Paeonia (Peony)
Peonies are a beautiful and easy-to-grow addition to any garden or landscape. With their large, showy, and fragrant flowers and long blooming period, they are sure to impress.
Key Facts:
- Peonies are herbaceous perennials or shrubs native to Asia, Europe, and North America.
- They are prized for their large, showy, and fragrant flowers that come in a variety of colors, including shades of pink, red, white, yellow, and coral.
- Peony flowers have a blooming season that lasts six weeks and starts in late spring to early summer.
- Their lush foliage, deeply lobed and glossy green, provides a lovely backdrop to the showy blooms. In the fall, the leaves often turn a reddish or golden color before dropping for the winter.
- The plants can vary in height and spread depending on the species and cultivar, with some growing up to 3 to 4 feet (0.9-1.2 meters) in height and spread.
- Most plants are hardy in USDA zones 3-8.
Main Types:
- Herbaceous peonies: The most popular type, they die back to the ground in winter and reemerge in the spring.
- Tree peonies: They have woody stems and can grow up to 6 feet tall. They are known for their large, showy flowers and are often used as specimen plants.
- Intersectional peonies: Also known as Itoh peonies, they are a cross between herbaceous and tree peonies. They have strong stems, large flowers, and a long blooming period.
