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🎁 GIFTING BADGE
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🎁 Perfect Gift For:
✔ Housewarming ✔ Birthday
✔ Anniversary ✔ Garden Gift
✔ Wedding Gift ✔ Festival Gift
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About This Plant
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Peony (Paeonia lactiflora) is one of the world’s most loved perennial flowers, famous for its lush, fragrant, multi-petalled blooms that can be pink, white, coral, magenta or crimson. This random-colour pack brings you one healthy rootstock that will unfurl an unforgettable flowering display each spring. Peonies are long-lived — a single plant can thrive for 50+ years and get better every season. Indian gardeners in cool hill climates prize them as the crown jewel of their spring garden.
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✨ Key Benefits
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🌸 Huge, fragrant spring blooms ideal for cut-flower vases
💚 Long-lived perennial — returns year after year for decades
🏡 Great for cool-climate garden beds, borders and pots
🐝 Attracts butterflies and pollinators
✅ Deer and rabbit resistant
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🌿 Care Instructions
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☀️ Sunlight: Full morning sun with light afternoon shade (4–6 hours direct sun)
💧 Watering: Deep watering once a week when actively growing — never waterlog
🪴 Soil: Deep, fertile, well-draining loam enriched with compost
🌡️ Temperature: 5–33°C (needs cold winter dormancy to flower)
🧪 Fertilizer: Bone meal + balanced NPK 10-20-10 in early spring and after flowering
✂️ Pruning: Cut back all foliage to ground level in late autumn once leaves die down
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📏 Size Guide
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🌱 At Delivery:
Height: 15–30 cm (or dormant root, depending on season)
Pot Size: 5–6 inch nursery pot
Stage: Young, established plant
🌿 After 1 Year:
Height: 40–60 cm
Spread: 40–50 cm
Growth Rate: Medium
🌳 Fully Grown:
Height: 70–90 cm
Spread: 70–90 cm
Time to Mature: 2–3 years to first heavy bloom
📌 Space Needed:
Minimum Pot Size: 14–16 inch (ground planting preferred)
Floor Space: 2–3 sq ft
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📅 Seasonal Availability & Behaviour
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🌸 Spring (Feb – Apr):
New red shoots emerge. Flower buds develop rapidly and bloom in March–April. Feed now.
☀️ Summer (May – Jun):
Foliage stays green but plant rests. In hot semi-arid cities like Delhi and Jaipur (peak 42–47°C), the plant may go dormant early — water less and shield from harsh afternoon sun.
🌧️ Monsoon (Jul – Sep):
Ensure sharp drainage — soggy soil causes crown rot. Raise the planting bed if needed.
🍂 Autumn (Oct – Nov):
Foliage turns yellow and dies back. Cut down to ground level and top-dress with compost.
❄️ Winter (Dec – Jan):
Complete dormancy — this cold spell is essential for flower buds. The colder your winter, the better the blooms.
🛒 Best Time to Buy & Plant: October to February. Winter planting gives the roots time to establish before spring.
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🌍 Climate Zone Compatibility
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Cold hardiness Down to −40°C | Optimal growth temp 15°C – 21°C | Min. chilling needed 504 hrs below 4°C |
Optimal chilling 672–856 hrs below 4°C | Heat stress above 29°C (85°F) | Ideal Indian zones Z1 · Z2 · Z4 |
✅ Ideal — will grow and flower reliably
✅ Ideal — reliable flowering, strong chilling hours
| ✅ | Z1 — Cold Alpine · Winter down to −20°C or below / Summer up to 20°C Elevation 3,000–5,500m · Jan min ≤ −10°C · Rainfall <300mm · Chilling hours 1,500–3,500 hrs/year · Exceeds requirement | ▼ |
Peony is one of the most cold-hardy flowering perennials in the world — it survives temperatures as low as −40°C and actually needs a prolonged freeze to thrive. The brutal Cold Alpine winter delivers far more than the minimum 6 weeks below 4°C needed to break dormancy and trigger flower bud initiation. Snow cover insulates the crown and fleshy roots from damaging freeze-thaw cycles. Cool summers peaking at only 20°C keep the plant completely stress-free, allowing excellent foliage growth and deep energy reserves for the following year’s spectacular bloom. A cold alpine winter is not a threat to this plant — it is a requirement.
