's flower buds on this summer's leaves, so cutting foliage early means a sparse 2027 show.
- Scout for botrytis blight after this week's wet stretch — look for blackened buds that never opened or brown streaks on stems. Snip affected parts well below the damage, bag them (do not compost), and thin crowded clumps this fall to improve airflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my peony buds turning brown and not opening in Portland?
That is almost always botrytis blight, a fungal disease that thrives in Portland's wet May weather. Remove affected buds and stems immediately, dispose of them in the trash rather than the compost, and avoid overhead watering. Improving airflow by thinning crowded clumps in fall will reduce next year's outbreak.
When should I cut peonies for a vase in Zone 8b?
Cut in the soft bud stage — when the bud shows full color and feels like a firm marshmallow, usually late May into early June in Portland. Stems cut at this stage will open over three to five days indoors and last roughly a week in the vase. Cut tight buds will sometimes fail to open, while fully open flowers shatter quickly.