Peony botrytis: how to spot, prevent and treat it disease
How do you spot peony botrytis?
The flower buds turn brown and dry up before they open. The stem blackens at ground level and the shoot keels over, and in damp weather a grey mouldy coating forms on the affected parts. The same plant often gets irregular brown violet spots on the leaves as well (peony leaf blotch).
How do you prevent peony botrytis?
In autumn cut all the top growth down to the ground and take it out of the garden, not onto the compost, because that is where the disease overwinters. Leave enough room between the plants for the air to move, do not overwater and do not wet the leaves.
What works against peony botrytis?
Cut affected buds, shoots and leaves back to a healthy part as they appear and remove them. There is no product for the home garden, and the measure is the autumn clear up.
Which plant gets peony botrytis? 1
Ornamentals 1
Sources: Clemson Cooperative Extension, University of Illinois Extension, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension
Checked on 17 August 2026.