| ✅ | Z2 — Cold Hills · Winter down to 1–5°C / Summer up to 25°C Elevation 1,800–3,000m · Jan min 1–5°C · Rainfall 700–4,000mm · Chilling hours 900–2,000 hrs/year · Exceeds requirement | ▼ |
Cold Hill winters consistently maintain temperatures below 4°C for well over 6 weeks, comfortably satisfying the chilling requirement that triggers peony dormancy break and flower bud set. Summers staying below 25°C — well under the 29°C heat stress threshold — allow the plant to complete its vegetative cycle and build strong root reserves. In high-rainfall variants of this zone, the moist, humus-rich soils match peony’s preference for deep, fertile, consistently moist but well-drained ground. Expect generous, repeat flowering year after year.
| ✅ | Z4 — Subtropical Highland · Winter down to 0–8°C / Summer up to 33°C Elevation 1,200–2,200m · Jan min 0–8°C · Rainfall 500–3,600mm · Chilling hours 504–900 hrs/year · Meets minimum | ▼ |
At higher elevations within this zone — typically above 1,500m — January minimums regularly fall below 4°C, delivering enough chilling hours for reliable flowering. At elevations above 1,500m, winters are cold enough to satisfy vernalisation. Elevation is the deciding factor: the higher you are, the better peonies perform. Summer peaks of 30–33°C exceed the 29°C stress threshold, so afternoon shade from 11am–4pm, a thick organic mulch layer, and deep watering every 3–4 days are essential from May onwards. Plant in a north or east-facing bed. Avoid low-lying valley floors where winters stay too mild for bud set.
⚠️ Possible — may survive, flowering absent or unreliable
| ⚠️ | Z3 — Subtropical Hills · Winter down to 3–8°C / Summer up to 28°C Elevation 1,500–2,500m · Rainfall 800–2,500mm · Monsoon 4–5 months · Chilling hours marginal — 0–200 hrs/year at warmer end | ▼ |
This zone sits at 1,500–2,500m elevation with winter minimums of 3–8°C. The colder end of this zone (Jan min 3–4°C) may accumulate marginal chilling hours in exceptional cold years — enough for the plant to survive and occasionally produce a few flowers. However the warmer end of this zone (Jan min 5–8°C) accumulates virtually zero hours below 4°C and peony will not flower there. Summer peaks of up to 28°C sit just under the 29°C stress threshold — the plant grows well vegetatively. Whether peony flowers depends entirely on winter severity in any given year — reliable annual flowering cannot be guaranteed across this zone. Treat as an experiment rather than a reliable cultivation zone.
| ⚠️ | Z6 — Subtropical Monsoon Highland · Winter 10–13°C / Summer up to 32°C Elevation 800–1,400m · Monsoon 5–6 months · Rainfall 1,500–3,200mm · Dry season 5–6 months — no frost ever | ▼ |
This zone sits at 800–1,400m elevation just above the Tropic of Cancer at 21–25°N latitude. Despite the elevation, winter temperatures never drop below 10°C — the near-tropical sun angle prevents sustained cold even in December and January. Peony requires a minimum of 504 chilling hours below 4°C to initiate flower buds — this zone accumulates zero such hours. The plant will survive and produce foliage but will never flower under any conditions. Heavy monsoon rainfall (1,500–3,200mm) also raises root rot and fungal disease risk during the wet season. Not recommended for flowering cultivation.
| ⚠️ | Z9 — Cool Tropical Highland · Winter 5–12°C / Summer up to 28°C Elevation 1,600–2,500m · Nilgiri Hills / Western Ghats · Rainfall 1,500–3,000mm · Chilling hours <100 hrs — far below 504 hr minimum | ▼ |
Despite elevations of 1,600–2,500m, these Nilgiri and Western Ghats stations sit at just 8–12°N latitude — meaning the winter sun angle remains too high to allow sustained cold accumulation. Average January minimums of 5–12°C mean that while the occasional cold night may touch 2–3°C at Ooty or −4°C at high-altitude areas’s peaks, these are isolated events lasting hours, not weeks. Peony requires a minimum of 6 consecutive weeks where temperatures consistently stay below 4°C — this zone accumulates fewer than 100 chilling hours per year, far below the 800–1,000 hours required. The plant may survive and produce healthy foliage year-round due to the pleasant cool summers (22–28°C) and consistent rainfall, but flower buds will not form without the sustained cold that only higher-latitude zones can deliver. Ooty’s famous flower shows display annuals and other species — not peonies.
