The paeony , Paeoniaspp . , is a unfolding perennial for USDA Hardiness Zones 3 - 8 that thrives in full sunlight . It blooms in spring , and sometimes early summer .

The blossoms are boastful and flouncy , and are a staple of bungalow garden and the theme of many a botanical print and fabric .

Colors includepink , purple , red , white , and yellow . prime consist of exclusive , twofold , or semi - double layers of petals that are often fringed or two - toned . Some arefragrant .

A close up horizontal image of white peonies growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

Fern leaf peony (P. tenuifolia) has feathery foliage, small blossoms, and a low profile.

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The leathery , serrate immature foliage of some shades to bronze and Cu in autumn , and imagine what ? Deer usually leave this plant life alone .

In ourguide to growing peonies , we talk over all you need to make love to grow your own plant .

Close up of a pink peony flower in bloom with yellow stamens at the center.

Fern leaf peony (P. tenuifolia) has feathery foliage, small blossoms, and a low profile.

This article focuses on the type of paeony available , growth habit , and unique physical dimension .

Here ’s what ’s in fund :

What You’ll Learn

Genus Breakdown

ontogeny drug abuse

Herbaceous

A close up vertical image of bright pink peony flowers growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background. To the center and bottom of the frame is green and white printed text.

Tree

Intersectional

Petal Characteristics

A close up horizontal photo of two pink herbaceous peony blooms.

Varieties to opt

With 33 metal money and 15 race , Paeoniais a enchanting genus that has much to offer the home gardener .

allow ’s get start !

Close up horizontal image of two red fern leaf peonies growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

There are three main division into which all penis of thePaeoniagenus descent :

The savage North American coinage are seldom found in refinement , but the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and herbaceous types have been extensively crop and there are numerous varieties available to home nurseryman .

In addition , there is a hybrid of the tree and herbaceous types , as we ’ll soon take .

A horizontal image of a woodland setting with bright pink and yellow flowers growing under tall trees.

Species and cultivars grow in one of three ways :

get ’s discover out about each .

Herbaceous character are soft - stem plants that die down to the earth at the end of the grow season and go through a period of dormancy , before pass the following twelvemonth .

A close up horizontal image of a bright yellow flower growing in the garden pictured in bright sunshine.

There are numerous species and cultivated varieties ranging in height and width from one to three feet .

Examples include the Chinese or commonP. lactiflora , and the fern leafP. tenuifolia .

extra herbaceous specie admit woodland varieties , such asP. japonicaandP. obovata .

A close up horizontal photo focusing on three red blooms of the Moutan Tree Peony.

Herbaceous types sprout as red shoot that go up from tuberous root . They bloom for a hebdomad to 10 days in former spring to early summer .

prime are available in a variety of colors and bloom formation , as we will discuss below .

PerRodale ’s Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening , tree diagram varieties are derived mainly from two species , P. suffruticosaandP. delavayi .

A close up horizontal image of Paeonia rockii with cream colored petals and golden stamens, pictured in bright sunshine on a soft focus background.

Like herbaceous types , efflorescence come in an array of colors and petal organization , and they blossom for seven to 10 day . The bloom are exceptionally big .

However , rather of dying to the ground , Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree types drop their parting and the woody stems persist stripped and in station all wintertime .

Woody types grow more slowly than herbaceous plants , and some reach over six animal foot tall and five foot wide at maturity .

Three large yellow blooms of the Intersectional Itoh hybrid ‘Bartzella’ growing in the garden with foliage in soft focus in the background.

They are know for being the early bloomers of the season .

Tree cultivars are more often than not found under the metal money nameP. suffructicosa , or Moutan ( Chinese mǔdān ) .

An exclusion to this isP. rockii , or Rock ’s peony , named for Austrian plant scientist Joseph Rock .

A close up horizontal image of Paeonia rockii with white flowers and yellow centers growing in the garden pictured in bright sunshine.

The final grouping contains some of the best performers in the house garden , the intersectional hybrids .

Also do it as “ Itoh ” peonies , they are a crossing between woody and herbaceous specie .

This name honors Nipponese breeder Toichi Itoh , who was the first to make such a cross using the tree speciesP.xlemoinei , and the herbaceous cultivarP. lactiflora‘Kakoden ’ in the forties .

A close up horizontal image of a bright pink flower growing in the summer garden with foliage in soft focus in the background.

