PEONY Grow peonies in deep, fertile, humus-rich, moist soil that drains well. Full sun, can manage half day, with 6-8 hours of sun. Shelter from strong winds because of the large blooms. May need to support the flowers which are a mix of white, pink and light red blooms.Choose location wisely because they do not transplant well. If moving is necessary, fall is the best time to do it when the plant has gone dormant.