❌ Not recommended — insufficient chilling, plant will not flower
| ❌ | Z5 — Subtropical Monsoon · Winter 8–14°C / Summer up to 38°C Elevation 50–600m · Monsoon 5–6 months · Rainfall 1,800–4,000mm · Humidity 75–95% · No dry season | ▼ |
Winter minimums of 8–14°C rarely sustain temperatures below 4°C long enough for meaningful chilling hours — peony needs at least 6 consecutive weeks, and this zone delivers only occasional cold snaps. The plant will not flower reliably. Summer peaks approaching 38°C cause significant heat damage to leaves and crown. The very heavy monsoon rainfall (1,800–4,000mm) creates persistent soil saturation, raising the risk of crown rot during the wet season. Possible only in the coolest north-facing elevated microclimates with perfect drainage.
| ❌ | Z7 — Humid Subtropical · Winter 8–15°C / Summer up to 42°C Elevation 100–700m · Dry season 3–4 months · Rainfall 800–2,200mm · Humidity 60–85% · Summer hot — 38–42°C | ▼ |
Winter temperatures of 8–15°C rarely drop below the 4°C chilling threshold long enough to trigger proper dormancy. The plant may survive and maintain foliage but bloom production will be poor to absent. Summer peaks of up to 42°C are well beyond the 29°C heat stress threshold, causing leaf scorch, stem collapse, and crown weakening. Possible only in the coolest elevated microclimates with heavy summer shading and supplemental irrigation throughout the hot season.
| ❌ | Z8 — Subtropical Semi-Arid · Winter 5–12°C / Summer up to 44°C Elevation 10–200m · Dry season 7 months · Rainfall 400–800mm · Humidity 30–55% · Semi-arid steppe | ▼ |
The cooler end of this zone offers marginal chilling in exceptional cold years, but the combination of very low rainfall (300–500mm) and 44°C summer peaks creates severe compounding stress. Peony demands consistently moist, deep, fertile soil — the dry season creates fatal root-zone drought. Any flower buds that form in a cold winter will be destroyed before anthesis by scorching spring temperatures. Container cultivation moved under deep shade through summer is theoretically possible but practically demanding and unlikely to produce a satisfying display.
| ❌ | Z10 — Tropical Mid-Elevation Monsoon · Winter 9–15°C / Summer up to 38°C Elevation 600–1,500m · Monsoon 6–7 months · Rainfall 2,500–6,000mm · Humidity 80–95% · Waterlogged 6–7 months | ▼ |
Despite mid-elevation setting, winters never sustain temperatures below 4°C for the 6-week minimum peony requires. Without vernalisation, flower buds cannot form. The exceptionally heavy monsoon rainfall (2,500–6,000mm) creates persistently waterlogged soils throughout the wet season, causing the botrytis crown rot that is the most common fatal disease in peonies. Will not flower and is unlikely to persist through multiple monsoon seasons.
| ❌ | Z11 — Tropical Monsoon Coastal · Winter 14–24°C / Summer up to 38°C Elevation 0–200m · Monsoon 5–6 months · Rainfall 1,400–4,000mm · Humidity 70–90% · No frost ever | ▼ |
Year-round temperatures above 14°C make cold dormancy biologically impossible. Peony’s entire annual rhythm — dormancy, chilling, bud break, bloom — cannot be initiated without a sustained period below 4°C, which this zone never provides. High humidity combined with heavy monsoon rainfall creates ideal conditions for botrytis blight and Phytophthora root rot. The plant will not flower and is unlikely to survive beyond one monsoon season.
| ❌ | Z12 — Tropical Wet & Dry Savanna · Winter 11–17°C / Summer up to 40°C Elevation 300–1,000m · Dry season 5–6 months · Rainfall 700–1,600mm · Deccan Plateau — distinct wet and dry seasons | ▼ |
Winter minimums of 11–17°C provide zero effective chilling hours below the 4°C threshold. The dry cool winter feels pleasant but does not substitute for physiological cold — without dormancy break, flower buds do not set. Summer peaks of 40°C push well beyond the 29°C stress threshold, causing severe wilting, leaf scorch, and root damage. This climate is fundamentally incompatible with peony’s biological requirements.
| ❌ | Z13 — Tropical WDS Hot Interior · Winter 11–18°C / Summer up to 48°C Elevation 200–700m · Dry season 6–7 months · Rainfall 700–1,600mm · Humidity 20–70% · Summer scorching — 45–48°C peak | ▼ |
The hot interior plains combine the two conditions most lethal to peony — winters too warm for dormancy and summers too hot for survival. Winter minimums of 11–18°C deliver zero effective chilling below 4°C. Peak summer temperatures of 48°C are 19°C above the heat stress threshold — cellular damage is rapid and fatal. Outdoor cultivation is biologically impossible under these conditions.
| ❌ | Z14 — Tropical Wet & Dry Savanna Coastal · Winter 17–22°C / Summer up to 42°C Elevation 0–400m · Dry season 4–5 months · Rainfall 700–2,000mm · Humidity 60–80% · Coastal — humid year-round | ▼ |
With winter minimums of 17–22°C — the warmest in the savanna group — cold dormancy is completely unachievable. Summer peaks of 42°C cause irreversible cellular damage, well above the 29°C stress threshold. Coastal humidity adds persistent fungal disease pressure. The plant will neither flower nor survive a full year under these conditions.
