Brown and Dried Up Peony Buds
Last spring the buds on my peonies swelled up but turned brown and dried up before the flowers emerged. This has never happened before. How can I prevent this?
Botrytis blight is a common fungus disease on peonies. The disease can cause the flower buds to turn brown and fail to open. You may also find purple-black spotting on the leaves and stems. Remove infected buds and leaves as they appear. Fall clean up and a little cooperation from nature (drier spring weather) is usually enough to keep this disease under control.
Related
Article
Upcoming
Events & Webinars
May 13, 2026
Roots & Branches
West Bend, WI
Register here
May 16-17 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 20, 2026
Herb Container Workshop
Pewaukee, WI
Register here
May 21, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Planting & Care of Your Rain Garden
Register here
June 3, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Managing Your Landscape
with Pollinators in Mind
Register here
June 10, 2026
Enjoy Life Active Aging Symposium
Brookfield, WI
More information
July 9, 2026
Ebert's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Ixonia, WI
July 11-12, 2026
Festa Italiana
Milwaukee, WI
August 6-16, 2026
Wisconsin State Fair
We Energies Energy Park, West Allis, WI
Sept. 3, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Tree Planting and Care
Register here
Sept. 17, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Fall Landscape Care and Planting
Register here
WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS
MORE UPCOMING EVENT DETAILS
Book an Appearance
Sign up for Melinda's free newsletter for a chance to win 3 bags of Wild Valley Farms wool pellets, a water-holding soil amendment
ENTER NOW
