Flower fans love peonies each for rising in gardens and together with in floral preparations and bouquets. Due to their many symbolic meanings – together with love, joyful marriage, joyful life, honor, magnificence, romance, and prosperity – these frilly blossoms are a preferred selection for weddings and for providing any recipient greatest needs, goodwill, and happiness on any event. This information will take you thru a number of the hottest varieties of peony flowers on your backyard or subsequent floral association.
Peony Species Defined
Numerous varieties of peony cultivars and varieties exist. Nonetheless, there are at present simply 33 formally acknowledged species of peony (paeony) crops that make up the Paeonia genus, the one genus within the Paeoniaceae plant household.
These species of peonies fall into a number of completely different classes of types based mostly on their progress habits.
Tree Peonies
This kind of peony flower produces pretty perennial blossoms and new progress that turns woody on the finish of every rising season and stays all through winter. Tree peonies attain maturity inside about ten rising seasons and might develop to be about 5 ft tall.
- Rising Zones: 4 to 9
- Gentle Preferences: Full solar to partial shade (3 to 4 hours of daylight every day)
- Flowering Season: Early spring
- Rising Issue: Straightforward (slow-growing)
Herbaceous Peonies
Herbaceous peonies produce rounded mounds or clumps of latest foliage and progress every spring and summer time rising season. This new progress dies again throughout winter dormancy to be produced once more the following spring.
- Rising Zones: 3 to 7
- Gentle Preferences: Full solar (at the very least 8 hours in the course of the rising season)
- Flowering Season: Late spring by early summer time
- Rising Issue: Straightforward (slow-growing)
Itoh (Intersectional) Peonies
This number of peonies will get its identify from the Japanese horticulturist Toichi Itoh, who first fertilized herbaceous peonies with pollen from tree peonies. These distinctive, intersectional cultivars are herbaceous however produce leaves that resemble these of tree peonies.
- Rising Zones: 4 to 9
- Gentle Preferences: Full solar to partial shade (about 5 to six hours of daylight every day)
- Flowering Season: Late spring by early autumn
- Rising Issue: Straightforward (slow-growing)
Peony Flower Varieties
Though most individuals affiliate peonies with full, ruffly, pom-pom-like flower blossoms, some varieties of peonies produce equally showy flowers with approach fewer petals.
The American Peony Society’s official normal contains six varieties – Single, Japanese, Anemone, Semi-double, Bomb, and Full double. These peony flower varieties embody:
- Single – One or two rows of broad petals encircles a visual heart of stamens and carpels on single peony flowers.
- Japanese – Like the only peony flower, the Japanese-style peony blossom has just one or two rows of broad petals. Nonetheless, these flowers produce seen staminodes moderately than stamens, and carpels.
- Anemone – The anemone peony additionally has only one or two rows of broad petals. These petals encompass giant, ornate staminodes that curve upward and resemble an anemone of the ocean. These flowers even have seen carpels.
- Semi-Double – One or two rows of broad petals circle a middle that options much more petals which might be intermingled with the flower’s central staminodes.
- Bomb – One row of broad petals surrounds a central pom-pom of densely packed slender petals.
- Full Double – This pom-pom-shaped kind of peony flower seems the fullest with densely packed broad petals all through.
43 Well-liked Sorts of Peony Flowers
Right here you’ll discover a assortment of our absolute favourite varieties of peony flowers. Good for rising at dwelling, along with lower peony flowers for bouquets or vase preparations.
1. Bartzella Itoh Peony (Paeonia ‘Bartzella’)
These peonies characteristic giant (6 to eight inches throughout) double blossoms in a buttery shade of brilliant yellow with facilities which might be stained barely reddish-orange. These herbaceous perennials emit a distinguished candy and spicy floral perfume.
2. Karl Rosenfield Peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Karl Rosenfield’)
These peonies are a backyard favourite and produce actually showstopping, full double, 6-inch flowers in a traditional, eye-catching cherry-red colour. Karl Rosenfield peony crops blossom in early summer time and have sturdy stalks, making them a superb selection for slicing gardens. These beauties are long-lasting in bouquets.
