How to Collect Peony Seeds

Like those of many other hybrid plants, the seeds of the peony plant (Paeonia spp.) will not breed true when planted. This means the seeds you plant won't produce a flower like the original parent plant. Fortunately, this can produce some interesting color variations, and is the way to discover new peony varieties that no one else has seen before. You must be patient, as it can take five years or longer to discover what the new peony blooms look like. Saving seeds to grow can be rewarding when beautiful new flowers appear and you know you're the first one to ever grow them. These plants grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8, and they have limited success in USDA zones 2 and 9.

  1. Cut the seed pods from the peony plant in the fall when they are brown and leathery. They will begin to crack open at this point, making it easier to access the seeds inside.

  2. Break open the pods and drop the seeds into a glass or cup. Fill the cup halfway with water. The seeds that float are sterile, and won't grow. Skim off the floating seeds and discard them, then drain the water from the viable seeds on the bottom of the cup.

  3. Fill a zip-top bag about halfway with vermiculite or a soilless potting mixture. Add water to moisten the mix, but don't add so much you can see water in the bottom of the bag.

  4. Mix the peony seeds in with the vermiculite and seal the bag. Place the bag in a spot at average room temperature, about 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, where it won't be disturbed. Check it weekly to see if the seeds begin to sprout roots. This can take a few months to happen.

  5. Place the bag with the sprouted seeds in the refrigerator vegetable drawer for three months. This chilling is called stratification, and mimics what happens to seeds in nature. After the seeds have been chilled for the correct amount of time, they will be ready to plant in the garden.

  6. Things You Will Need

    • Garden shears

    • Glass or cup

    • Zip-top bag

    • Vermiculite


    Place the seeds in a paper bag in a cool, dry spot if you are unable to plant them in the vermiculite right away.