Peony

Perhaps the best-loved perennials, herbaceous peonies belong in almost every garden. Their sumptuous flowers, single, semi-double, anemone centered or Japanese, and fully double, in glorious shades of pinks and reds as well as white and yellow announce that spring has truly arrived. The handsome fingered foliage is usually dark green and remains good-looking all season long. Provide deep rich soil with plenty of humus to avoid dryness and don't plant the crowns more than 2 inches beneath the surface. But these are hardly fussy plants. Where well suited to the climate, they can thrive on zero care.

Light:

Sun, Part Sun

Zones:

3-8

Plant Type:

Perennial

Plant Height:

2 to 3 1/2 feet tall, depending on variety

Plant Width:

2 to 3 1/2 feet wide, depending on variety

Bloom Time:

Blooms mid- to late spring, depending on variety

Landscape Uses:

Containers, Beds & Borders

Special Features:

Flowers, Attractive Foliage, Fragrant, Cut Flowers, Deer Resistant, Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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America peony

(Paeonia 'America') blooms early. It has single, deep red flowers with a central boss of yellow stamens. Foliage is mid-green. Zones 3-8
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Blaze peony

(Paeonia 'Blaze') offers single, 6-inch-wide scarlet-red blooms in early season. It grows 26 inches tall. Zones 3-8
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Bowl of Beauty peony

(Paeonia 'Bowl of Beauty') blooms in mid-season. It has 10-inch-wide, anemone-flowered or Japanese form, deep sugar pink cupped flowers. The center is crowded with narrow creamy white petaloids. Foliage is mid-green. Zones 3-8
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Coral Charm peony

(Paeonia 'Coral Charm') blooms early with distinctly cupped semi-double coral pink flowers. The foliage is dark green. Zones 3-8
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Festiva Maxima peony

(Paeonia 'Festiva Maxima') is an heirloom from the 1850's that's still popular. It bears white flowers with tiny flecks of crimson and grows 3 feet tall. Zones 3-7
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Gay Paree peony

(Paeonia 'Gay Paree') is a distinct heirloom that's still popular. Its raspberry-red flowers have a lush, ivory-white center. The plant grows 34 inches tall. Zones 3-7
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Green Halo peony

(Paeonia 'Green Halo') offers twisted white petals flushed with green. It grows 30 inches tall. Zones 3-7
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Karl Rosenfield peony

(Paeonia 'Karl Rosenfield') is one of the most popular red peonies. It offers double red blooms on a 32-inch-tall plant. Zones 3-7
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Krinkled White peony

(Paeonia 'Krinkled White') is an early bloomer. Its large single flowers are pure white, ruffled along the edges and with a central boss of bright yellow stamens. The foliage is mid-green. Zones 4-8
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Fernleaf peony

(Paeonia tenuifolia) has cupped rich red single 3-inch flowers in early to mid-spring. Its deep green foliage is fernlike, with many segments. Zones 3-8
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Paula Fay peony

(Paeonia 'Paula Fay') offers semi-double reddish-pink blooms on a plant that grows 35 inches tall. Zones 3-7
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Pillow Talk peony

(Paeonia 'Pillow Talk') is a mid-season variety with fully double, soft pink flowers. Foliage is dark green. Zones 3-8.
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Sarah Bernhardt peony

(Paeonia 'Sarah Bernhardt') is an heirloom selection with soft pink flowers and a lovely fragrance. It grows 3 feet tall. Zones 3-7
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Sweet Marjorie peony

(Paeonia 'Sweet Marjorie') bears distinct blooms with twisted and curled pink blooms. It grows 32 inches tall. Zones 3-7
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