3. Buckeye Belle Peony (Paeonia ‘Buckeye Belle’)
The buckeye belle peony blooms in spring with semi-double blossoms that deliver a demure class to the backyard with deep, velvety shades of crimson and burgundy offset by distinguished, golden-hued staminodes. This peony has been awarded the American Peony Society Gold Medal, and planting one in your backyard will deliver award-winning blossoms for 7 to 10 days in late spring.
4. Moon of Nippon (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Moon of Nippon’)
This late-spring peony emits a stunning perfume within the backyard however is most notable for its distinctive look. The Japanese-style blossoms of the Moon of Nippon peony resemble sunny-side-up eggs with two rows of broad, snowy-white petals encircling an ideal half-sphere of golden-yellow staminodes that intently resemble an egg yolk.
5. Gardenia Peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Gardenia’)
Due to its delicate, elegantly blushing blooms, the total double gardenia peony is likely one of the hottest backyard varieties. These flowers begin out as light-pink buds and open to disclose a thick pom of broad, ivory petals which might be graced with simply the slightest rosy dusting round their outer edges.
6. Reine Hortense Peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Reine Hortense’)
The Reine Hortense selection is one other common backyard peony producing full double flowers atop sturdy, crimson stems. This peony is most beloved for its gentle, rosy-pink blossoms that characteristic barely wavy or frilled petal edges giving its flowers a vigorous tissue-papery look that appears beautiful in any backyard or bouquet.
7. Raspberry Sundae Peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Raspberry Sundae’)
The raspberry sundae peony has a perfume candy sufficient to rival its sugar-coated, ice-cream-treat look. This perennial produces bomb-style flowers with wavy petals in variegated shades of creamy white and delicate raspberry pink. This peony selection blooms in mid to late spring with the pink and yellow hues of its petals changing into more and more distinguished because the season grows later.
8. Shirley Temple Peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Shirley Temple’)
Similar to their namesake, Shirley Temple peonies actually know methods to placed on a present. These beauties blossom with giant, full double flowers from late spring to early summer time for 7 to 10 days. Early on, these ruffled flowers blush with only a trace of delicate pink. As they proceed to open, they steadily fade to elegant ivory.
9. Homosexual Paree Peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Homosexual Paree’)
Most peonies can rightfully be referred to as backyard showstoppers, and Homosexual Paree peonies aren’t any exception. These herbaceous perennials produce anemone-shaped blossoms with a double ring of broad cerise-pink petals surrounding a puffy heart of ivory-white petal-like staminodes. Along with their attractive seems, Homosexual Paree peonies additionally emit a romantically candy perfume.
10. Cardinal Vaughan (Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Cardinal Vaughan’)
The Cardinal Vaughan peony is a tree selection peony that produces semi-double flowers with broad, papery petals starting from a purplish-magenta hue to a ruby crimson. The double row of petals varieties a bowl form round a bright-yellow heart of stamens.
11. Lemon Chiffon Peony (Paeonia ‘Lemon Chiffon’)
This number of peony couldn’t be extra aptly named, as you possibly can virtually style the peerlessly lemon-yellow colour of the lemon chiffon peony’s semi-double blossoms. The flowers characteristic ruffled rows of lemon-yellow petals that encircle a middle of golden stamens and orange filaments. This peony has acquired the American Peony Society Greatest in Present award.
12. Charlie’s White (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Charlie’s White’)
Charlie’s white peonies have a shrubby progress behavior and produce huge, snowball-like, white, double blossoms with barely golden staminodes at their facilities. These ruffled white flowers can blossom as much as 8 inches in diameter at their largest. Though they sprout atop sturdy stems, the sheer dimension of those blossoms means they typically should be staked for assist.
13. Martha Bulloch (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Martha Bulloch’)
The Martha Bulloch peony is likely one of the traditional, most cherished peony crops accessible. In late spring by early summer time, this herbaceous perennial peony produces ample, giant, rosy pink double blossoms that emit a stunning fragrance. These flowers can final greater than every week in water when lower whereas nonetheless in bud type.