PerTed Griess , Extension Horticulture Assistant at the Nebraska Extension , a fledged Itoh hybrid may bring on over 50 dinner plateful sized blossoms on staunch so sturdy , no staking is required .

They are exceptionally audacious late bloomers that open closer to summertime , and blossom continuously for up to three weeks . This is much longer than the typical seven to 10 days of herbaceous and tree diagram types .

Like herbaceous varieties , the intersectional type have voiced stems that pass to the ground at time of year ’s conclusion .

A close up horizontal image of a bright red peony flower ‘Red Grace’ growing in the summer garden pictured in bright sunshine.

In increase to take from tree , herbaceous , and intersectional plants , there is an exciting array of unique petal characteristics that return some flowers “ garden variety ” and others more strange .

Let ’s take a look !

We ’ve mentioned that blossom may have a undivided , to the full forked , or semi - double flower social structure .

A close up horizontal image of bright pink Paeonia lactiflora flowers growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

Within these broad category are fine distinction fastidiously developed by breeders , include sea anemone , bomb , and Japanese .

They refer to the center of the blossoms , where the procreative organs are located .

sea anemone peony are promptly identified by their minute “ petaloides , ” or yellow petal center .

A close up square image of Paeonia ‘Honey Gold’ growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

bomb are dense and ball-shaped , with a kernel full of true petals .

And while there are no peonies native to Japan , a long - time best-loved style in Japan has been single petal blossom with “ staminodes , ” petal - like structures that count like a combination of yellow stamens and rip up flower petal .

They are refer to as Japanese peonies .

A close up square image of Paeonia ‘All that Jazz’ growing in the garden with foliage in soft focus in the background.

These enchanting petal shape are another unique trait that help oneself to tell apart one works from another .

And as some are quite rarefied , obtaining and successfully educate refreshing eccentric is cause for celebration by members of peony company .

There ’s something for everyone . Whether you like herbaceous , Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , or intercrossed intersectionals , you ’ll retrieve exciting choice such as the chase :

Close up of baby pink peony flowers growing on a bush in the arden.

Honey Gold

P. lactiflora‘Honey Gold ’ is an herbaceous cultivar with Japanese elan petal in a semi - double layer palisade a lemon - sensationalistic center .

P. lactiflora‘Honey Gold ’

This is a fragrant flower that blooms in late natural spring to early summer .

ripe dimension are 30 to 35 inch with a gap of 28 to 36 inches .

Find ‘ Honey Gold ’ now from Burpeein packages containing one bare beginning .

institute this herbaceous variety in the spring .

Koukamon

Paeonia suffrictosa‘Koukamon ’ , aka ‘ Floral Gate , ’ is a Formosan tree cultivar with fully double eight - inch ruffle Burgundy wine blossoms that deepen to black at their centers .

Mature dimensions are 48 to 60 inch tall and 24 to 36 inches wide of the mark . Bloom time is late bounce to other summer .

Tree types are best implant in the fall .

All That Jazz

For an outstanding intersectional , you ca n’t beat Itoh hybridPaeonia‘All That Jazz . ’

This fragrant late natural spring bloomer boasts masses of creamy apricot fully double blossoms splotched with burgundy . Flowers are up to six inch across , and there may be up to 50 per plant .

‘ All That Jazz ’

matured dimensions are 24 to 48 inches tall and 36 inches wide .

retrieve ‘ All That nothingness ’ now from Eden Brothers .

Plant this tree - herbaceous hybrid in the fall .

A Palette of Peonies

The majority of usable varieties are civilise mixture and intercrossed crosses of species native to Asia and Europe . Some are herbaceous and die to the ground at time of year ’s final stage , while others have woody stem that continue in office through the winter .

The garden variety herbaceous species and cultivars are the easiest to acquire , and of these , the soup - up intersectional hybrids offer a long flush time , magnanimous flowers , better reinforcement of heavy flower head , and exceptional hardiness .

A charming array of petal structure ranging from unmarried to semi - double and fully double is further enhanced by breeder ’ alterations to the reproductive centers that result in uniquely attractive anemone , bomb , and Nipponese styles .

What ’s not to do it with the sheer and bouncy flower of this bungalow garden classic ?

Add the perennial peony toyour garden plannertoday , and enjoy its former season halo for many years to add up .

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© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . in the beginning bring out April 28th , 2021 . Last updated March 23rd , 2025 . Product picture via Burpee and Eden Brothers . Uncredited picture : Shutterstock .

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Nan Schiller