Favored by most gardeners for the beauty of their exquisite flowers, their delightful fragrance, and their bold foliage changing shades over the seasons, peony flowers add a dazzling splash of color to the landscape. Virtually carefree once established, they live for generations, are deer proof, and produce some of the best cut flowers - making them one of Nature's loveliest perennials!

However, when it comes to selecting the right peony, the task may become daunting as there are over 3 000 peony cultivars available (!!!) to choose from. A good start in your selection process would be to review those of outstanding merit as acknowledged by the American Peony Society or the Royal Horticultural Society.

The American Peony Society, by way of awarding medals and certificates, has long recognized exceptional peonies. Its Gold Medal or Award of Landscape Merit rewards peony varieties selected for their beauty and ornamental value, their overall appearance in the landscape and throughout the growing season, as well as their reliable performance.

Similarly, the Royal Horticultural Society rewards plants of outstanding excellence for garden decoration, that do not require highly specialized growing conditions or care, and that are not particularly susceptible to any pest or disease through its Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Here is a selection of exceptional peonies acclaimed by these prestigious societies that could become the highlight of your spring garden!

Award-Winning Peonies

Peony 'Angel Cheeks' Peony 'America' Peony 'Bartzella' Peony 'Bowl of Cream' Peony 'Buckeye Belle' Peony 'Bu-te' Peony 'Burma Ruby' Peony 'Charm' Peony 'Comanche' Peony 'Coral Charm' Peony 'Coral'n Gold' Peony 'Coral Sunset' Peony 'Cytherea' Peony 'Do Tell' Peony 'Duchesse de Nemours' Peony 'Early Scout' Peony 'Elsa Sass' Peony 'Eliza Lundy' Peony 'Etched Salmon' Peony 'Félix Crousse' Peony 'Festiva Maxima' Peony 'Friendship' Peony 'Garden Treasure' Peony 'Kansas' Peony 'Krinkled White' Peony 'Lady Alexandra Duff' Peony 'Laura Dessert' Peony 'Leda' Peony 'Mahogany' Peony 'Many Happy Returns' Peony 'Merry Mayshine' Peony 'Miss America' Peony 'Monsieur Jules Elie' Peony 'Mother's Choice' Peony 'Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt' Peony 'Nick Shaylor' Peony 'Paula Fay' Peony 'Pillow Talk' Peony 'Pink Hawaiian Coral' Peony 'Red Charm' Peony 'Salmon Dream' Peony 'Sarah Bernhardt' Peony 'Scarlet O'hara' Peony 'Sea Shell' Peony 'Walter Mains' Peony 'Westerner'

'Early Scout' 'Paula Fay' 'Bartzella' 'Red Charm' 'Festiva Maxima' 'Coral Charm' 'Miss America' 'Monsieur Jules Elie' 'Lady Alexandra Duff' 'Sarah Bernhardt' 'Buckeye Belle' 'Do tell' 'Felix Crousse' 'Garden Treasure' 'Coral Sunset