14. Sarah Bernhardt Peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’)
A recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Backyard Benefit, the Sarah Bernhardt peony is beloved for its exceptionally giant (8 inches throughout) flowers. These full double blossoms bloom in late spring to early summer time in a cheerful, cotton-candy-pink colour. The inside petals are ruffled for added fullness, and raspberry-colored flecks sometimes mark the rosy petals.
15. Rubra Plena Peony (Paeonia x festiva ‘Rubra Plena’)
Thought to have been popularly cultivated in gardens since at the very least the seventeenth century, the rubra plena peony is likely one of the older peony cultivars. The perennial boasts giant, full double flower blossoms that open in spring, stained with vibrant shades that vary from magenta to deep crimson.
16. Bowl of Magnificence (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Bowl of Magnificence’)
The only flower kind of the bowl of magnificence peony has a singular signature look with a hoop of broad magenta petals cradling a spherical central pom of vibrant, frilly yellow-colored stamens and carpels. This late to mid-season peony is a recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Backyard Benefit.
17. Crimson Attraction (Paeonia ‘Crimson Attraction’)
A recipient of the American Peony Society Gold Medal, the crimson allure peony is a hybrid that can add an attention grabbing attract to any backyard with its floriferous profusion of frilly, blood-red, bomb-shaped flower blossoms. Tolerant of warmth and excellent for lower flowers, this perennial blooms in late spring to early summer time.
18. Festiva Maxima Peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Festiva Maxima’)
This herbaceous perennial peony produces ample double blossoms bursting with frilly petals within the late spring and early summer time. The flowers are often pure-white however are sometimes flecked or striped with putting dashes of crimson. A well-liked addition to gardens for greater than 150 years, this pretty peony has acquired the Award of Backyard Benefit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
19. Fairy Princess (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Fairy Princess’)
The only-style flower blossoms of the fairy princess peony supply a demure class to any backyard. A single row of velvety, broad petals flushed with a deep crimson hue surrounds a golden-yellow heart of petite stamens and carpels. This herbaceous perennial blooms in early spring and is likely one of the smallest peony crops, reaching a relatively diminutive top of nearly 15 inches.
20. Claire de Lune (Paeonia ‘Claire de Lune’)
This hybrid peony is likely one of the first to bloom in early spring. It has a single-style peony flower type with a row of crinkled, creamy-white petals surrounding a prominently golden, moon-shaped heart of fuzzy carpels and stamens.
21. Excessive Midday Peony (Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Excessive Midday’)
The excessive midday is a tree peony that produces copious semi-double flower blossoms in late spring to early summer time. The blossoms are lemon-yellow (to match the marginally lemony perfume they emit) and stained barely crimson on the heart. As soon as mature, this tree peony may sometimes produce a pleasant repeat spherical of blossoms in mid to late summer time.
22. Mom’s Alternative Peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Mom’s Alternative’)
This late spring to early summer time bloomer is the recipient of the American Peony Society Gold Medal. It produces full double flowers which might be predominantly ivory-colored however tinged with a carefully faint rosy blush. Totally open, these blossoms resemble giant, lush roses. Borne atop sturdy, sturdy stems, the mom’s selection peony makes a beautiful addition to any low-maintenance backyard.
23. Woman Alexandra Duff Peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Woman Alexandra Duff’)
First launched in 1902, this heirloom perennial peony is a recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Backyard Benefit. Blooming in late spring to early summer time, this mid-season peony plant’s giant full double flower blossoms begin out as deeply roseate buds and speak in confidence to reveal blushing, pink flowers replete with ornate, ruffle-edged petals.
24. Joker Peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Joker’)
A current (2021) recipient of the American Peony Society’s Gold Medal Award, the joker peony is a well-liked herbaceous backyard hybrid. Its 6-inch full double flower blossoms open up with thick, vibrant fuchsia-colored petals. The central petals later fade to a lighter shade of pink, giving mature blossoms a strikingly variegated or dip-dyed look within the backyard. With upright blooms and durable stems, joker peonies don’t require assist or staking.