| ❌ | Z15 — Tropical Semi-Arid · Winter 12–16°C / Summer up to 45°C Elevation 450–600m · Humidity 35–75% · Rainfall 600–900mm · Dry season 7 months | ▼ |
Summer peaks of 48°C are 19°C above peony’s heat stress threshold — plant proteins denature rapidly and tissue dies within days of full sun exposure during the hot season. Warm winters eliminate any chance of dormancy or flowering. The moderate but seasonal rainfall (600–900mm) creates fatal drought stress for a plant that demands consistently moist deep soil. Cultivation is not feasible under any outdoor conditions.
| ❌ | Z16 — Subtropical Hot Semi-Arid Continental · Winter 4–13°C / Summer up to 48°C Elevation 100–450m · Dry season 6–7 months · Rainfall 600–900mm · Humidity 25–60% · Summer scorching — 44–48°C peak | ▼ |
Cold January minimums (4–13°C) are deceptively promising — the plant may survive winter and even set buds in exceptional cold years. However, peak summer heat of 48°C makes outdoor cultivation impossible. Emerging spring shoots are killed by scorching April–June temperatures before the plant can bloom. The extreme swing from a cold January to a 48°C May is beyond the physiological tolerance of all known Paeonia lactiflora cultivars.
| ❌ | Z17 — Subtropical Hot Arid · Winter 5–12°C / Summer up to 50°C Elevation 200–300m · Dry season 9–10 months · Rainfall <400mm · Humidity 20–40% · True desert climate | ▼ |
At 50°C peak summer temperatures — 21°C above the stress threshold — even native desert flora struggle to survive. A moisture-loving temperate perennial will not survive a single outdoor summer in these conditions. Annual rainfall below 350mm is completely insufficient for a plant that requires consistently moist, deep soil. Not viable under any outdoor conditions whatsoever.
| ❌ | Z18 — Tropical Hot Semi-Arid · Winter 16–20°C / Summer up to 46°C Elevation 300–800m · Dry season 7–8 months · Rainfall 500–700mm · Western Ghats rain shadow | ▼ |
This Western Ghats rain shadow zone combines three fatal conditions for Peony — summer peaks of 46°C (17°C above the 29°C stress threshold), chronic drought (500–700mm vs the consistent moisture Peony demands), and warm winters of 14–18°C that provide zero chilling hours. Peony cannot survive, flower, or establish roots under these extreme conditions.
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🏠 Perfect For
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👤 Who: Hill-station gardeners, cut-flower enthusiasts, heritage garden lovers
📍 Where: Cool-climate garden beds, borders, large patio pots
🎯 Why: Stunning fragrant blooms, decades-long lifespan, cut-flower favourite
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📦 What You Get
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1 healthy Peony plant (random colour)
Carefully packed for safe pan-India delivery
Nursery grown in Darjeeling hills
Free plant care guide
100% healthy plant guarantee
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: Will the plant survive shipping?
A: Yes! We use special packaging designed for live plants. Dormant peonies actually travel very well.
Q: Is this plant safe for pets?
A: No — peonies are mildly toxic if chewed. Keep out of reach of pets.
Q: What colour will I get?
A: This is a random colour pack — you may receive pink, white, coral, magenta or crimson. Exact colour reveals at first bloom.
Q: Can I grow this in Delhi or Bangalore?
A: Bangalore (subtropical, peak 34–38°C) is borderline — possible in cool microclimates. Delhi and other hot semi-arid cities (peak 42–47°C) are not suitable. Peonies need cold-winter dormancy and thrive in Shimla, Darjeeling, Gangtok, Manali and other cold/semi-temperate hill cities.
Q: When will it flower for the first time?
A: Usually in the second or third spring after planting. The first year focuses on root establishment.
Q: Do you provide a care guide?
A: Yes! Every order comes with a free, detailed care guide written specifically for this plant.
Q: Is this good for beginners?
A: Yes, if you live in a cold/semi-temperate zone. Once established they are essentially maintenance-free.
Q: Can I keep this indoors?
A: No — peonies need outdoor conditions and cold winter dormancy to flower.
Q: When is the best time to plant this?
A: October to February. Autumn planting is best for long-term success.
Q: How fast does this plant grow?
A: Medium grower. Takes 2–3 years to reach flowering maturity, then blooms reliably every spring.
Q: What size pot do I need?
A: A minimum 14–16 inch pot for a mature plant. Ground planting is strongly preferred for long-term success.
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