How to prune itoh peony 'bartzella'

Deadhead after flowering (late spring to early summer); cut all stems to ground in autumn. Remove spent blooms by cutting to the nearest leaf to keep the plant tidy and discourage seed set. In autumn, cut all stems back to 2–3 inches above ground after frost browns the foliage. Do not cut stems prematurely — foliage must fully die back before removing.

Deadhead during flowering; once-annual full cut-back in autumn. Itoh Peony 'Bartzella' is an intersectional peony with semi-woody stems that die back each year. Unlike tree peonies, the stems should be cut to the ground in autumn after foliage dies back. Deadhead spent blooms during the season. These are long-lived, slow-establishing plants — avoid any pruning that disturbs the crown or roots.

Remove spent blooms by cutting to the nearest leaf to keep the plant tidy and discourage seed set. In autumn, cut all stems back to 2–3 inches above ground after frost browns the foliage. Do not cut stems prematurely — foliage must fully die back before removing.