25. Do Inform Peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Do Inform’)
This award-winning peony has each a Gold Medal and an Award of Panorama Benefit. Do Inform peonies produce mildly aromatic, anemone-shaped flowers with a corona of spherical petals in a fragile shade of whitish, shell-like pink. On the heart of the blossoms stand distinguished facilities of rose and golden-colored staminodes.
26. Bride’s Dream Peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Bride’s Dream’)
The bride’s dream peony produces elegant Japanese-style flower blossoms. Every flower encompasses a ring of enormous snowy-white petals surrounding a distinguished heart pom-pom of creamy-white, feathery petaloids. These peonies bloom in abundance with many aspect buds, making them a putting addition to your late-spring backyard.
27. Chocolate Soldier Peony (Paeonia ‘Chocolate Soldier’)
One of many darkest-colored peony hybrids you will discover, the chocolate soldier produces flowers with velvety petals in a luscious shade of deep, chocolatey crimson. Apart from the distinctive colour of its flowers, the chocolate soldier peony additionally stands other than different peonies as a result of a single plant can produce a variety of flower shapes together with each Japanese blossoms with golden-yellow staminodes and full double blossoms with a whole pom of cocoa-colored petals.
28. Henry Bockstoce Peony (Paeonia ‘Henry Bockstoce’)
This is likely one of the hottest red-colored peonies round. The Henry Bockstoce peony is a backyard hybrid that produces huge (as much as 8 inches throughout) full double flower blossoms in a putting, cherry-red hue. These flowers additionally emit a powerful, candy perfume that’s fantastic to get pleasure from outdoor or in a bouquet. Plus, the flowery scent attracts butterflies, making them a fantastic addition to your pollinator-friendly backyard.
29. Coral Sundown Peony (Paeonia ‘Coral Sundown’)
Recipients of the American Peony Society Gold Medal, these beautiful peonies deliver a contact of a tropical sundown proper to your backyard. They produce giant, coral-colored, semi-double flower blossoms in early spring with sunset-colored bowl-shaped petals that fade from a deep rose to salmon-pink to virtually ivory on the tip. On the heart, you’ll discover a distinguished pom-pom of golden-yellow staminodes.
30. First Arrival Peony (Paeonia ‘First Arrival’)
A gardener’s favourite among the many Itoh peony varieties, the primary arrival peony produces spectacular 8-inch semi-double flower blossoms in enjoyable shades that vary from lavender to gentle pink with deep purplish magenta streaks flaring outward from the central pom of purple and yellow-colored stamens. Because the blossoms mature, the colours fade gently by the blooming season whereas emitting a scrumptious rose-like scent.
31. Prairie Attraction Peony (Paeonia ‘Prairie Attraction’)
The prairie allure peony is an award-winning peony of the intersectional Itoh selection. It has acquired each an Award of Panorama Benefit and has additionally been named the American Grand Champion of the Nationwide Exhibitions. The prairie allure peony produces mid-sized, semi-double peony blossoms with about 20 to 30 tooth-edged, buttery-yellow petals. The bases of the inside petals have reddish-orange flares, lending these blossoms a heat to rival that of the late spring season after they bloom.
32. Pink Hawaiian Coral Peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Pink Hawaiian Coral’)
This aromatic peony cultivar produces beautiful full double blossoms in an orangey-pink shade of coral that lightly fades from the vibrance of its first blossom to a fragile shade of apricot all through the blooming interval, giving it a stunning washed or variegated look. The pink Hawaiian coral peony is the recipient of each a Panorama Benefit Award and an American Peony Society Gold Medal.
33. Cora Louise Peony (Paeonia ‘Cora Louise’)
This Itoh peony produces impressively giant blossoms at 8 to 10 inches in diameter. These semi-double flower blossoms characteristic beautiful ivory petals marked at their bases with brushstrokes of a deep lavender-to-purple hue. You’ll discover a cluster of golden stamens and sure a butterfly or two at their heart, as these peonies are engaging to pollinators.
34. Barrington Belle Peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Barrington Belle’)
Barrington belle peonies produce eye-catching semi-double flower blossoms atop sturdy stems. The flowers characteristic two rows of broad, satiny, barely ruffled petals in unique shades of magenta and fuchsia. A distinguished cluster of bright-red staminodes with ruffled golden suggestions make a lovely centerpiece for every of those flowers.
