Paeonia (Peony)

Choose an herbaceous peony for a traditional perennial border and dependable spring flowers. Its stems die back in winter and return from the ground each spring. Select a tree peony when you want a long-lived woody shrub with exceptionally large flowers. Choose an Itoh peony for strong stems, handsome foliage, unusual colors, and flowers that open progressively rather than all at once. Whatever type you select, learn how to plant and care for peonies before bringing one home.

A single peony cultivar may flower for only about a week, but a carefully planned collection can bloom for several weeks. Begin with very early-blooming peonies, continue with midseason peonies, and finish with late-season peonies. Combining cultivars from several flowering groups is the most reliable way to extend the peony blooming season.

Peonies offer far more than traditional blush pink. Create a romantic border with pink peonies, brighten an elegant planting with white peonies, or add depth with red peonies. For less conventional color, explore luminous coral peonies and striking yellow peonies. Remember that some coral cultivars change color as their flowers mature, creating several shades on one plant.

Do not assume that every peony is fragrant. Scent varies considerably, so consult this selection of fragrant peonies when perfume is a priority. Large double flowers can also bend after heavy rain. For an easier-care display, choose peonies that do not usually require staking or cultivars recognized as resistant to rain and heat. Gardeners seeking proven performance can begin with these award-winning peonies.

‘Sarah Bernhardt’ is a beloved late-flowering pink peony with large, romantic blooms. ‘Coral Charm’ is admired for its semi-double coral flowers that fade through softer shades. ‘Kansas’ produces richly colored double red flowers on strong stems. ‘Festiva Maxima’ is a fragrant white heirloom marked with touches of crimson. For perfume and classic elegance, consider ‘Duchesse de Nemours’, with creamy-white, crown-shaped flowers.

Peonies combine beautifully with bulbs, irises, salvias, hardy geraniums, roses, and other outstanding perennial flowers. Pair early cultivars with the best spring flowers to build a layered seasonal display. Single and semi-double peonies with visible stamens can be especially accessible to insects, as explained in this guide to peonies and pollinators. Peony petals may also be used decoratively when correctly identified and grown without unsuitable chemicals; consult this overview of edible garden flowers before using any flower in food.

Confirm the plant’s mature dimensions, bloom period, stem strength, fragrance, and climate suitability. Select healthy roots or container plants with firm crowns, and avoid placing peonies where trees or large shrubs will compete for light, moisture, and nutrients. Peonies are generally durable, but good spacing and air circulation help prevent disease. Review these common peony problems, pests, and diseases so you know what to watch for.