Growing Peonies in South Africa

Climate requirements to grow peonies

Historically peonies are native to Asia, Europe and North America. They require a cold climate and thrive in areas where temperatures go below freezing. However, as a general guideline an area with winter temperatures that go below 6*C for 30 – 60 days should be cold enough to grow peonies. Another guideline is that peonies need 400 to 1000 hours of temperatures below 6*C. 

Growing Peonies in the central plateau of South Africa

South Africa’s coastline is approximately 2798 kilometres and runs along the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. The Great Escarpment is inland from the coastline and on average is 100 to 200 kilometres away from the coastline. This geological feature is a line of mountains that creates a transition from the coastal plains (a warmer area not suitable to grow peonies) and a higher plateau (which is colder and suitable to grow peonies.

The Free State and Gauteng are cold enough. Parts of KZN, Western Cape, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape and the Northern Cape, Limpopo and the North Western Cape are cold enough. Email me to find out if your area is cold enough through the contact us page if you are not sure.

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The First sustainable peony farm in South Africa

There have been a few people who tried to grow peonies in SA. The first that I know of was a farmer in the Free State however it was not a focus for him and when I was a co-founder of Winterberg Peonies in the Eastern Cape we bought his crop of peony roots. We established the first sustainable peony farm in South Africa over 10 years ago. Since then, growers in KZN, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape have started. I have been selling peony roots to gardeners in South Africa for many years and it is wonderful to see the success that gardeners are having growing peonies in South Africa. Our next peony roots delivery will be in winter 2024, order through our online shop now to secure your peony roots if you live in an area cold enough to grow them.