35. Athena Peony (Paeonia ‘Athena’)
The Athena peony is definitely a quadruple hybrid of 4 completely different peonies. It is likely one of the first peonies to blossom in spring, revealing its extremely uncommon but strikingly stunning, bowl-shaped single blossoms. Every flower has a single ring of spherical, creamy-white petals marked with a central flare of lavender-pink. Contained in the bowl of petals, rests a distinguished central cluster of gold-yellow staminodes and red-tipped carpels.
36. Kansas Peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Kansas’)
A recipient of the American Peony Society Gold Medal, the Kansas peony boasts giant, rose-shaped double blossoms. With petals in a putting shade that ranges from magenta to cherry-red, resembling the juicy insides of a ripe watermelon, this peony is most notable for its intense coloring that doesn’t fade within the solar.
37. Miss America Peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Miss America’)
A recipient of each the American Peony Society Gold Medal and the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Backyard Benefit, the Miss America peony places on fairly the present all through its flowering season in late spring to early summer time. The closed buds of this plant’s semi-double blossoms begin out a fragile shade of blushing pink and steadily fade, as they open, to a pristine, snowy-white with modest central pom-poms of golden staminodes.
38. White Cap Peony (Paeonia ‘White Cap’)
The buds of the white cap peony are fairly small and darkish, mixing in with their surrounding foliage. Nonetheless, when certainly one of these non-descript buds opens, it reveals a real firework of a Japanese-style peony flower blossom. White cap peony flowers have a ruffled, magenta frill of broad outer petals surrounding a distinguished feathery pom-pom of inside filaments in a fragile shade of creamy white to blush flecked with raspberry streaks all through.
39. Doreen Peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Doreen’)
The equally sturdy and wonderful Doreen peony makes an ideal addition to any peony backyard. It produces Japanese-style flowers with a double row of rounded guard petals in a vibrant shade of magenta. These eye-catching petals encompass a distinguished fluffy central pom of pink staminodes with yellow, ruffled edges.
40. Krinkled White Peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Krinkled White’)
A recipient of the American Peony Society Award of Panorama Benefit, the krinkled white peony is taken into account to be the favourite quantity single fashion, white peony blossoms. These characteristic a hoop of barely crinkled petals surrounding a petite central tuft of golden-colored stamens. This peony plant produces copious buds, and their barely aromatic flowers bloom in profusion, placing on a present in late spring to early summer time.
41. Chojuraku Peony (Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Chojuraku’)
This beautiful tree peony produces putting double blossoms in an attention grabbing shade of lavender with darkish, almost-black purple flares towards the bases of the inside petals. These cool-colored petals encompass a heat heart of golden stamens. Extremely aromatic, the chojuraku (pleasure of longevity) peony reaches about 3 to five ft in top and can draw butterflies to your backyard.
42. Pastel Splendor Peony (Paeonia ‘Pastel Splendor’)
Pastel splendor is a favourite Itoh selection peony that produces single fashion, upright flower blossoms that characteristic a ruffled circlet of petals that fade from vibrant lavender on the tip to a creamy white on the base. Every petal is marked with a flare of deep crimson on the base. These petals encompass an in depth, button-like cluster of yellow stamens.
43. Jean Erickson Peony (Paeonia lactiflora ‘Jean Erickson’)
The Jean Erickson peony produces copious Japanese-style blossoms with quite a few buds in late spring to early summer time. These blossoms open up in a putting shade of crimson crimson with broad, rounded guard petals surrounding a central tuft of staminodes in the identical blood-red shade. The staminodes’ suggestions fade from crimson to silver because the season progresses.
Wrapping Up
With so many stunning varieties of peony flowers to select from, there’s a superb selection for the house gardener in addition to for budding floral designers. Get pleasure from!
Andrew is the Editorial Director at Petal Republic. He holds a BSc diploma in Plant Sciences and has skilled professionally at main floristry colleges in London and Paris. In amongst overseeing a worldwide editorial staff, Andrew’s a passionate content material creator round all issues flowers, floral design, gardening, and houseplants.
