Support tall perennials
Gardener David Domoney posted a short tutorial on staking and framework for herbaceous perennials — specifically peonies and delphiniums — to improve airflow and prevent flopping. (x.com).
Gardeners are putting supports around peonies and delphiniums early in spring, before the stems shoot up and start to flop in rain and wind. (daviddomoney.com) David Domoney posted the advice on April 1, 2026, showing circular supports for clump-forming plants and cane-and-twine frames for taller stems. He singled out peonies, delphiniums, sanguisorba and hardy chrysanthemums as plants that often need help staying upright. (daviddomoney.com) The Royal Horticultural Society gives the same timing: insert supports in early spring, before plants make too much growth, so the stems can grow through and hide the structure. The group says tall stems, large flower spikes and heavy blooms are the main reasons border perennials collapse. (rhs.org.uk) Staking is mostly about weight and weather. The Royal Horticultural Society says peony and dahlia flowers can be too heavy for their stems, and Iowa State University Extension says unsupported perennials can open in the center, snap in wind, or flop onto neighboring plants. (rhs.org.uk) (iastate.edu) Peonies and delphiniums are common examples because both grow fast and carry a lot of top growth. The American Peony Society says herbaceous peonies send up fresh stems each spring and can live more than 100 years, while Missouri Botanical Garden lists Pacific delphiniums at 4 to 6 feet tall and says they need staking and shelter from strong winds and rainstorms. (americanpeonysociety.org) (missouribotanicalgarden.org) The main trick is to support the plant while it is still short. Iowa State says metal grids and rings work well for large floppy plants such as peonies, and they should go in when shoots are only a few inches tall. (iastate.edu) For taller or looser plants, gardeners often use bamboo canes, hazel poles, or twiggy “pea sticks” that stems can lean through as they grow. Domoney recommends woven natural supports for a less formal look, and the Royal Horticultural Society says ties should stay loose enough for plants to move in the wind. (daviddomoney.com) (rhs.org.uk) Late staking is possible, but it is messier. The Royal Horticultural Society says mature growth is easier to damage, and badly bent or snapped stems may need to be cut off cleanly instead of forced back upright. (rhs.org.uk) That is why the supports go in before the flowers do the dramatic part. If the frame disappears into the foliage by early summer, the plant usually looks as if it is standing on its own. (iastate.edu)
